Hunter
05/06/25
Iowa Lieutenant Governor Chris Cournoyer has formally announced her run for State Auditor.
The Des Moines Register reports Cournoyer, a Republican, had previously signaled her intention to seek the office when she filed the necessary paperwork for an auditor campaign with the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board.
In a statement shared first with the Register, Cournoyer said, “…the Auditor’s office must lead by example and serve as a true watchdog for the taxpayer — not a political weapon. It’s time for an Auditor who prioritizes transparency, efficiency, and results over headlines and partisanship.”
Current State Auditor Rob Sand is the only statewide elected Democrat, and recently expressed frustration with his office’s audit of the state’s Education Savings Account (ESA) program. Sand claimed in his report that they found at least a dozen relevant emails and memos tied to audits of the ESA program, which uses taxpayer money for private school tuition, were never turned over. The report alleges the Department of Management withheld records and encouraged other agencies to follow suit. Sand said the actions delayed audit work and put the state’s finances at risk.
He reportedly is considering a gubernatorial bid in 2026.
Governor Kim Reynolds appointed Cournoyer to be Lieutenant Governor in December after Adam Gregg resigned the position. Iowa then became one of only a few states in the country that had women holding governor and lieutenant governor spots.
Reynolds issued a statement endorsing Cournoyer for the Auditor’s position, saying, “Her background in technology and her unwavering commitment to taxpayers makes her an ideal watchdog every Iowan can trust.”