The wife of former Iowa Democratic Party chairman Michael Kiernan says her husband’s gotten the “best possible outcome” after surgery to remove a tumor. 

Thirty-five-year-old Michael Kiernan resigned from his post as chairman of the Iowa Democratic Party in June for health reasons. Last Thursday, Kiernan underwent four hours of surgery at University Hospitals in Iowa City. A tumor wrapped around his salivary gland was removed.

Kiernan’s wife, Erin, says the surgeon called Tuesday night to say tests conclude the tumor was benign. It also appears a main facial nerve near the tumor wasn’t damaged in the process as Erin Kiernan says her husband is able to do the things he’s supposed to do, like move his eyebrow.

The Kiernans are at home, in Des Moines, now and Erin Kiernan says her husband will undergo an “extended” period of recovery.  Read more about this story.