In an attempt to attract influential Iowa evangelical Christians and win their support, some of Donald Trump’s main rivals for the Republican presidential nomination gathered for the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition’s annual banquet and town hall in Des Moines. Notable attendees included former Vice President Mike Pence, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. Other speakers included Nikki Haley, Sen. Tim Scott, former Gov. Asa Hutchinson, and former Rep. Will Hurd.
The event commenced with Republican Iowa Gov. Reynolds addressing the crowd, emphasizing the importance of their participation in reclaiming the country. The gathering consisted of over 1,000 individuals, including devout social conservatives who hold considerable sway during Iowa’s early Republican caucuses.
Despite Donald Trump’s absence from this event and several others, he continues to maintain a significant lead in the early GOP primaries. His enduring popularity among evangelical Christians and social conservatives in Iowa and elsewhere was boosted by his appointment of three Supreme Court justices who voted to overturn Roe v. Wade, effectively eliminating the federally protected right to abortion.
During the Family Research Council’s Pray Vote Stand conference, Trump reiterated his unwavering dedication to Christians, emphasizing his fulfillment of campaign promises. However, Saturday’s banquet represented the final opportunity for Iowa evangelical conservatives to witness the candidates side-by-side, excluding Trump. The former president chose not to attend similar events held earlier in the year.
While abortion typically dominates discussions at Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition gatherings, candidates were also questioned about gender education in schools, which has become a significant concern for social conservatives in recent years.
DeSantis, along with other candidates, conducted a series of pre-banquet events throughout Iowa. At an evangelical Christian church in Des Moines, he spoke about religious liberty and criticized the erosion of this fundamental right perpetrated by the left. DeSantis invited supporters who praised his efforts to ban abortions after six weeks of pregnancy and to permit religious exemptions for businesses with objections to providing services for same-sex marriages.
Despite his discourse on these matters, DeSantis did not discuss his own faith, contrasting with previous successful caucus candidates who emphasized their religious beliefs. Instead, while standing on the altar, a group of pastors laid their hands on him and offered prayers for his receptiveness to divine guidance.
Attendee Robin Star expressed gratitude for the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade but did not solely credit Trump for this outcome. Nevertheless, Star indicated that she would support Trump if he becomes the Republican nominee, although she expressed concerns about his ability to unite the party for a successful general election against President Joe Biden.
“We’ve got to win,” Star emphasized. “We’ve just got to win.”
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