Brenna Bird

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Brenna Bird
Bird in 2024
Brenna Bird
BornBrenna Findley
Template:Birth year and age
BirthplaceDexter, Iowa, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
OccupationLawyer, politician
EducationUniversity of Chicago (JD)
Spouse(s)Bob Bird
Website[Official website Official site]

Brenna Bird (née Findley; born 1976) is an American lawyer and politician serving as the 33rd Attorney General of Iowa since January 2023. A member of the Republican Party, Bird defeated longtime incumbent Tom Miller in the 2022 general election, ending Miller's historic tenure as the longest-serving state attorney general in American history.[1] Before her election as attorney general, Bird served as the Guthrie County Attorney beginning in 2019.[2] Bird had previously run for attorney general in 2010 under her maiden name, Brenna Findley, losing to Miller in that race.[3] As attorney general, Bird has focused on consumer protection, child safety online, and immigration enforcement, and has participated in multistate coalitions on various legal and policy matters. In July 2025, Bird announced she would not seek the Republican nomination for governor in 2026, instead planning to run for reelection as attorney general.[4]

Early Life

Brenna Findley was born in 1976 in Dexter, Iowa, a small community in Dallas County in central Iowa.[5] She grew up in a rural Iowa setting. Details about her parents and siblings are not extensively documented in public sources.

Bird's upbringing in small-town Iowa would later become a central element of her political identity, as she frequently referenced her roots in rural Iowa communities during her campaigns for public office.[6]

Education

Bird attended Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree.[5] She went on to attend the University of Chicago Law School, where she earned her Juris Doctor degree.[5] In a 2013 interview with The Hillsdale Collegian, Bird (then Findley) discussed her legal education and career trajectory.[7]

Career

Early Legal and Political Career

After completing her legal education, Bird worked in various legal capacities. She gained experience in both the public and private sectors of law practice in Iowa.[5]

In 2010, running under her maiden name Brenna Findley, she made her first bid for the office of Iowa Attorney General, securing the Republican nomination to challenge the incumbent Democrat, Tom Miller. Miller had served in the position for most of the period since 1979 and was the longest-serving state attorney general in American history. Findley lost the 2010 general election to Miller.[3]

In early 2014, there was speculation that Bird might run for a congressional seat, but she announced she would not seek election to Congress that year.[8]

Guthrie County Attorney

In January 2019, Bird took office as the Guthrie County Attorney, serving as the chief prosecutor for Guthrie County.[2] In this role, she handled criminal prosecutions and provided legal counsel to county government. Her tenure as a county attorney provided her with prosecutorial experience that she later highlighted during her 2022 campaign for attorney general.

During her time as Guthrie County Attorney, Bird was involved in notable litigation. In 2019, she represented the state's interests in a case related to then-Governor Kim Reynolds' administration. A jury found that the governor's office had discriminated against a former state employee based on sexual orientation, resulting in a significant verdict.[9]

2022 Attorney General Campaign

In January 2022, Bird formally announced her candidacy for Iowa Attorney General, setting up a rematch with the longtime incumbent, Democrat Tom Miller.[10] Miller had held the office nearly continuously since 1979 (with a brief interruption from 1991 to 1995) and was considered an institution in Iowa politics.[1]

Bird's campaign focused on issues including law enforcement support, border security and immigration, opposition to what she characterized as federal overreach, and conservative legal priorities. Her television advertisements drew attention during the campaign, with some observers describing them as aggressive in tone.[11]

The 2022 race took place amid a favorable political environment for Republicans in Iowa. In the November 2022 general election, Bird defeated Miller, ending his record-setting tenure.[12] The official canvass showed Bird winning by a substantial margin.[13] Bloomberg Law noted that Miller's defeat marked the end of an era as the longest-ever-serving state attorney general was voted out of office.[1]

Bird was inaugurated as the 33rd Attorney General of Iowa on January 3, 2023, serving under Governor Kim Reynolds.[14]

Attorney General of Iowa

Immigration and Federal Policy

As attorney general, Bird has been active in joining multistate legal actions related to immigration enforcement and federal policy. She has aligned with other Republican attorneys general on various challenges to federal policies and has been a vocal supporter of state-level immigration enforcement measures. Bird has also engaged with issues surrounding the policies of the administration of President Donald Trump, including at least one instance in which she and several other Republican attorneys general expressed concerns about a specific executive order.[15]

