Iowa governor will endorse DeSantis in 'major departure from tradition': report

After Florida governor and 2024 GOP presidential candidate Ron DeSantis visibly received less support than ex-President Donald Trump from Republican voters during the state's Saturday Freedom Summit, the Sunshine State leader is expected to be endorsed by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds Monday, NBC exclusively reports.

NBC notes, "Prior to Reynolds, two Iowa Republican statewide officeholders endorsed other presidential candidates. State Attorney General Brenna Bird gave her support to Trump, while state Treasurer Roby Smith backed businessman Vivek Ramaswamy."

Reynolds' decision comes after she said she planned to "remain neutral" on a candidate earlier this year, later adding during the August Iowa State Fair that she might change her mind "down the road."

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Reynolds criticized Trump for failing to participate in the event's "Fair-Side Chats," saying that if he wants to win, voters "expect him to be here."

NBC reports:

The endorsement is a major departure from tradition: Iowa governors have typically stayed on the sidelines ahead of the caucuses. An endorsement last happened in 1996, when then-Gov. Terry Branstad threw his support behind Bob Dole — though Branstad did also step out in 2016 to say he hoped Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas would be defeated ahead of that year's caucuses.

READ MORE: 'It’s going to be Trump': Here’s what proved DeSantis’ 'diminishing stature in his home state'

NBC's full report is available at this link.