Gov. Reynolds Gets High Marks From Iowans Despite COVID Policies

Iowans approve of Governor Kim Reynolds according to a new poll from Monmouth University Polling Institute. The governor garnered 58% of registered voters support, while thirty-nine percent said she’s doing a bad job according to the poll. The poll comes ahead of the November presidential elections in which Reynolds is not up for re-election.

It wasn't all high marks for Governor Reynolds however, especially when it comes to her handling of the pandemic. In the wake of the recent school mandate passed by the senate, and both signed and approved by the governor, that requires kids be in class at least 50% of the upcoming school year, she received low marks. There was bipartisan opposition to the governor’s directive with a minority of registered voters, just 24%, of agreeing with this requirement. On the flip side, 69% say individual school districts should be able to make the call on how much in-classroom instruction schools provide.

Governor Reynolds also got low marks in other COVID-19 policy areas. Example, 73% of Iowans surveyed believe individual towns and cities should be allowed to establish face mask rules that are more stringent than statewide regulations. Reynolds has repeatedly said that local governments do not have that authority.

See more from the survey of Iowans by Monmouth University here, including thoughts on the 2020 Presidential candidates and Iowans thoughts on other COVID policies.