Abortion and Reproductive Rights

Bird's office has been involved in legal matters related to abortion policy in Iowa following the Dobbs decision. Reporting by Politico highlighted the intersection of Iowa's legal landscape regarding rape victims, abortion access, and contraceptive availability under Bird's tenure.[16]

Child Safety and Technology

A significant focus of Bird's tenure has been child safety, particularly with regard to online platforms. In December 2025, Bird filed a lawsuit against Roblox, the popular online gaming platform, alleging that the company had enabled the sexual exploitation of Iowa children.[17][18] The lawsuit was filed under Iowa consumer protection and child safety statutes and alleged that Roblox's platform design and moderation practices put minors at risk.

In February 2026, Bird led a coalition of 16 state attorneys general in targeting YouTube, accusing the platform of failing to adequately moderate content from conservative creators. The multistate action represented one of the larger coalitions Bird had assembled on a technology-related issue.[19]

Consumer Protection

Bird's office has maintained the attorney general's traditional role in consumer protection. In February 2026, her office released the top 10 consumer complaints and scams reported in 2025, noting that fraud reports had risen for the second consecutive year. The report urged Iowans to take steps to protect themselves from scams.[20][21][22]

Disability Rights Controversy

Bird's office faced scrutiny over its handling of a disability rights case. In February 2025, Bleeding Heartland reported that Bird had "hid the ball" on a major disability case involving a federal complaint under the Rehabilitation Act, and accused her of misrepresenting aspects of the matter publicly.[23] The underlying federal complaint alleged violations of the Rehabilitation Act by the state of Iowa.[24]

2026 Reelection Plans

In July 2025, Bird was considered a potential candidate for the 2026 Republican gubernatorial nomination, as Governor Kim Reynolds would be term-limited. However, Bird announced that she would not seek the governorship and instead planned to run for reelection as attorney general.[4]

Personal Life

Bird's maiden name is Findley; she ran for attorney general in 2010 under that name.[8] She later married Bob Bird and adopted her married surname, under which she ran in the 2022 election and serves as attorney general.[6] Bird resides in Iowa and has maintained connections to the rural communities where she grew up.

Beyond her legal and political work, limited information about Bird's private life is available in public sources. She has generally kept her family life out of the public spotlight, with most media coverage focusing on her professional and political activities.

Recognition

Bird's 2022 victory over Tom Miller received national attention, as it ended the tenure of the longest-serving state attorney general in United States history. Bloomberg Law and other national outlets covered the significance of the race.[1] KCCI profiled Bird upon her assumption of the office.[14]

As attorney general, Bird has received attention for her participation in multistate coalitions and legal actions. Her lawsuit against Roblox in December 2025 was covered by multiple Iowa and national news outlets as part of a broader trend of state attorneys general targeting technology platforms over child safety concerns.[17][18] Her leadership of the 16-state coalition targeting YouTube in February 2026 further raised her national profile among Republican state attorneys general.[19]

