Chris Cournoyer

Chris Cournoyer
Official portrait, 2019
48th Lieutenant Governor of Iowa
Incumbent
Assumed office
December 16, 2024
GovernorKim Reynolds
Preceded byAmy Sinclair (acting)
Member of the Iowa Senate
In office
January 14, 2019 – December 16, 2024
Preceded byRita Hart
Succeeded byMike Zimmer
Constituency49th district (2019–2023)
35th district (2023–2024)
Personal details
BornChristine Gearhart
(1970-07-24) July 24, 1970 (age 56)
Dallas, Texas, U.S.
PartyRepublican
Spouse
Kurt Cournoyer
​
​
(m. 1997; div. 2021)​
Children4
EducationUniversity of Texas, Austin (BA)

Christine S. Cournoyer (/kərˈnɔɪər/ kər-NOIR; née Gearhart, July 24, 1970) is an American politician who has served as the 48th lieutenant governor of Iowa since December 2024, having replaced Adam Gregg, who resigned from the role in September 2024. A member of the Republican Party, Cournoyer previously served as an Iowa state senator from the 35th District from 2019 to 2024.

On April 28, 2025, Cournoyer filed paperwork to run for Iowa State Auditor in the 2026 election. Governor Reynolds endorsed her.

Early life and career

Cournoyer was born in 1970 in Dallas, Texas.

She received a BA degree in 1992 from University of Texas, Austin, in computer science. Cournoyer worked as a website designer at Andersen Consulting, before becoming self-employed.

She also previously served on the Pleasant Valley Community School District School Board from 2013 until 2019, with 2 years as board president. She was a reserve sheriff deputy for Scott County.

Political career

Iowa State Senate

Cournoyer was elected to the Iowa Senate in 2018 and was re-elected in 2023.

During her tenure, she held key leadership positions, including chairing the Education Budget Committee, where she oversaw the allocation of funds for Iowa's educational institutions. Additionally, she served as vice chair of the State Government Committee, playing a crucial role in shaping state government policies and procedures. Cournoyer has also served on several committees, including the Education Committee as vice chair, the Natural Resources and Environment Committee, the State Government Committee, the Transportation Committee, the Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee, the Early Childhood Iowa State Board, and the Research and Development School Advisory Council. She helped Governor Reynolds to reduce the executive-level cabinet agencies from 37 to 16.

She was, additionally, an Assistant Majority Leader.

Lieutenant Governor of Iowa (2025–present)

On December 16, 2024, Kim Reynolds announced her nomination of Cournoyer to be the next lieutenant governor of Iowa and was sworn in by Chief Justice Susan Christensen later that day.

2026 Iowa State Auditor race

On April 28, 2025, Cournoyer filed paperwork to run for Iowa State Auditor in the 2026 election. Governor Reynolds endorsed her. Cournoyer defeated Abigail Maas in the Republican primary and advanced to the November general election where she will face the Democratic nominee Taylor Wettach.

Personal life

She married Kurt Cournoyer in 1997 and divorced in 2021. They share four children, including a set of twins. She lives in LeClaire. There is a scholarship named in her honor at Pleasant Valley School District, where she was a board member, named Lieutenant Governor Christine Gearhart Cournoyer "Unlocking Potential" Scholarship.

Electoral history

Iowa Senate Races

Iowa Senate 49th District election, 2018
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Chris Cournoyer 13,305 54.9%
Democratic Patti Robinson 10,916 44.5%
Republican gain from Democratic
Iowa Senate 35th District election, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Chris Cournoyer 14,552 60.0%
Democratic Jed O. V. Ganzer 9,292 38.3%
Republican hold

Iowa Auditor Race

Primary results by county:
  Cournoyer
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  Maas
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
2026 Iowa State Auditor Republican Primary Election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Chris Cournoyer 100,013 54.00
Republican Abigail Maas 84,686 45.72
Write-in 523 0.28
Total votes 185,102 100.00
2026 Iowa State Auditor General Election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Chris Cournoyer
Democratic Taylor Wettach
Write-in
Total votes 100.00

References

  1. ↑ "Lieutenant Governor Christine Gearhart Cournoyer "Unlocking Potential" Scholarship". pleasval.org. Retrieved March 24, 2025.
  2. ↑ "State Sen. Chris Cournoyer takes oath of office as new Iowa lieutenant governor" (video). YouTube. KCCI-TV. December 16, 2024.
  3. ↑ Opsahl, Robin (December 16, 2024). "Sen. Chris Cournoyer appointed Iowa lieutenant governor • Iowa Capital Dispatch". Iowa Capital Dispatch. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  4. ↑ "Gov. Reynolds announces Chris Cournoyer as pick for lieutenant governor Monday morning". weareiowa.com. December 16, 2024. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "State Senator". www.legis.iowa.gov. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  6. ↑ Pfannenstiel, Brianne. "Iowa Lieutenant Governor Chris Cournoyer files paperwork to run for state auditor in 2026". The Des Moines Register. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Iowa's lieutenant governor announces campaign for state auditor". KCCI. Retrieved May 6, 2025.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Iowa Senate district 49 preview: Patti Robinson vs. Chris Cournoyer". The Quad-City Times. June 5, 2018. Retrieved March 24, 2025.
  9. ↑ Fingerhut, Hannah. "Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds appoints state Sen. Chris Cournoyer as her new lieutenant governor". ABC News. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  10. ↑ Valley, Megan (December 17, 2018). "'It's bittersweet': Pleasant Valley school board president prepares for new role in state Senate". The Quad-City Times. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  11. 1 2 3 4 "Lieutenant Governor Christine Gearhart Cournoyer "Unlocking Potential" Scholarship". Pleasant Valley School Foundation. Retrieved July 26, 2026.
  12. 1 2 3 Opsahl, Robin (May 6, 2025). "Lt. Gov. Chris Cournoyer launches campaign for state auditor". Iowa Capital Dispatch. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
  13. ↑ "Sen. Chris Cournoyer appointed Iowa lieutenant governor". Iowa Capital Dispatch. December 16, 2024. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  14. 1 2 Sostaric, Katarina (May 6, 2025). "Lt. Gov. Chris Cournoyer launches 2026 campaign for state auditor". Iowa Public Radio. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
  15. 1 2 Tallal, Skylar (May 6, 2025). "Lt. Gov. Chris Cournoyer running for state auditor in 2026". CBS. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
  16. ↑ "2018 Iowa Senate Election: Chris Cournoyer questionnaire". The Clinton Herald. Retrieved March 24, 2025.
  17. ↑ "Canvass State" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. December 3, 2018. p. 88. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  18. ↑ "Official Canvass by County" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. December 5, 2022. p. 96. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  19. ↑ "2026 Election Canvass Summary" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. June 22, 2026. pp. 88–97. Retrieved July 26, 2026.