Terry Branstad

U.S. Ambassador to China, Governor of Iowa (1983–1999; 2011–2017)

"Branstad" redirects here. For other uses, see Branstad (disambiguation).

Terry Branstad

File:Terry Branstad official photo.jpg
12th United States Ambassador to China
In office
July 12, 2017 – October 4, 2020
President| Donald Trump
Preceded by| Max Baucus
Succeeded by| Nick Burns
39th and 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

(1946-11-17) November 17, 1946 (age 79)
Leland, Iowa, U.S.
Political party| Republican
Spouse|

Christine Johnson

(m. 1972)​

Children| 3
Education| University of Iowa (BA)
Drake University (JD)
Military service
Allegiance| File:Flag of the United States.svg United States
Branch/service| File:Flag of the United States Army.svg 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 and former diplomat. A member of the Republican Party, he served three terms in the Iowa House of Representatives from 1973 to 1979 before serving as governor of Iowa from 1983 to 1999 and again from 2011 to 2017. Branstad served as the United States Ambassador to China from 2017 to 2020 under President Donald Trump.

Branstad served as the 39th governor of Iowa from 1983 to 1999. Following this initial retirement from politics, he served as President of Des Moines University, a private medical osteopathic school, from 2003 to 2009. In 2010, Branstad returned to Iowa politics, running for governor again and defeating Democratic incumbent Chet Culver to become the state's 42nd governor.[2][3] 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 in December 2015.[4]

In December 2016, Branstad accepted President Donald Trump's nomination to serve as the United States Ambassador to China. 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 as Ambassador to China in order to work on President Trump's 2020 reelection campaign.[5]

## Contents

* 1 Early life
* 2 Education
* 3 Early political career
* 4 Governor of Iowa
* 4.1 First tenure (1983–1999)
* 4.2 Inter-gubernatorial career
* 4.3 Second tenure (2011–2017)
* 4.3.1 2010 gubernatorial election
* 4.3.2 2014 gubernatorial election
* 4.3.3 Voting rights
* 4.3.4 Taxes
* 4.3.5 Job creation ranking
* 4.3.6 Gun rights
* 4.3.7 Discrimination lawsuit
* 5 U.S. Ambassador to China
* 6 Personal life
* 7 Electoral history
* 8 Notes
* 9 References
* 10 External links

## Early life[edit | edit source]

Branstad was born in Leland, Iowa. His father was Edward Arnold Branstad, a farmer; his mother was Rita (née Garland).[6][7] Branstad's mother was Jewish, and his father a Norwegian American Lutheran.[8] Branstad was raised Lutheran and later converted to Catholicism.[9] He is a second cousin of US Attorney-General Merrick Garland.[10][a]

## Education[edit | edit source]

Branstad received a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of Iowa in 1969 and a Juris Doctor from Drake University Law School in 1974.[14][15] He was drafted after college and served in the United States Army from 1969 to 1971 as a military policeman in the 503rd Military Police Battalion at Fort Bragg.[16] He was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for meritorious service; he once recalled that he arrested actress Jane Fonda for coming onto post at Arlington National Cemetery, where she was planning to attend an antiwar protest.[17][18]

## Early political career[edit | edit source]

Branstad served three terms in the Iowa House of Representatives from 1973 to 1979 and was the Lieutenant Governor of Iowa from 1979 to 1983, the year he was first elected governor.[15]

## Governor of Iowa[edit | edit source]

### First tenure (1983–1999)[edit | edit source]

File:Terry Branstad attends recommissioning ceremony for USS Iowa, Apr 28, 1984.JPEG

Branstad attending the recommissioning ceremony for the USS Iowa, April 28, 1984

File:Bill Clinton with Terry Branstad.jpg

Branstad with President Bill Clinton in 1993

When elected governor at age 36, Branstad became the youngest chief executive in Iowa's history.[19] Reelected in 1986, 1990, and 1994, he left office as Iowa's longest-serving governor. He served as Chairman of the National Governors Association in 1989–90, and also was Chair of the Midwestern Governors Association. In 1997 he chaired the Education Commission of the States, the Republican Governors Association, and the Governors' Ethanol Coalition.

