Chris Cournoyer
Chris Cournoyer | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2019 | |
| 48th Lieutenant Governor of Iowa | |
| Assumed office December 16, 2024 | |
| Governor | Kim Reynolds |
| Preceded by | Amy Sinclair (acting) |
| Member of the Iowa Senate | |
| In office January 14, 2019 – December 16, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Rita Hart |
| Succeeded by | Mike Zimmer |
| Constituency | 49th district (2019–2023) 35th district (2023–2024) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Christine Gearhart July 24, 1970 |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Kurt Cournoyer
(m. 1997; div. 2021) |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | University of Texas, Austin (BA) |
Christine S. Cournoyer (/kərˈnɔɪər/ kər-NOIR; née Gearhart, July 24, 1970)[1][2] is an American politician who has served as the 48th lieutenant governor of Iowa since December 2024,[3] having replaced Adam Gregg, who resigned from the role in September 2024.[4] A member of the Republican Party, Cournoyer previously served as an Iowa state senator from the 35th District from 2019 to 2024.[5]
On April 28, 2025, Cournoyer filed paperwork to run for Iowa State Auditor in the 2026 election.[6][7] Governor Reynolds endorsed her.[7]
Early life and career
Cournoyer was born in 1970 in Dallas, Texas.[5]
She received a BA degree in 1992 from University of Texas, Austin, in computer science.[5][8] Cournoyer worked as a website designer at Andersen Consulting, before becoming self-employed.[8][9]
She also previously served as the president of the Pleasant Valley Community School District School Board.[10]
Political career
Iowa State Senate
Cournoyer was elected to the Iowa Senate in 2018 and was re-elected in 2023.[5]
During her tenure, she held key leadership positions, including chairing the Education Budget Committee, where she oversaw the allocation of funds for Iowa's educational institutions. Additionally, she served as vice chair of the State Government Committee, playing a crucial role in shaping state government policies and procedures. Cournoyer has also served on several committees, including the Education Committee as vice chair, the Natural Resources and Environment Committee, the State Government Committee, the Transportation Committee, the Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee, the Early Childhood Iowa State Board, and the Research and Development School Advisory Council.[5]
Lieutenant Governor of Iowa (2025–present)
On December 16, 2024, Kim Reynolds announced her nomination of Cournoyer to be the next lieutenant governor of Iowa and was sworn in by Chief Justice Susan Christensen later that day.[11]
2026 Iowa State Auditor race
On April 28, 2025, Cournoyer filed paperwork to run for Iowa State Auditor in the 2026 election.[7][12][13][14] Governor Reynolds endorsed her.[7][12][13][14] She had helped Governor Reynolds, while in the Iowa Senate, to reduce the executive-level cabinet agencies from 37 to 16.[12]
Personal life
She married Kurt Cournoyer in 1997 and divorced in 2021.[5][8][15] They share four children, including a set of twins.[8] She lives in LeClaire.[5]
Electoral history
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Chris Cournoyer | 13,305 | 54.9% | |||
| Democratic | Patti Robinson | 10,916 | 44.5% | |||
| Republican gain from Democratic | ||||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Chris Cournoyer | 14,552 | 60.0% | |
| Democratic | Jed O. V. Ganzer | 9,292 | 38.3% | |
| Republican hold | ||||
References
- ^ "Lieutenant Governor Christine Gearhart Cournoyer "Unlocking Potential" Scholarship". pleasval.org. Retrieved March 24, 2025.
- ^ "State Sen. Chris Cournoyer takes oath of office as new Iowa lieutenant governor" (video). YouTube. KCCI-TV. December 16, 2024.
- ^ Opsahl, Robin (December 16, 2024). "Sen. Chris Cournoyer appointed Iowa lieutenant governor • Iowa Capital Dispatch". Iowa Capital Dispatch. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
- ^ "Gov. Reynolds announces Chris Cournoyer as pick for lieutenant governor Monday morning". weareiowa.com. December 16, 2024. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g "State Senator". www.legis.iowa.gov. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ^ Pfannenstiel, Brianne. "Iowa Lieutenant Governor Chris Cournoyer files paperwork to run for state auditor in 2026". The Des Moines Register. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
- ^ a b c d "Iowa's lieutenant governor announces campaign for state auditor". KCCI. Retrieved May 6, 2025.
- ^ a b c d "Iowa Senate district 49 preview: Patti Robinson vs. Chris Cournoyer". The Quad-City Times. June 5, 2018. Retrieved March 24, 2025.
- ^ Fingerhut, Hannah. "Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds appoints state Sen. Chris Cournoyer as her new lieutenant governor". ABC News. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
- ^ Valley, Megan (December 17, 2018). "'It's bittersweet': Pleasant Valley school board president prepares for new role in state Senate". The Quad-City Times. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
- ^ "Sen. Chris Cournoyer appointed Iowa lieutenant governor". Iowa Capital Dispatch. December 16, 2024. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
- ^ a b c Opsahl, Robin (May 6, 2025). "Lt. Gov. Chris Cournoyer launches campaign for state auditor". Iowa Capital Dispatch. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
- ^ a b Sostaric, Katarina (May 6, 2025). "Lt. Gov. Chris Cournoyer launches 2026 campaign for state auditor". Iowa Public Radio. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
- ^ a b Tallal, Skylar (May 6, 2025). "Lt. Gov. Chris Cournoyer running for state auditor in 2026". CBS. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
- ^ "2018 Iowa Senate Election: Chris Cournoyer questionnaire". The Clinton Herald. Retrieved March 24, 2025.
- ^ "Canvass State" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. December 3, 2018. p. 88. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
- ^ "Official Canvass by County" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. December 5, 2022. p. 96. Retrieved January 29, 2020.