Terry Branstad

Terry Branstad
United States Ambassador to China
In office June 26, 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
Chair of the National Governors Association
In office August 1, 1989 – July 31, 1990
Preceded by	Gerald Baliles
Succeeded by	Booth Gardner
41st Lieutenant Governor of Iowa
In office January 12, 1979 – January 14, 1983
Governor	Robert Ray
Preceded by	Arthur 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 (1946-11-17) November 17, 1946 (age 78) Leland, Iowa, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Christine Johnson
Children	3
Residence	Terrace Hill
Education	University of Iowa (BA) Drake University (JD)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army
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. He was the United States Ambassador to China from May 24, 2017 to October 4, 2020. He was the 42nd Governor of Iowa from in January 14, 2011 until his resignation on May 24, 2017. Branstad was the 39th governor of Iowa from 1983 to 1999 and President of Des Moines University from 2003 to 2009. He is a member of the Republican Party and is the longest-serving governor in Iowa or American history.^[1]

In 2010, he won a three-way primary election to run as the Republican candidate for governor. He ran against incumbent Governor Chet Culver, a Democrat, and four third party candidates in the November 2, 2010 general election.^[2] He won the general election in November, defeating Culver by 52.9% to 43.1%.^[3]

Branstad started the 2010 race with a lead in both the primary and general elections.^[4][5][6][7] He won the Republican primary with 50.4% of the vote, 9.5% ahead of the next candidate.

On December 14, 2015, Branstad became the longest serving governor in American history.^[8]

In December 2016, Branstad was nominated by President-elect of the United States Donald Trump to become the United States Ambassador to China. Branstad was confirmed by the Senate on May 22, 2017, and was succeeded as Governor of Iowa by Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds after he resigns to take up the ambassadorship.^[9] He resigned in October 2020.

1. ↑ "Branstad's stand questioned". Omaha.com. 2009-12-06. Archived from the original on 2012-07-15. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
2. ↑ "Candidate Listing by Office, November 2, 2010 General Election" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State's Office. August 3, 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 9, 2010. Retrieved October 19, 2010.
3. ↑ "2010 Gubernatorial General Election Results-Iowa". {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
4. ↑ "Culver rating slips; poll gives Branstad positive signs". Des Moines Register. 2009-09-19. Archived from the original on 2012-07-30. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
5. ↑ "Politics Nation". RealClearPolitics. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
6. ↑ "Iowa Poll: Culver rating falls, even among base | the des Moines Regi…". The Des Moines Register. Archived from the original on 2012-07-28. Retrieved 2013-02-04.
7. ↑ Slevin, Peter (March 8, 2010). "Iowa governor faces tough reelection as another state sours on incumbents". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
8. ↑ "Terry Branstad Is Now The Longest Serving Governor In American History". Huffington Post. Associated Press. December 14, 2015. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
9. ↑ Jason Noble (May 22, 2017). "Terry Branstad confirmed as U.S. ambassador to China". Des Moines Register. Retrieved May 22, 2017.