In 1983 Branstad vetoed a bill to establish a state lottery.[20]

Iowa's unemployment rate went from 8.5% when Branstad took office to a record low 2.5% by the time he left office in 1999.[21][22] In his first year as governor, the state budget had a $90 million deficit.[23] It took several years until the budget was balanced. Branstad said he did not have enough support in the legislature to approve budget reforms until 1992. By 1999 Iowa had an unprecedented $900 million budget surplus.[24][25]

### Inter-gubernatorial career[edit | edit source]

File:Fred Thompson with Terry Branstad and Bob Ray.jpg

Branstad (left) with Fred Thompson and Robert D. Ray in 2007

Branstad focused most of his efforts outside of politics after leaving office in early 1999. He founded Branstad and Associates, LLC[26] and was also a partner in the firm of Kaufman, Pattee, Branstad & Miller[27] and a financial advisor for Robert W. Baird and Co.[28]

In August 2003 Branstad accepted an offer from Des Moines University to become its president.[18] On October 16, 2009, he announced his retirement from Des Moines University to run again for governor.[29]

President George W. Bush appointed Branstad to chair the President's Commission on Excellence in Special Education.[30] The commission was charged with developing a plan to improve the educational performance of students with disabilities. After completing his work with the commission in 2003, Branstad was asked to serve as a member of the National Advisory Council for Positive Action for Teen Health, or PATH. The advisory council encourages action to detect adolescent mental illness. In April 2003 Branstad was named a public member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, which comprises both professional and public members who address a variety of issues related to accounting.[31]

Branstad serves on the boards of Conmed Health Management Inc,[32] American Future Fund,[33] the Iowa Health System, Liberty Bank, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants,[34] and Living History Farms.[35]

### Second tenure (2011–2017)[edit | edit source]

#### 2010 gubernatorial election[edit | edit source]

See also: 2010 Iowa gubernatorial election

File:Terry Branstad by Gage Skidmore.jpg

Branstad in 2011

On August 2, 2009, The Des Moines Register reported that Branstad was actively considering seeking the Republican nomination for governor. On October 7, Branstad filed papers to run for governor in the 2010 election.[36] According to a September Des Moines Register poll, he maintained a 70% favorability rating from Iowans as compared to Governor Chet Culver's rating of 50%.[37]

On June 8, 2010, Branstad won the Republican gubernatorial nomination,[38] but when opposing candidate Bob Vander Plaats conceded, he did not endorse Branstad.[39]

The Des Moines Tea Party gave Branstad a "no" on their report card regarding "criteria for acceptance" and said Branstad had "a history of raising taxes, [was] not a true conservative, increased the size of government every year he held office, [and] built a state-owned phone company."[40] Former Iowa State Auditor Richard Johnson accused Branstad of keeping "two sets of books" on the state budget while governor. Johnson said Branstad needed to be "transparent" to Iowa voters about the reporting of Iowa's finances during his tenure as governor.[41]

#### 2014 gubernatorial election[edit | edit source]

See also: 2014 Iowa gubernatorial election

File:Roast and Ride (29220844391).jpg

Branstad speaking at the 2016 Roast and Ride, hosted by U.S. Senator Joni Ernst

Branstad ran for reelection in 2014. He was opposed in the Republican primary by Tom Hoefling, a political activist and nominee for president in 2012 for both America's Party and American Independent Party.[42] Branstad won the primary with 83% of the vote.

In the general election, Branstad faced Democratic nominee State Senator Jack Hatch and won with 59% of the vote.

