Iowa state senator switches endorsement from Trump to DeSantis
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – The DeSantis campaign announced that Iowa state Sen. Jeff Reichman switched his endorsement from former President Donald Trump to Gov. Ron DeSantis.
The flip occurred after Trump picked up more than 150 endorsements from Iowa elected officials and grassroots leaders in May.
Trump criticized Iowa Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds Monday for not endorsing a candidate in the GOP primary. Trump touted his efforts to protect farmers in Iowa before slamming the governor on his platform Truth Social.
“I opened up the Governor position for Kim Reynolds, & when she fell behind, I ENDORSED her, did big Rallies, & she won. Now, she wants to remain ‘NEUTRAL.’ I don’t invite her to events! DeSanctus down 45 points!” Trump posted.
“Iowa Republicans must be united if we are going to take our country back and reverse Joe Biden’s failures,” Reichman said. “Governor DeSantis has achieved the same type of commonsense policy victories in Florida as we have in Iowa under Governor Kim Reynolds, and he will deliver historic success for the conservative movement as president as well.”
Iowa state Reps. Matt Rinker and Josh Meggers are two new legislators also endorsing the Florida governor.
“As a veteran, I know Ron DeSantis has the experience and the drive we need to restore our military to greatness,” Rinker said. “I look forward to the governor becoming the first veteran of a war to serve in the White House since 1988, and will work tirelessly to help him succeed in Iowa. I support Ron DeSantis because he is the fighter we need to reverse our nation’s decline.”
Meggers believes DeSantis will “get our country back on track.”
“Iowa Republicans are tired of racking up conservative victories here at home only to be thwarted by the disaster that is Democrat-controlled Washington,” Meggers said in a statement.
The campaign said DeSantis has 39 endorsements from Iowa state lawmakers.
Trump is set to return to Iowa next week for a town hall hosted by Fox News anchor Sean Hannity. It will then be aired on Fox News Channel from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET on July 18.
