Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad (R) “will resign as Iowa and the nation’s longest-serving governor and Kim Reynolds will be sworn in as his successor in back-to-back morning ceremonies at the Iowa Capitol,” the Des Moines Register reports.
“The long-awaited gubernatorial transition occurs two days after Branstad’s confirmation as ambassador to China by the U.S. Senate. In addition to the transfer of gubernatorial power, Branstad will be officially sworn into his diplomatic post.”
Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad (R) has accepted Donald Trump’s offer to be named Ambassador to China, NBC News has learned from a source close to the governor.
Des Moines Register: “If it happens, the six-term Republican’s appointment would spark a shakeup without precedent in Iowa history. It would remove from the state’s political equation the longest-serving governor in American history and the head of its dominant political party.”
Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad (R) credited Ted Cruz for running an “old-fashioned”, 99-county campaign in Iowa, but also ripped Cruz for using “questionable” campaign tactics, Radio Iowa reports.
Said Branstad: “This thing that they distributed on Caucus night saying that Dr. Carson was likely to drop out and his supporters should support Cruz, that is, I think, unethical and unfair. I think there’ll be repercussions to that.”
Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad (R) ripped into Ted Cruz — “mocking him for his debate performance and asserting that his prospects in the state are dimming,” Politico reports.
Said Branstad: “Ted Cruz was ahead in Iowa, but as people have figured out his stance on issues that are important to the economy of the state. He was ahead on polls, but now he’s dropped below Trump.”
He added: “It was a poor performance on his part.”
When Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad (R) appeared at a breakfast this morning, he had an opportunity to criticize Donald Trump for skipping tonight’s GOP debate, the New York Times reports.
“Mr. Branstad not only declined to bash Mr. Trump for his decision to hold a separate event in Des Moines at the same time as the debate, but he also marveled at what he described as the Trump phenomenon and predicted a record Republican turnout on Monday.”
Said Branstad: “I’ll never forget the Iowa State Fair when he’s giving rides on his helicopter.”
Sen. Ted Cruz dismissed Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad “as a crony capitalist who is part of the GOP establishment, hours after the prominent Republican governor indicated that he did not want Cruz to win Iowa,” Politico reports.
Said Cruz: “It is no surprise that the establishment is in full panic mode. We said from the beginning, that the Washington cartel was going to panic more and more. As conservatives unite behind our campaign you’re going to see the Washington cartel firing every shot they can, every cannon they can. Because the Washington cartel lives on cronyism, it lives on making deals, it lives on picking winners and losers and supporting corporate welfare and cronyism. This is what people are so fed up with.”
Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad (R) said he would like to see Sen. Ted Cruz defeated in the Iowa caucuses, the Des Moines Register reports.
Said Branstad: “Ted Cruz is ahead right now. What we’re trying to do is educate the people in the state of Iowa. He is the biggest opponent of renewable fuels. He actually introduced a bill in 2013 to immediately eliminate the Renewable Fuel Standard. He’s heavily financed by Big Oil. So we think once Iowans realize that fact, they might find other things attractive but he could be very damaging to our state.”
Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad told the Des Moines Register believes the question of Sen. Ted Cruz’s eligibility in the presidential race and whether he is a natural born citizen is “fair game.”
Said Branstad: “When you run for president of the United States, any question is fair game. So let the people decide.”
After nearly 21 years in office, Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad (R) this month will become the longest-serving governor in U.S. history, “surpassing a mark set by a onetime Revolutionary War general,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
“Few governors even reach a decade in office, in part because most states have term limits. Among sitting governors, Mr. Branstad’s closest peer is California’s Jerry Brown, who is nearing 13 years in office broken up over two time periods. Mr. Branstad will set the record on Dec. 14, surpassing George Clinton, the first governor of New York.”
Despite saying for years that he doesn’t use a smartphone or email in his state job, court documents show Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad (R) admitted he had access to both, the Des Moines Register reports.
National Journal: “For five years, Christie has methodically cultivated Branstad’s good graces. He’s come to Iowa whenever Branstad calls—for fundraisers, a birthday party, an inauguration, and even to help Branstad with one of his electoral pet projects. When Branstad fell ill last month and landed in the hospital, Christie was on the line, wishing him well. And when Christie took the helm of the RGA, he made sure to follow through on his financial commitments, even as Branstad waltzed to a blowout victory in 2014.”
“Now, the question is whether all the time and money Christie has invested in Branstad will pay any political dividends in 2016.”
Taegan Goddard
Taegan Goddard is the founder of Political Wire -- which for more than two decades has been one of the nation's most influential political news sites.
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