#### Voting rights[edit | edit source]

Branstad rescinded an executive order by his predecessor Tom Vilsack that restored voting rights to approximately 115,000 felons who had completed their sentences.[43] Iowa was the last remaining state to have felons permanently disenfranchised until 2020, when Branstad's successor, Kim Reynolds, restored voting rights for some felons who had completed their sentences.[43][44]

#### Taxes[edit | edit source]

In June 2013, Branstad signed into law a sweeping tax reform bill that had widespread bipartisan support, passing the Iowa Senate by 44 votes to 6 and the Iowa House by 84 votes to 13.[45] The bill, Senate File 295,[45] provided for the state's largest tax cut in history, including an estimated $4.4 billion in property tax reform[46] and an estimated $90 million of annual income tax relief, in part in the form of an increase in the earned income tax credit.[47] The bill also included significant reforms to education and health care.[47]

#### Job creation ranking[edit | edit source]

A June 2013 Business Journals analysis of 45 of the country's 50 governors ranked Branstad 28th in job creation.[48] The ranking was based on a comparison of the annual private sector growth rate in all 50 states using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.[49]

#### Gun rights[edit | edit source]

On April 13, 2017, with large Republican majorities in the Iowa legislature,[50][51] Branstad signed a bill into law expanding gun rights, enacting a stand-your-ground law, expanding the right of citizens to sue if they believe their Second Amendment rights are being infringed, and expanding the gun rights of minors, among several other provisions.[52]

#### Discrimination lawsuit[edit | edit source]

On July 15, 2019, a jury in Polk County, Iowa awarded a gay former state official $1.5 million in damages, finding that Branstad had discriminated against him based on sexual orientation in 2012.[53]

## U.S. Ambassador to China[edit | edit source]

File:Secretary Perdue welcomes Amb. to China Terry Branstad 20170530-OSEC-LSC-0012 (34833951462).jpg

Branstad meeting with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, May 30, 2017

File:Terry Branstad with Justin Trudeau - 2017 (24042076627).jpg

Terry Branstad with Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau, 2017

In December 2016 President-elect Donald Trump chose Branstad to serve as US Ambassador to China, succeeding Max Baucus.[54] Branstad accepted the offer within one day after meeting with Trump in New York.[55] Trump cited Branstad's decades of experience with China while governor of Iowa.[55] Xi Jinping, China's paramount leader, considers Branstad an "old friend".[56] Branstad's relationship with Xi dates to 1985, when Xi, then a young official from Hebei Province, headed a five-man agricultural delegation to Iowa.[57] Branstad's hearing before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee was held on May 2, 2017.[58]

Branstad was confirmed by the Senate on May 22, 2017, in an 82 to 13 vote.[59] He resigned as governor on May 24, 2017, in a ceremony at the Iowa State House, and was immediately sworn in as U.S. Ambassador to China. His appointment marked the third time in a decade that a politician resigned a statewide office to become the Ambassador to China; Jon Huntsman Jr. resigned as governor of Utah in 2009, and Max Baucus resigned as U.S. senator from Montana in 2014.

In May 2019, Branstad traveled to Tibet Autonomous Region amid heightening trade tensions between the United States and China. This diplomatic journey was designed to give the United States a better perception of Tibet and its people, cultural practices, and life.

Branstad stepped down as U.S. Ambassador to China[60] in early October 2020.[61]

## Personal life[edit | edit source]

Branstad married Christine Johnson on June 17, 1972. They have three children and eight grandchildren. Christine has worked as a medical assistant and as a volunteer at schools and hospitals.[62]

Branstad is a member of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. He received the honor of "Knight Commander of the Court of Honor" in 2015.[63]

In 2015 longtime newspaperman and Iowa historian Mike Chapman published a biography of Branstad, Iowa's Record-Setting Governor: The Terry Branstad Story. The book details Branstad's youth on the family farm, his high school days in Forest City, and his rise in politics.[64]

