Branstad-Reynold Announce Re-Election Bid

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad (R) at a campaign stop in Pella, Iowa on Thursday.

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad (R) at a campaign stop in Pella, Iowa on Thursday.

Pella, Iowa, – In the small coffee shop on the southeast side of the square in downtown Pella, Iowa, Governor Branstad made his first of many campaign stops in a race that will only heat up from here.

Branstad is running for an unprecedented 6th term as Iowa Governor. At at event on Wednesday night, the Governor along with his Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds formally announced they were seeking re-election. The announcement was just a formality and not a surprise, with the campaign already having a strong ground game in place, and fundraising firmly engaged.

Fresh out of the gate, Branstad and Reynolds rolled into Pella on Thursday to hold their first of many  campaign stops before the November election.

In an interview after his campaign speech, Branstad said that his love for Iowa, and meeting people is part of why he enjoys campaigning. “I’m glad to be on the road again. I’m looking forward to the campaign,” said Branstad.

“I’m encouraged by the progress we’ve made, but there’s a lot more work to do,” said Branstad.

Branstad delivered his Condition of the State Address earlier in the week to a combined session of the Iowa House and Senate. I asked him if his speech was a sort of blueprint for his campaign. “First of all, I was elected to do the job as Governor, and I want to focus on accomplishing the ambitious agenda we laid out in the Condition of the State Address.”

“Once the Legislature adjourns, which we hope, maybe, will be April this year, there will be plenty of time to campaign between then and November and to talk more about the vision and the plans we have for the next four years,” said Branstand. “Right now I want to really focus on what we accomplish in 2014.”

“The best you can do for your campaign is do a good job for the job you’re elected to,” said Branstad, who has taken to visiting every county in the State every year. “Focusing on good jobs, reforming education and our goal of being healthiest state, I think this is being in tune with the kind of leadership Iowan’s want. So I want to run on that record, but I want people to know we’re not done.”

Iowa’s Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds has almost always been at Branstad’s side at nearly every event this past 4 years. Reynolds also pointed towards their record over the past 3 years as a reason for voters to consider them for the job once again. “We’re just getting started,” Reynolds said in an interview. “There’s a lot more to do.”

Reynolds mirrored Branstad in her belief that bringing quality jobs to the State of Iowa and “helping individuals that are underemployed and unemployed get the skill set they need.”

“We want all Iowans to have a great quality of life,” Reynolds said going on.

In the fractured Republican party of Iowa, many conservatives say that the pair isn’t conservative enough. “I would say that I am,” Reynolds said in response. “We’re working really hard to grow the (Republican) party and it needs to be very diverse,” saying a diverse group of people need to come together to help lead.

You can find out more about the Branstad-Reynolds campaign by visiting their website Here – http://branstadreynolds.com/

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