Terry Branstad | |
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![]() Official portrait, 2017 | |
12th United States Ambassador to China | |
In office July 12, 2017 – October 4, 2020 | |
President | Donald Trump |
Preceded by | Max Baucus |
Succeeded by | R. Nicholas Burns |
39th & 42nd Governor of Iowa | |
In office January 14, 2011 – May 24, 2017 | |
Lieutenant | Kim Reynolds |
Preceded by | Chet Culver |
Succeeded by | Kim Reynolds |
In office January 14, 1983 – January 15, 1999 | |
Lieutenant | Robert Anderson Jo Ann Zimmerman Joy Corning |
Preceded by | Robert Ray |
Succeeded by | Tom Vilsack |
President of Des Moines University | |
In office August 9, 2003 – October 16, 2009 | |
Preceded by | Richard M. Ryan Jr. |
Succeeded by | Steve Dengle[1] |
Chair of the National Governors Association | |
In office August 1, 1989 – July 31, 1990 | |
Preceded by | Gerald Baliles |
Succeeded by | Booth Gardner |
40th Lieutenant Governor of Iowa | |
In office January 12, 1979 – January 14, 1983 | |
Governor | Robert D. Ray |
Preceded by | Arthur A. Neu |
Succeeded by | Robert Anderson |
Member of the Iowa House of Representatives from the 8th district | |
In office January 8, 1973 – January 7, 1979 | |
Preceded by | Del Stromer |
Succeeded by | Clifford Branstad |
Personal details | |
Born | Terry Edward Branstad November 17, 1946 Leland, Iowa, U.S. |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse | |
Children | 3, including Eric |
Education | University of Iowa (BA) Drake University (JD) |
Military service | |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Branch/service | ![]() |
Years of service | 1969–1971 |
Unit | 503rd Military Police Battalion |
Awards | Army Commendation Medal |
Terry Edward Branstad (born November 17, 1946) is an American politician and former diplomat who served as the United States ambassador to China from 2017 to 2020 under President Donald Trump. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as the 39th and 42nd governor of Iowa from 1983 to 1999 and from 2011 to 2017, respectively. He is the longest-serving governor in United States history.
Branstad served three terms in the Iowa House of Representatives and one term as the 40th lieutenant governor of Iowa before he was elected governor in 1982. At age 36, he was the youngest governor in Iowa history upon taking office. After 16 years as governor, he served as president of Des Moines University, a private medical osteopathic school, from 2003 to 2009.[2][3] In 2010, Branstad returned to Iowa politics, running for governor again and defeating Democratic incumbent Chet Culver to become the state's 42nd governor.[4][5] His tenure of 22 years, 4 months, and 13 days makes him the longest-serving governor in American history, having surpassed George Clinton's record of 20 years, 11 months, and 2 days on 14 December 2015.[6]
In December 2016, President Donald Trump nominated Branstad to serve as the United States Ambassador to China.[7] Branstad resigned as governor of Iowa on May 24, 2017, and was sworn in as the United States ambassador to China on July 12, 2017. In 2020, Branstad resigned from his post to work on President Trump's 2020 reelection campaign.[8]
On January 24, 2023, it was announced that Branstad would become president of the World Food Prize Foundation.[9][10] He announced his retirement on November 19, 2024, and formally retired in February 2025.[11]