## Electoral history[edit | edit source]

* 1972 election for Iowa House of Representatives District 8:
* Terry Branstad (R), 59.0%
* Elmer Selbrand (D), 41.0%
* 1974 election for Iowa House of Representatives District 8:
* Terry Branstad (R), 68.7%
* Jean Haugland (D), 31.3%
* 1976 election for Iowa House of Representatives District 8:
* Terry Branstad (R), 70.4%
* Franklin Banwart (D), 29.6%
* 1978 Republican primary election for Lieutenant Governor of Iowa:
* Terry Branstad, 42.1%
* Hansen, 32.7%
* Oakley, 25.2%
* 1978 election for Lieutenant Governor of Iowa:
* Terry Branstad (R), 57.7%
* William Palmer (D), 42.3%
* 1982 election for Governor of Iowa:

1982 General Election:[65]

* Terry Branstad (R), 52.8%
* Roxanne Conlin (D), 46.6%
* Marcia Farrington (L), 0.3%
* Jim Bittner (S), 0.3%

* 1986 election for Governor of Iowa:

1986 General Election:[66]

* Terry Branstad (R), 51.9%
* Lowell Junkins (D), 48.0%

* 1990 election for Governor of Iowa:

1990 General Election:[67]

* Terry Branstad (R), 60.6%
* Donald Avenson (D), 38.8%
* Bailey/Nelson (SW), 0.4%

* 1994 election for Governor of Iowa:

Republican Primary[68]

* Terry Branstad (R), 51.8%
* Fred Grandy (R), 48.1%

1994 General Election:[69]

* Terry Branstad (R), 56.8%
* Bonnie Campbell (D), 41.6%
* Hughes/Davis (Petition), 0.6%
* Butler/Stone (NL), 0.4%
* Olsen/Carey (L), 0.3%
* Galati/Pena (SW), 0.1%

* 2010 election for Governor of Iowa:

Republican Primary[70]

* Terry Branstad (R), 114,290 votes, 50.4%
* Bob Vander Plaats (R), 92,759, 40.9%
* Rod Roberts (R), 19,916, 8.8%

2010 General Election:[3]

* Terry Branstad (R), 52.9%
* Chet Culver (D), 43.1%
* Jonathan Narcisse (I), 1.3%
* Eric Cooper (L), 1.3%
* James Hughes (I), 0.3%
* David Rosenfeld (SW), 0.2%
* Write-Ins, 0.2%

* 2014 election for Governor of Iowa:

Republican Primary:[71]

*     * Terry Branstad (R), 129,752 votes, 79.8%
* Tom Hoefling (R), 16.2%
* Write-Ins, 0.2%

2014 General Election:[72]

* Terry Branstad (R), 59.1%
* Jack Hatch (D), 37.3%
* Lee Deakins Hieb (L), 1.8%
* Jim Hennager (I), 0.9%
* Jonathan Narcisse (I), 0.9%
* Write-ins, 0.1%

## Notes[edit | edit source]

1. ^ Branstad's maternal grandfather was Louis Edward Garland, whose brother Max Hyman (later "Harry") Garland is the grandfather of Merrick Garland. Max and Louis were born in Vagova, Lithuania, then part of the Pale of Settlement within the Russian Empire; they immigrated to the United States together, arriving in New York City on December 7, 1907 and listing their race as "Hebrew". The Garland brothers then settled in Council Bluffs, Iowa.[11][12][13]

