The surprise announcement last week that Iowa’s popular Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds would not seek reelection next year has raised the possibility that the Hawkeye State may elect its first Democrat governor in 20 years.

Reynolds, the state’s first-ever woman governor, announced she would not seek a third term. At 65, with husband Kevin in remission from lung cancer, Reynolds made clear it was time for her to move on.

Despite the increasing Republican leanings of Iowa (Donald Trump has carried it three times, and GOP Sens. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst have little trouble at the polls), the governorship is usually “up for grabs” when an incumbent steps down, and the resulting race can go either way.

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