Branstad is scheduled for a Tuesday hearing in front of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, something former U.S. ambassador to Barbados, Mary Kramer, has gone through.

“The members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will have questions for him regarding trade and human rights,” Kramer said.

“The job as ambassador has so many facets to it,” Quinn added. “It’s about security of Americans. It’s about security of your embassy. It’s about cooperating in areas like terrorism. It’s about business. There’s probably 100,000 Americans in China, (so he will be responsible for) protecting them and their well-being.”

Should Branstad gain the committee’s approval, the full Senate then votes on Branstad’s nomination. If confirmed, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds would become Iowa’s next governor.