## References[edit | edit source]

1. ^ "Des Moines University President Terry Branstad retires | News | des Moines University". October 16, 2009.
2. ^ "2010 Official Canvass by County – Governor" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State's Office. November 29, 2010. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
3. ^ a b "Iowa Election Results 2010". The New York Times. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
4. ^ Dr. Eric Ostermeier (May 29, 2017). "The Top 50 Longest Serving Governors in US History (Updated)". Smart Politics.
5. ^ David Culver and Steven Jiang (September 18, 2020). "Outgoing US ambassador to China blames Beijing for coronavirus as he heads home to help Trump". CNN. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
6. ^ "U.S. Political News, Opinion and Analysis – HuffPost Politics". Politicsdaily.com. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
7. ^ "Edward Branstad (1924–2013)". Governor.iowa.gov. July 26, 2013. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
8. ^ "What if Terry Branstad were a Jewish Latvian? – Daily Times Herald". carrollspaper.com. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
9. ^ "Gov: Knocking down commercial property tax a priority in 2012". Carrollspaper.com. November 22, 2011. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
10. ^ McKinney, Kait (March 16, 2016). "Branstad Has Unique Connection to SCOTUS Nominee Merrick Garland". WHO-HD Channel 13.
11. ^ Margolick, David (March 18, 2016). "What's in Merrick Garland's Name?". Tablet. Archived from the original on March 24, 2016. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
12. ^ Nathan-Kazis, Josh (March 16, 2016). "Merrick Garland Offers Poignant Story About Anti-Semitism as Supreme Court Battle Looms". The Forward. Archived from the original on March 20, 2016. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
13. ^ Garland, Max (April 14, 1936). "Declaration of Intent: citizenship application". United States Department of Labor Immigration and Naturalization Service. Chicago, Illinois. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
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16. ^ "VETERANS DAY: Honoring Our Heroes". Whotv.com. November 11, 2013. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
17. ^ Multiple sources:
* "Gov. Terry Branstad". Togovern.com. Retrieved November 2, 2013.
* "Executive Branch Elected Officials" (PDF). Iowa Official Register. Government of Iowa. p. 3. Retrieved November 2, 2013. "[...] Served in the United States Army as a military policeman 1969–1971, earning rank as Sergeant E-5. [...]"
* "Terry Branstad (R) > Background". The Washington Post. July 23, 2012. Archived from the original on September 16, 2014. Retrieved November 2, 2013. "[...] After college, Branstad served in the Army for two years and received the Army Commendation Medal. [...]"
18. ^ a b "1983–1999, 2011– Terry Branstad". Iowa Heritage Digital Collections. State Library of Iowa. Retrieved November 2, 2013. "[...] Following two years in the U.S. Army, where he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal, Branstad earned his J.D. degree from the Drake University Law School. [...]"
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20. ^ "Branstad Vetoes State Lottery". The Daily Record. June 1, 1983. Retrieved July 19, 2013.
21. ^ "Iowa reports lowest unemployment rate in 1999 : The Economics Daily : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics". www.bls.gov. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
22. ^ "Gov. Terry Branstad | Office of the President". www.president.iastate.edu. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
23. ^ "The Daily Reporter – Google News Archive Search". Retrieved July 19, 2013.
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25. ^ "Fact Check: Culver and Branstad turn hostile over budget records". Iowa Independent. January 21, 2010. Archived from the original on July 29, 2012. Retrieved July 19, 2013.
26. ^ "The Des Moines Register from Des Moines, Iowa on May 18, 2014 * Page I5". Newspapers.com. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
27. ^ "Terry Branstad Elected to AICPA Board of Directors". www.businesswire.com. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
28. ^ "Terry E. Branstad: Executive Profile & Biography – Bloomberg". www.bloomberg.com. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
29. ^ "Des Moines University President Terry Branstad retires – DMU News & Events". Dmu.edu. October 16, 2009. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
30. ^ "Archived: Governor Terry Branstad of Iowa – Chair of the President's Commission on Excellence in Special Education". President's Commission on Excellence in Special Education. United States Department of Education. December 13, 2001. Archived from the original on October 7, 2002. Retrieved November 2, 2013.
31. ^ "2011– Terry Branstad · Iowa Heritage Digital Collections". www.iowaheritage.org. Retrieved September 22, 2016.
32. ^ [1] About Team.
33. ^ "About the Lecture Series : AFF Conservative Lecture Series". Archived from the original on December 25, 2014. Retrieved February 6, 2016.
34. ^ "2009–2010 AICPA Board of Directors". Aicpa.org. September 18, 2006. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
35. ^ globalreach.com, Global Reach Internet Productions, LLC – Ames, IA -. "Board Members – Living History Farms". www.lhf.org. Archived from the original on February 22, 2017. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
36. ^ "Branstad Files Paperwork for Gubernatorial Run". Theiowarepublican.com. October 7, 2009. Archived from the original on March 6, 2010. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
