'We like to be courted': Iowa GOP 'pretty open' to 2024 candidates besides Trump and DeSantis

25 February 2023

Republicans in Iowa are interested in widening the playing field when it comes to the party's 2024 nominee for presidency, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reports.

Former President Donald Trump announced his 2024 campaign last year, and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis — although not yet officially announced — is currently his fiercest greatest competition. But the pair may find themselves each competing for the nomination if the choice is left up to Iowa GOPers.

WSJ reports:

Mr. Trump so far has bypassed Iowa since entering the race in mid-November and instead made appearances in New Hampshire and South Carolina, the second and third states, respectively, on the GOP nominating calendar.

With that, Iowa native and Republican National Committee (RNC) member Steve Scheffler contends the former president "will have to spend time" in the state "like everyone else."

Referring to her fellow Republicans, Iowa native Patti Parlee told Politico earlier this week, “We like to be courted."

The Des Moines resident said she is “pretty open” to various candidates, although "Trump’s policies" most align with her values. However, WSJ reports she also is “more intrigued by others,” like Senator Tim Scott (R-SC), who recently visited the state.

With the 2024 Iowa caucuses in mind, former Republican Vice President Mike Pence, who is expected to announce his run in the coming months, paid a visit to the last week, along with former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley and multimillionaire businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, who both recently announced their bids.

“Even though Trump is probably the favorite, I wouldn’t say it’s in the bag," Scheffler told Politico. "If Iowans feel like they’re taken for granted, it doesn’t sit too well."

WSJ reports retired grocer and Trump supporter Jim Hubbartt says he worries the former president carries "'a lot of baggage' that could hurt him" come 2024, and believes Trump may "run as an Independent" if he's not chosen to represent the Republican Party.

"I’m afraid the whole thing could go down the toilet," Hubbartt said. "He keeps threatening to run as an Independent."

Still, there are some residents who are keeping their "favorites" in mind.

Madonna Johnson says "Trump-DeSantis" is her "dream ticket." She asserts the Florida governor "can be with Trump for one term and then take over from there with another two terms and we’d get three terms."

On the other hand, some Iowans like 70-year-old John Strathman, do favor Trump, and worry DeSantis may not be the best fit for the job. WSJ reports the retired federal worker "viewed Republican governors as a firewall to policies pushed by progressives and, therefore, had 'mixed feelings' about Mr. DeSantis or other GOP state executives joining the presidential race."

GOP Governor Kim Reynolds is optimistic Iowans will eventually come to a consensus.

She said to WSJ, referring to the recent midterm race, "We’re Iowa, so we go right out of one election and right into another one. We really are going to help America narrow the field."

The Wall Street Journal's full report is available at this link. Politico's report is here.

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