Iowa’s Governor to Back Ron DeSantis for Presidential Bid, Insider Reports Indicate

Iowa’s Governor Kim Reynolds is reportedly poised to endorse Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida for the presidential race, potentially elevating his 2024 campaign prospects. Despite competing against the formidable presence of Donald Trump in the GOP primary, DeSantis may gain momentum from Reynolds’ support, according to two sources privy to the development.

DeSantis is betting heavily on Iowa as a pivotal state for positioning himself as the preferred Trump alternative. Governor Reynolds enjoys a strong Republican following and is poised to deviate from the longstanding Iowa custom of gubernatorial neutrality ahead of the state’s early nominating caucuses.

These insiders disclosed the expected announcement to The Big Big News under anonymity, ahead of a planned rally on Monday in Des Moines, where Governor Reynolds is anticipated to make her endorsement public. The impending support was initially reported by the Des Moines Register and NBC News.

Previously, Reynolds had joined DeSantis at several Iowa political gatherings and has been seen with Florida’s First Lady Casey DeSantis, though she stopped short of endorsing him outright. Nonetheless, she has often expressed affinity for DeSantis’s policy stances and legislative achievements, such as the enactment of a stringent six-week abortion ban.

As she serves her second term, Reynolds had not ruled out the possibility of endorsing a presidential contender before the January 15 caucuses. Although she hosted Trump at a rally in March, she has since faced criticism from Trump for her potential early endorsement and claims of credit for her gubernatorial victory.

Trump’s campaign issued a rebuke following these developments, suggesting Reynolds is stepping back from political aspirations and accusing her of reneging on a pledge to her constituents to remain impartial in the presidential race. The statement also downplayed the significance of her endorsement.

Despite these contentions, Trump remains the frontrunner in Iowa. In the race against time before the leadoff contest, DeSantis is vying with former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley as the alternate choice to Trump, with the caucus looming a mere 10 weeks away.

In an aggressive move, DeSantis relocated around 20 staff members from his campaign headquarters in Tallahassee to Iowa about a month ago. His supporting super PAC, Never Back Down, has also been actively engaging prospective caucus-goers since the summer with a sizeable team.

During a recent tour, DeSantis addressed a group of approximately 50 Republican activists in Denison, marking his visit to the 86th out of Iowa’s 99 counties, demonstrating his commitment to covering conservative territory in western Iowa.

Among the reasons for Reynolds’ popularity within her party are her approvals of a school choice measure and a rigorous abortion restriction this year.

Steve Peoples, the AP National Political Writer based in New York, contributed reporting to this article.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Reynolds Endorses DeSantis

More about Reynolds Endorses DeSantis

• Reynolds to Endorse DeSantis
• Iowa GOP Primary Dynamics
• Trump vs. DeSantis: Iowa’s Stakes
• Reynolds Breaks Iowa Tradition
• DeSantis’s Iowa Campaign Strategy