Former Iowa Lieutenant Governor Joy Corning died this weekend. She was 84. Corning was in her sixth year as a state senator when Terry Branstad picked her as his lieutenant governor running mate in 1990. Corning served eight years in the post. Mary Ellen Miller is executive director of 50-50 in 2020, a group formed to encourage women to run for office. Corning was a founding board member.

 

Branstad issued a written statement, calling Corning “an outstanding, unflappable leader who treated everyone with the respect and dignity they deserved.” Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds calls Corning a “tremendous mentor and role model.” Miller says Corning was a mentor to many other women considering a run for public office.

 

Corning ran for governor in 1998, but dropped out of the race before the G-O-P Primary.