37. ^ Beaumont, Thomas (September 19, 2009). "Culver rating slips; poll gives Branstad positive signs". Des Moines Register. Archived from the original on June 29, 2013. Retrieved February 15, 2010.
38. ^ "Republicans Nominate Branstad for Iowa Governor". KCRG.com. June 8, 2010. Archived from the original on March 15, 2012. Retrieved June 8, 2010.
39. ^ ‘The new Vander Plaats question: Will he back Branstad?’ Archived January 21, 2013, at archive.today, blog post by Reid Forgrave, The Des Moines Register, June 8, 2010. Retrieved June 9, 2010.
40. ^ Multiple sources:
* Obradovich, Kathie (June 2, 2010). "DM Tea Party scorecard: 'No' to Branstad, Roberts". Des Moines Register. Archived from the original on November 4, 2013. Retrieved November 2, 2013. "[...] About Branstad, the group says, among other things, 'History of raising taxes, not a true conservative, increased the size of government each year he held office, built a state-owned phone company.' [...]"
* "Des Moines Tea Party's Candidate Report Card" (PDF). Des Moines Register. June 2010. Retrieved July 19, 2013.[dead link]
* "Des Moines Tea Party Credibility Questioned Following Candidate Report Card". Theiowarepublican.com. Archived from the original on June 8, 2010. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
* "Home – The Des Moines Tea Party". The Des Moines Tea Party. April 15, 2009. Archived from the original on November 4, 2013. Retrieved November 2, 2013.
41. ^ Clayworth, Jason (June 12, 2010). "Accounting controversy still dogs Branstad" (Abstract). The Des Moines Register. Des Moines, Iowa. p. A.1. Retrieved November 2, 2013.[dead link] Alt URL
42. ^ "HAYWORTH: Republican Hoefling aiming to challenge Branstad in 2014". Sioux City Journal. March 4, 2014. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
43. ^ a b "Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signs order restoring felon voting rights". The Quad-City Times. Retrieved August 5, 2020. `{{cite web}}`: `|first=` missing `|last=` (help)
44. ^ "Governor Acts To Restore Voting Rights To Iowans With Felony Convictions". NPR.org. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
45. ^ a b Agency, Iowa Legislative Services. "Iowa Legislature – BillBook". www.legis.iowa.gov. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
46. ^ "Hatch, Branstad differ widely on economy". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
47. ^ a b "UPDATE: Often rancorous Iowa legislative session praised for results | Political News | wcfcourier.com". wcfcourier.com. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
48. ^ Thomas, G. Scott (June 27, 2013). "How state governors rank on their job-growth record". The Business Journals. Retrieved November 3, 2015.
49. ^ Thomas, G.Scott (June 27, 2013). "28. Terry Branstad – Governors ranked by their job-creation records". The Business Journals. Retrieved November 3, 2013.
50. ^ "GOP's state trifecta has its own challenges 'It's not all roses and sunshine,' recalls leader from 20 years ago | The Gazette". The Gazette. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
51. ^ Russell, Joyce (November 9, 2016). "Iowa Senate Turns Republican in Tuesday Voting". Iowa Public Radio. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
52. ^ De Lea, Brittany (April 13, 2017). "Iowa Passes Massive Expansion of Gun Rights, More States to Follow?". Fox Business Network. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
53. ^ "Jury decides Terry Branstad discriminated against gay employee as governor, awards employee $1.5 million". The Des Moines Register.
54. ^ https://share.america.gov December 8, 2016: : Trump’s choice for top China diplomat has long ties to Xi
55. ^ a b Hanson, Alex. "Branstad chosen as Chinese ambassador; Reynolds to become first female governor". Iowa State Daily. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
56. ^ V.V.B. (December 8, 2016). "Damage control: An "old friend" of Xi Jinping will be America's next ambassador to China". The Economist. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
57. ^ "Xi to revisit Iowa after memorable trip 27 years ago|Center|chinadaily.com.cn". usa.chinadaily.com.cn. Archived from the original on March 1, 2018. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
58. ^ Pfannenstiel, Brianne (May 2, 2017). "Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad draws praise in hearings to be ambassador to China". USA Today. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
59. ^ "U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 115th Congress - 1st Session". www.senate.gov. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
60. ^ Culver, David; Westcott, Ben (September 14, 2020). "US Ambassador to China Terry Branstad stepping down as tensions with Beijing rise". CNN. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
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62. ^ Christine Branstad (Iowa) Archived from the original on November 9, 2014
63. ^ "Trump's China ambassador pick member of Freemasons, banned in China". December 7, 2016.
64. ^ "Iowa's Record Setting Governor: The Terry Branstad Story". Business Record. December 16, 2015. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
65. ^ "Election Results > US Gubernatorial Elections, 1982 statistics – states compared – StateMaster". statemaster.com. Archived from the original on January 17, 2013. Retrieved June 7, 2010.
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67. ^ "1990 Gubernatorial General Election Results – Iowa". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved June 7, 2010.
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70. ^ "Iowa Primary Election Results 2010". The Des Moines Register. Archived from the original on June 12, 2010. Retrieved June 9, 2010.
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72. ^ "Terry Branstad re-elected to historic sixth term". desmoinesregister.com. Retrieved November 6, 2014.

