41 Facts About Terry Branstad

Terry Branstad served three terms in the Iowa House of Representatives and one term as the 40th lieutenant governor of Iowa before he was elected governor in 1982.

In 2010, Terry Branstad returned to Iowa politics, running for governor again and defeating Democratic incumbent Chet Culver to become the state's 42nd governor.

In December 2016, president-elect Donald Trump nominated Terry Branstad to serve as the United States Ambassador to China.

Terry Branstad resigned as governor of Iowa on May 24,2017, and was sworn in as the United States ambassador to China on July 12,2017.

In 2020, Terry Branstad resigned from his post to work on President Trump's 2020 reelection campaign.

Terry Branstad's father was Edward Arnold Branstad, a farmer; his mother was Rita.

Terry Branstad's mother was Jewish, and his father was a Norwegian American Lutheran.

Terry Branstad is a second cousin of Democrat Attorney General Merrick Garland.

Terry Branstad received a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of Iowa in 1969 and a Juris Doctor from Drake University Law School in 1974.

Terry Branstad was drafted after college and served in the United States Army from 1969 to 1971 as a military policeman in the 503rd Military Police Battalion at Fort Bragg.

Terry Branstad was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for meritorious service; he once recalled that he arrested actress Jane Fonda for coming onto the post at Arlington National Cemetery, where she was planning to attend an antiwar protest.

Terry Branstad served three terms in the Iowa House of Representatives from 1973 to 1979 and was the Lieutenant Governor of Iowa from 1979 to 1983, the year he was first elected governor.

When he took office as governor at age 36, Terry Branstad became the youngest chief executive in Iowa's history.

In 1983 Terry Branstad vetoed a bill to establish a state lottery.

Terry Branstad made reinstatement of the death penalty a central focus of his 1994 re-election campaign; however, despite successfully being re-elected, he was unable to implement this policy due to opposition from Democrats in the Iowa State Senate.

Terry Branstad said he did not have enough support in the legislature to approve budget reforms until 1992.

Terry Branstad focused most of his efforts outside of politics after leaving office in early 1999.

Terry Branstad serves on the boards of Conmed Health Management Inc, American Future Fund, the Iowa Health System, Liberty Bank, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and Living History Farms.

On October 7, Terry Branstad filed papers to run for governor in the 2010 election.

On June 8,2010, Terry Branstad won the Republican gubernatorial nomination, but when opposing candidate Bob Vander Plaats conceded, he did not endorse Terry Branstad.

Johnson said Terry Branstad needed to be "transparent" to Iowa voters about the reporting of Iowa's finances during his tenure as governor.

Terry Branstad was opposed in the Republican primary by Tom Hoefling, a political activist and nominee for president in 2012 for both America's Party and American Independent Party.

Terry Branstad rescinded an executive order signed by governor Tom Vilsack that restored voting rights to approximately 115,000 felons who had completed their sentences.

In June 2013, Terry Branstad signed into law a sweeping tax reform bill that had widespread bipartisan support, passing the Iowa Senate by 44 votes to 6 and the Iowa House by 84 votes to 13.

In December 2016 President-elect Donald Trump chose Terry Branstad to serve as US Ambassador to China, succeeding Max Baucus.

Terry Branstad accepted the offer within one day after meeting with Trump in New York.

Terry Branstad's hearing before the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee was held on May 2,2017.

Terry Branstad was confirmed by the Senate on May 22,2017, in an 82 to 13 vote.

Terry Branstad resigned as governor on May 24,2017, in a ceremony at the Iowa State House, and was immediately sworn in as US Ambassador to China.

Terry Branstad's appointment marked the third time in a decade that a politician resigned a statewide office to become the Ambassador to China; Jon Huntsman Jr.

In October 2018, the Financial Times reported that Terry Branstad opposed a proposal by White House Senior Advisor Stephen Miller about stopping providing student visas to Chinese nationals, making it impossible for Chinese citizens to study in the United States.

Terry Branstad argued that such a ban would harm US trade to China and hurt small American universities more than the elite ones.

In May 2019, Terry Branstad traveled to Tibet Autonomous Region amid heightening trade tensions between the United States and China.

Terry Branstad stepped down as US Ambassador to China in early October 2020, at the request of President Donald Trump to help with his 2020 presidential campaign.

On January 24,2023, it was announced that Terry Branstad would become president of the World Food Prize Foundation.

Terry Branstad announced his retirement on November 19,2024, and formally retired in February 2025.

Terry Branstad's wife has worked as a medical assistant and as a volunteer at schools and hospitals.

Eric Terry Branstad is a political consultant and lobbyist whose lobbying activities on behalf of Chinese firms while Terry Branstad was US Ambassador to China led to charges with conflict of interest.

Terry Branstad is a member of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry.

Terry Branstad received the honor of "Knight Commander of the Court of Honor" in 2015.

Terry Branstad is a second cousin of Merrick Garland, who served as United States attorney general under President Joe Biden.