Vote Smart has maintained a profile of Bird tracking her positions and biographical information throughout her political career.[25]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Longest-Ever-Serving State Attorney General Defeated in Iowa".Bloomberg Law.https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/longest-ever-serving-state-attorney-general-defeated-in-iowa.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Meet New Guthrie County Attorney Brenna Bird".Raccoon Valley Radio.2019-01-04.https://www.raccoonvalleyradio.com/2019/01/04/meet-new-guthrie-county-attorney-brenna-bird/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "2010 General Election Canvass Summary".Iowa Secretary of State.https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/pdf/2010/gensummaryorr.pdf.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Iowa AG Brenna Bird rules out 2026 gubernatorial bid, plans to run for reelection".Iowa Capital Dispatch.2025-07-02.https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/07/02/iowa-ag-brenna-bird-rules-out-2026-gubernatorial-bid-plans-to-run-for-reelection/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 "About Attorney General Brenna Bird".Iowa Attorney General's Office.https://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/about-us/about-attorney-general-brenna-bird.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Meet Iowa Attorney General candidates for the 2022 midterm elections: Tom Miller and Brenna Bird".Des Moines Register.2022-10-04.https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/elections/2022/10/04/meet-iowa-attorney-general-candidates-midterm-elections-2022-tom-miller-brenna-bird/10399243002/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  7. ↑ "Q and A: Brenna Findley".The Hillsdale Collegian.2013-04.http://hillsdalecollegian.com/2013/04/q-and-a-brenna-findley/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "GOP's Brenna Findley rules out run for Congress this year".Des Moines Register (archived).2014-02-03.https://archive.today/20140203224920/http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2014/02/03/gops-brenna-findley-rules-out-run-for-congress-this-year/article.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  9. ↑ "Jury: Iowa governor discriminated against employee based on sexual orientation".CNN.2019-07-16.https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/16/politics/jury-iowa-governor-discrimination-sexual-orientation/index.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  10. ↑ "Republican Brenna Bird running for Iowa attorney general against Democrat Tom Miller in 2022 election".Des Moines Register.2022-01-04.https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2022/01/04/republican-brenna-bird-running-iowa-attorney-general-against-democrat-tom-miller-2022-election/9089145002/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  11. ↑ "Brenna Bird's TV ad is over the top".Bleeding Heartland.2022-09-24.https://www.bleedingheartland.com/2022/09/24/brenna-birds-tv-ad-is-over-the-top/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  12. ↑ "Brenna Bird topples incumbent Tom Miller in Iowa attorney general race".Des Moines Register.2022-11-09.https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/elections/2022/11/09/brenna-bird-topples-incumbent-tom-miller-in-iowa-attorney-general-race/69610291007/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  13. ↑ "2022 General Election Canvass Summary".Iowa Secretary of State.https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/pdf/2022/general/canvsummary.pdf.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Brenna Bird: Iowa Attorney General".KCCI.https://www.kcci.com/article/brenna-bird-iowa-attorney-general/41738831.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  15. ↑ BelinLauraLaura"For once, Brenna Bird is "concerned" about something Donald Trump did".Bleeding Heartland.2025-12-21.https://www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/12/21/for-once-brenna-bird-is-concerned-about-something-donald-trump-did/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  16. ↑ "Iowa rape victims face new hurdles on abortion, contraceptives".Politico.2023-04-09.https://www.politico.com/news/2023/04/09/iowa-rape-victims-abortion-contraceptives-00091127.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 "Iowa AG Brenna Bird sues Roblox for child endangerment".KCRG.2025-12-16.https://www.kcrg.com/2025/12/16/iowa-ag-brenna-bird-sues-roblox-child-endangerment/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 "Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird files lawsuit against Roblox".Iowa Capital Dispatch.2025-12-16.https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/12/16/iowa-attorney-general-brenna-bird-files-lawsuit-against-roblox/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 "Iowa AG Brenna Bird leads 16-state push targeting YouTube".KGAN.2026-02.https://cbs2iowa.com/news/local/iowa-ag-brenna-bird-leads-16-state-push-over-youtube-moderation-of-conservative-creators.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  20. ↑ "Iowa AG Brenna Bird releases 2025 top 10 consumer scams as fraud reports rise again".KGAN.2026-02-19.https://cbs2iowa.com/news/local/iowa-ag-brenna-bird-releases-2025-top-10-consumer-scams-as-fraud-reports-rise-again.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  21. ↑ "Iowa Attorney General warns of top 10 scams as complaints rise for second year".KCRG.2026-02-19.https://www.kcrg.com/2026/02/19/iowa-attorney-general-warns-top-10-scams-complaints-rise-second-year/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  22. ↑ "Attorney General Brenna Bird Releases Top 10 Reported Scams and Complaints of 2025".KSOM.2026-02-22.https://westerniowatoday.com/2026/02/22/attorney-general-brenna-bird-releases-top-10-reported-scams-and-complaints-of-2025/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  23. ↑ "Brenna Bird hid the ball on major disability case, now she's lying about it".Bleeding Heartland.2025-02-16.https://www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/02/16/brenna-bird-hid-the-ball-on-major-disability-case-now-shes-lying-about-it/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  24. ↑ "HHS Rehabilitation Act Complaint (Filestamped)".Bleeding Heartland.https://www.bleedingheartland.com/static/media/2025/02/HHS-Rehabilitation-Act-Complaint-Filestamped.pdf.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  25. ↑ "Brenna Bird".Vote Smart.https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/203894.Retrieved 2026-02-24.

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