Christine Branstad

Christine Ann Branstad (born 1950) is an American public figure, health activist, and retired medical assistant who served as the First Lady of Iowa for six nonconsecutive terms during the tenure of her husband, Governor Terry Branstad, from 1983 to 1999 and again from 2011 until 2017. She holds the record as Iowa's longest serving first lady, having spent over 22 years in the position. In addition to her record as Iowa's first lady, Christine Branstad is the longest serving first lady of any U.S. state in the country's history.

Biography

Branstad was born Christine Ann Johnson in Fort Dodge, Iowa to Richard and Clara Johnson. She is the oldest of 5 siblings. (Their youngest son, Marcus, was born while the Branstads were in office). Christine Branstad's tenure as first lady ended in 2017, following 22 years and 8,169 days in office, when Governor Terry Branstad resigned from office to become the United States Ambassador to China. She was succeeded by First Gentleman Kevin Reynolds, the first man to hold the position in Iowa's history.