When Iowa’s Republican Governor Kim Reynolds attended a donor retreat hosted by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis last year, it went largely unnoticed. However, when she joined DeSantis on stage at another donor event near former President Donald Trump’s residence, people began to take notice. Reynolds’ repeated appearances with DeSantis in Iowa this year have raised eyebrows and set off alarms within the Trump campaign.
Reynolds has maintained that she will not formally endorse any candidate in the presidential race, as is tradition for Iowa governors to remain neutral during the first GOP nominating contest. However, her actions and words suggest that she may be creating an opening for DeSantis to challenge Trump. Iowa is seen as a crucial battleground where DeSantis must halt Trump’s momentum, while Trump hopes to secure a win that eluded him in 2016.
In Iowa, no politician holds more influence than Reynolds. With an approval rating near 90% among Republicans, she can shape the political landscape without making a formal endorsement. While Reynolds has appeared alongside other candidates in the past, her warm embrace of DeSantis has caught the attention of the Trump campaign. It is worth noting that one of Reynolds’ senior political advisers is also a top adviser to a DeSantis super PAC.
The relationship between Reynolds and DeSantis is notably different. They share a degree of familiarity and friendship, calling each other by their first names. They connected during the coronavirus pandemic as two governors who pushed to reopen their states against the warnings of public health officials. They have even had private dinners and exchanged supportive calls. Reynolds has joined DeSantis on multiple visits to Iowa this year, praising his leadership and the success of Florida.
Some Iowa Republicans argue that Reynolds is simply being a gracious host and playing no favorites. However, Trump advisers believe that her neutrality is in name only. They suspect that Reynolds will do whatever she can to support DeSantis without outright endorsing him. Breitbart News, known for its close relationship with Trump, conspicuously did not include Reynolds on their list of potential running mates for Trump in 2024.
While Trump has allies in Iowa, he is seeking more. On his recent visit to the state, he invited prominent Republican officials whose endorsements are still up for grabs to dinner. Reynolds’ formal neutrality is seen as good for all Iowans who value the state’s first-in-the-nation status in the Republican calendar. Former Iowa Governor Terry Branstad urged Trump to overcome his irritation and focus on the future.
There have been no recent independent polls in Iowa, but national surveys show that Trump leads DeSantis by a significant margin. Reynolds not only serves as the governor of Iowa but also leads the Republican Governors Association, the campaign arm for Republican gubernatorial candidates nationwide. While her counterparts in the Senate and House campaign arms have endorsed Trump, Reynolds’ primary goal is to protect Iowa’s status as the first-in-the-nation state.
In conclusion, Kim Reynolds’ relationship with Ron DeSantis has caught the attention of political observers, as she appears to be softening the ground for DeSantis to challenge Trump in Iowa. While Reynolds maintains her neutrality, her actions and words suggest she is paving the way for an opening for DeSantis. With Reynolds’ significant influence in Iowa and her repeated appearances alongside DeSantis, it is clear that she is a key player in the GOP landscape leading up to the next presidential election.
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