Chris Cournoyer
American politician (born 1970)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Christine S. Cournoyer (/kərˈnɔɪər/ kər-NOIR; née Gearhart, July 24, 1970)[1][2] is an American politician who has served as the 48th lieutenant governor of Iowa since December 2024,[3] having replaced Adam Gregg, who resigned from the role in September 2024.[4] A member of the Republican Party, Cournoyer previously served as an Iowa state senator from the 35th District from 2019 to 2024.[5]
Chris Cournoyer | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2019 | |
| 48th Lieutenant Governor of Iowa | |
| Assumed office December 16, 2024 | |
| Governor | Kim Reynolds |
| Preceded by | Amy Sinclair (acting) |
| Member of the Iowa Senate | |
| In office January 14, 2019 – December 16, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Rita Hart |
| Succeeded by | Mike Zimmer |
| Constituency | 49th district (2019–2023) 35th district (2023–2024) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Christine Gearhart July 24, 1970 |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Kurt Cournoyer
(m. 1997; div. 2021) |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | University of Texas, Austin (BA) |
On April 28, 2025, Cournoyer filed paperwork to run for Iowa State Auditor in the 2026 election.[6][7] Governor Reynolds endorsed her.[7]
Early life and career
Cournoyer was born in 1970 in Dallas, Texas.[5]
She received a BA degree in 1992 from University of Texas, Austin, in computer science.[5][8] Cournoyer worked as a website designer at Andersen Consulting, before becoming self-employed.[8][9]
She also previously served as the president of the Pleasant Valley Community School District School Board.[10]
Political career
Iowa State Senate
Cournoyer was elected to the Iowa Senate in 2018 and was re-elected in 2023.[5]
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.[5] She helped Governor Reynolds to reduce the executive-level cabinet agencies from 37 to 16.[11]
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.[12]
2026 Iowa State Auditor race
On April 28, 2025, Cournoyer filed paperwork to run for Iowa State Auditor in the 2026 election.[7][11][13][14] Governor Reynolds endorsed her.[7][11][13][14]
Personal life
Electoral history
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Chris Cournoyer | 13,305 | 54.9% | |||
| Democratic | Patti Robinson | 10,916 | 44.5% | |||
| Republican gain from Democratic | ||||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Chris Cournoyer | 14,552 | 60.0% | |
| Democratic | Jed O. V. Ganzer | 9,292 | 38.3% | |
| Republican hold | ||||