“Chris is a true fiscal conservative with a strong record of improving government efficiencies and
accountability. I’m proud to endorse her.” –Governor Kim Reynolds
(DES MOINES, IOWA) — Lt. Governor Chris Cournoyer today announced her candidacy to
seek the Republican nomination for State Auditor of Iowa, pledging to bring technology-driven
solutions, a proven record of fiscal discipline, and a nonpartisan commitment to transparency
and efficiency in government to the office.
“As Iowa continues to cut taxes and streamline government, the Auditor’s Office must lead by
example and serve as a true watchdog for the taxpayer — not a political weapon,” said
Cournoyer. “It’s time for an Auditor who prioritizes transparency, efficiency, and results over
headlines and partisanship.”
Cournoyer, a former school board member and current Lt. Governor, has long championed
taxpayer-friendly policies and government modernization efforts. During her tenure in the Iowa
Senate, she supported every major tax cut and constitutional protection for taxpayers, including
Iowa’s flat income tax, eliminating retirement income taxes, and a constitutional amendment
requiring a two-thirds majority to raise income taxes. And during her tenure on the Pleasant
Valley School Board, she led the charge to cut the school tax levy.
Governor Kim Reynolds added her support for Cournoyer, “For the same reasons I selected
Chris Cournoyer to serve alongside me as Lieutenant Governor, I’m proud to endorse her to be
Iowa’s next State Auditor. Chris is a true fiscal conservative with a strong record of improving
government efficiencies and accountability. Her background in technology and her unwavering
commitment to taxpayers makes her an ideal watchdog every Iowan can trust. Iowans can rest
assured Chris Cournoyer will always have their best interests at heart.”
As a technology professional, including 27 years running her own technology business,
Cournoyer brings a unique background to the role of State Auditor. “Technology should be a
tool to root out inefficiencies, deliver timely audits, and increase transparency at all levels of
government,” said Cournoyer, who chaired the Senate’s Technology Committee and currently
co-chairs the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council.
Cournoyer was also a key leader in Iowa’s historic government realignment initiative, which cut
the number of cabinet-level agencies from 37 to 16 and centralized IT systems across
departments — saving Iowa taxpayers more than $200 million to date. In addition, she
championed legislation to protect the rights and privacy of Iowans.
“An Auditor should serve all Iowans — not just one party or one cause,” said Cournoyer.
“Taxpayer dollars should never be used to campaign, and oversight should never be driven by
political bias.”
If elected, Cournoyer plans to improve the Auditor’s role in helping local governments identify
efficiencies, integrating AI into the auditing process, enhance promotion of Iowa’s transparency
portal, and make the Auditor’s Office a home for recommendations emerging from the
Governor’s DOGE Task Force on modernizing government operations.
“The people of Iowa deserve an Auditor who will protect their dollars, keep politics out of the
office, and bring a business-minded, results-oriented approach to every audit,” said Cournoyer.
“That’s exactly what I intend to deliver.”
Chris Gearhart Cournoyer is the 48th Lieutenant Governor of Iowa and a former State Senator
representing Clinton, Jackson, and Scott counties. A computer science graduate and former
senior consultant at Andersen Consulting (now Accenture), she also ran a successful web
development business for over 20 years. In the Iowa Senate, she chaired the Technology
Committee—authoring Iowa’s landmark data privacy law—and held leadership roles on key
budget and policy committees. A longtime advocate for education and STEM, she served on her
local school board, taught robotics and coding, and is a former substitute teacher. Cournoyer is
also a former reserve sheriff’s deputy and the proud mother of four.