## External links[edit | edit source]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Terry Branstad.

* Ambassador Terry Branstad biography
* Terry Branstad for Governor
* Appearances on C-SPAN

Political offices

Preceded by

Arthur A. Neu

|  Lieutenant Governor of Iowa
1979–1983  | Succeeded by

Robert Anderson

Preceded by

Robert D. Ray

|  Governor of Iowa
1983–1999  | Succeeded by

Tom Vilsack

Preceded by

Gerald Baliles

|  Chair of the National Governors Association
1989–1990  | Succeeded by

Booth Gardner

Preceded by

Chet Culver

|  Governor of Iowa
2011–2017  | Succeeded by

Kim Reynolds

Academic offices
Preceded by

Richard M. Ryan Jr.

|  President of Des Moines University
2003–2009  | Succeeded by

Steve Dengle

Diplomatic posts
Preceded by

Max Baucus

|  United States Ambassador to China
2017–2020  | Succeeded by

R. Nicholas Burns

Party political offices
Preceded by

Robert Ray

|  Republican nominee for Governor of Iowa
1982, 1986, 1990, 1994 | Succeeded by

Jim Lightfoot

Preceded by

John Engler

|  Chair of the Republican Governors Association
1996–1997  | Succeeded by

David Beasley

Preceded by

Jim Nussle

|  Republican nominee for Governor of Iowa
2010, 2014 | Succeeded by

Kim Reynolds

U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by

Robert D. Fulton

as Former Governor |  Order of precedence of the United States | Succeeded by

Chet Culver

as Former Governor

* v
* t
* e

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Great Qing Empire

Seal of the US Department of State

Commissioner|

* Cushing (Envoy)
* Everett
* Davis
* Parker (chargé d’affaires)
* Marshall
* McLane
* Parker

Envoy Extraordinary and
Minister Plenipotentiary|

* Reed
* Ward
* Burlingame
* Browne
* Low
* Avery
* Seward
* Angell
* Young
* Denby
* Conger
* Rockhill
* Calhoun

Republic of China (Beijing/Nanjing)

