Advertisement Reynolds to appear at Iowa rally with Trump The departure of the nation's longest-serving governor to accept an appointment as U.S. ambassador to China means Iowa will be led by its first female governor. Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds is cutting short a family vacation to appear alongside Gov. Terry Branstad at an Iowa rally for President-elect Donald Trump. Ben Hammes, a spokesman for Branstad, says Reynolds will attend a Thursday night rally in Des Moines that will feature Branstad, Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence. Hammes says Reynolds is traveling to Des Moines sometime between Wednesday and Thursday. Reynolds was on a vacation with her family this week when news broke that Trump had nominated Branstad to become the next ambassador to China. Branstad has accepted the offer, meaning Reynolds is poised to be the state's next governor. Iowa Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds says her six years in office have prepared her for her new role as governor. Reynolds released a statement Wednesday saying "the experience I've gained over the last six years has prepared me well for this next chapter of service to all Iowans." Reynolds will become Iowa's first female governor after current Gov. Terry Branstad steps down to become ambassador to China. President-elect Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he'd appointed Branstad to the position, which requires Senate confirmation. In her statement, Reynolds lavished praise on Branstad, saying Trump's nomination "speaks volumes about the character, talent and experience of Gov. Terry Branstad." She called Branstad her "mentor and friend." The departure of the nation's longest-serving governor to accept an appointment as U.S. ambassador to China means Iowa will be led by its first female governor. An aide to President-elect Donald Trump confirmed on Wednesday that Trump has offered to nominate Republican Gov. Terry Branstad for the ambassadorship, and that the governor has accepted. If Branstad is confirmed by the Senate, Republican Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds would become Iowa's governor. She would hold the position until Branstad's term ends in January 2019, and she could run for governor in 2018. The 57-year-old Reynolds was a first-term state senator when Branstad chose her to run for election as his lieutenant governor. Reynolds has focused on economic development and education during her six years as lieutenant governor. Tim Albrecht, former Branstad communications director, told KCCI's Cynthia Fodor that Reynolds will appoint her own Lt. Governor after she is sworn in. Albrecht went on to say no one is more prepared to run the state than Reynolds. "She has worked hand-in-hand with the governor. Iowans should feel good about her being sworn in." The dates for Branstad's resignation and Reynold's swearing in have not yet been set.