Inside Iowa Politics: He worked for past 2 governors, now looking to become the next one

DES MOINES, Iowa (Gray Media Iowa State Capitol Bureau) - Mike Bousselot, a state legislator from Ankeny, worked as a chief of staff to one Iowa governor, a budget director for the next, and is trying to figure out whether there is a path for him to become the third straight Republican governor.

On April 11th, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds surprised many people when she announced that she was not running for re-election.

Bousselot, an attorney and business developer, became the top adviser to Terry Branstad, the longest serving governor in the nation’s history. Bousselot later served as director of the Iowa Department of Management for Branstad’s lieutenant governor, Reynolds, after she ascended to his position and became the state’s first female governor.

Since then, Bousselot served one term in the house and is currently serving his first term in the senate.

On Monday, he announced that he had formed an exploratory committee, which is traditionally a step between a person thinking about running for office and officially declaring a campaign for that office.

Bousselot is the only Republican to announce an exploratory committee. However, former one-term state representative Brad Sherman, a pastor from Williamsburg, announced in February that he is officially running for governor.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig and Attorney General Brenna Bird, both Republicans, have confirmed that they are having conversations about a possible campaign.

U.S. Representative Zach Nunn, U.S. Representative Randy Feenstra, U.S. Representative Ashley Hinson, House Speaker Pat Grassley, and state Representative Bobby Kaufmann of Wilton have also not publicly ruled out a gubernatorial campaign for next June’s Republican primary.

About the author: Midwest native Dave Price is Gray Television’s Iowa Political Director for nine stations that broadcast in the state and has been covering local, state and national politics from Iowa since 2001.

Dave produces and hosts “Inside Iowa Politics,” a weekly, in-depth show focused on interviews with top leaders on politics, issues, challenges and solutions that impact the state.

He has written two books about the Iowa Caucuses (“Caucus Chaos” and “Caucus Chaos Trump”). Email him at dave.price@gray.tv. Follow him on X (Twitter): @idaveprice Meta/Facebook: DavePriceNews Instagram: idaveprice and LinkedIn: Dave Price.