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Branstad received a bachelor of arts degree in political science from the [[University of Iowa]] in 1969 and a law degree from [[Drake University]] Law School in 1974. He served in the U.S. Army from 1969-1971. Branstad served three terms in the Iowa House of Representatives. He was elected Lieutenant Governor in 1978 and Governor in 1982. Branstad chaired the National Governors Association in 1989-1990. Iowa's longest-serving Governor, Branstad left office with a historically low 2.7% [[unemployment rate]] and $900 million budget surplus.<ref>Iowa Workforce Development: Iowa Historical Labor Force Data</ref>   

Branstad received a bachelor of arts degree in political science from the [[University of Iowa]] in 1969 and a law degree from [[Drake University]] Law School in 1974. He served in the U.S. Army from 1969-1971. Branstad served three terms in the Iowa House of Representatives. He was elected Lieutenant Governor in 1978 and Governor in 1982. Branstad chaired the National Governors Association in 1989-1990. Iowa's longest-serving Governor, Branstad left office with a historically low 2.7% [[unemployment rate]] and $900 million budget surplus.<ref>Iowa Workforce Development: Iowa Historical Labor Force Data</ref>   

Branstad was re-elected governor in 2010 and again in 2014.

Branstad was re-elected governor in 1986, 1990, and 1994, after which he stepped down, becoming Iowa's longest-serving Governor in the process.  He then ran again for Governor in 2010 (defeating Democratic incumbent [[Chet Culver]]) and was re-elected in 2014.  In 2015 he became the longest serving Governor of any state.

In 2017, with massive GOP majorities in the Iowa legislature,<ref>Russell, Joyce (November 9, 2016). [http://iowapublicradio.org/post/iowa-senate-turns-republican-tuesday-voting#stream/0 Iowa Senate Turns Republican in Tuesday Voting]. ''Iowa Public Radio''. Retrieved April 29, 2017.</ref> Branstad signed into law legislation massively expanding [[gun rights]], including enacting and expanding a stand-your-ground law, providing legal advantages to gun owners, and giving additional rights to minors, among other provisions.<ref>De Lea, Brittany (April 13, 2017). [https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/2017/04/13/iowa-passes-massive-expansion-gun-rights-more-states-to-follow.html Iowa Passes Massive Expansion of Gun Rights, More States to Follow?]. ''Fox Business''. Retrieved April 29, 2017.</ref> He also signed [[voter ID legislation]] into law<ref>Klukowski, Ken (May 6, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/05/06/iowa-adopts-voter-id-law/ Iowa Adopts Voter-ID Law]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 6, 2017.</ref> and defunded [[Planned Parenthood]].<ref>Hellmann, Jessie (May 19, 2017). [https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/334199-four-planned-parenthood-clinics-to-close-in-iowa-after-defunding Four Planned Parenthood clinics to close in Iowa after defunding]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved May 20, 2017.</ref>

In 2017, with massive GOP majorities in the Iowa legislature,<ref>Russell, Joyce (November 9, 2016). [http://iowapublicradio.org/post/iowa-senate-turns-republican-tuesday-voting#stream/0 Iowa Senate Turns Republican in Tuesday Voting]. ''Iowa Public Radio''. Retrieved April 29, 2017.</ref> Branstad signed into law legislation massively expanding [[gun rights]], including enacting and expanding a stand-your-ground law, providing legal advantages to gun owners, and giving additional rights to minors, among other provisions.<ref>De Lea, Brittany (April 13, 2017). [https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/2017/04/13/iowa-passes-massive-expansion-gun-rights-more-states-to-follow.html Iowa Passes Massive Expansion of Gun Rights, More States to Follow?]. ''Fox Business''. Retrieved April 29, 2017.</ref> He also signed [[voter ID legislation]] into law<ref>Klukowski, Ken (May 6, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/05/06/iowa-adopts-voter-id-law/ Iowa Adopts Voter-ID Law]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 6, 2017.</ref> and defunded [[Planned Parenthood]].<ref>Hellmann, Jessie (May 19, 2017). [https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/334199-four-planned-parenthood-clinics-to-close-in-iowa-after-defunding Four Planned Parenthood clinics to close in Iowa after defunding]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved May 20, 2017.</ref>