Envoy Extraordinary and
Minister Plenipotentiary|

* Calhoun
* Reinsch
* Crane
* Schurman
* MacMurray
* Johnson

Ambassador Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary|

* Johnson
* Gauss
* Hurley
* Stuart

Republic of China (Taipei)

Ambassador Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary|

* Rankin
* Drumright
* Kirk
* Wright
* McConaughy
* Unger

People's Republic of China

Chiefs of the U.S. Liaison
Office in Beijing|

* Bruce
* Bush
* Gates
* Woodcock

Ambassador Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary|

* Woodcock
* Hummel
* Lord
* Lilley
* Roy
* Sasser
* Prueher
* Randt
* Huntsman
* Locke
* Baucus
* Branstad
* Burns

See also: American Institute in Taiwan

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Governors of Iowa

Territorial (1838-1846)|

* Conway (Acting)
* Lucas
* Chambers
* Clarke

State (since 1846)|

* Briggs
* Hempstead
* Grimes
* Lowe
* Kirkwood
* Stone
* Merrill
* Carpenter
* Kirkwood
* Newbold
* Gear
* Sherman
* Larrabee
* Boies
* Jackson
* Drake
* Shaw
* Cummins
* Garst
* Carroll
* Clarke
* Harding
* Kendall
* Hammill
* Turner
* Herring
* Kraschel
* Wilson
* Hickenlooper
* Blue
* Beardsley
* Elthon
* Hoegh
* Loveless
* Erbe
* Hughes
* Fulton
* Ray
* Branstad
* Vilsack
* Culver
* Branstad
* Reynolds

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Lieutenant governors of Iowa

* Faville
* Rusch
* Needham
* Eastman
* Gue
* Scott
* Walden
* Bulis
* Dysart
* Newbold
* Campbell
* Manning
* Hull
* Poyneer
* Bestow
* Dungan
* Parrott
* Milliman
* Herriott
* Garst
* Clarke
* Harding
* Moore
* Hammill
* Kimball
* McFarlane
* Kraschel
* Valentine
* Hickenlooper
* Blue
* Evans
* Nicholas
* Elthon
* Nicholas
* McManus
* Mooty
* Fulton
* Jepsen
* Neu
* Branstad
* Anderson
* Zimmerman
* Corning
* Pederson
* Judge
* Reynolds
* Gregg

File:Seal of Iowa.svg

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Chairs of the National Governors Association

* Willson
* McGovern
* Walsh
* Spry
* Capper
* Harrington
* Allen
* Sproul
* Cox
* Trinkle
* Brewster
* McMullen
* Dern
* Case
* Pollard
* Rolph
* McNutt
* Peery
* Cochran
* Stark
* Vanderbilt
* Stassen
* O'Conor
* Saltonstall
* Maw
* Martin
* Caldwell
* Hildreth
* Hunt
* Lane
* Carlson
* Lausche
* Peterson
* Shivers
* Thornton
* Kennon
* Langlie
* Stanley
* Stratton
* Collins
* Boggs
* McNichols
* Powell
* Rosellini
* Anderson
* Sawyer
* Reed
* Guy
* Volpe
* Ellington
* Love
* Hearnes
* Moore
* Mandel
* Evans
* Rampton
* Ray
* Andrus
* Askew
* Milliken
* Carroll
* Bowen
* Busbee
* Snelling
* Matheson
* J. Thompson
* Carlin
* Alexander
* Clinton
* Sununu
* Baliles
* Branstad
* Gardner
* Ashcroft
* Romer
* Campbell
* Dean
* T. Thompson
* Miller
* Voinovich
* Carper
* Leavitt
* Glendening
* Engler
* Patton
* Kempthorne
* Warner
* Huckabee
* Napolitano
* Pawlenty
* Rendell
* Douglas
* Manchin
* Gregoire
* Heineman
* Markell
* Fallin
* Hickenlooper
* Herbert
* McAuliffe
* Sandoval
* Bullock
* Hogan
* Cuomo
* Hutchinson
* Murphy

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