Two Republican leaders in the Iowa Legislature are endorsing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ potential bid for president.
The Des Moines Register reported that state Senate President Amy Sinclair and House Majority Leader Matt Windschitl are supporting DeSantis as he is set to return to the state on Saturday for a pair of events. Former President Donald Trump is scheduled to hold a rally in Des Moines on Saturday.
The Register said DeSantis and Trump are on a potential collision course in the first-in-the-nation caucus state.
Sinclair, an advocate for conservative education and abortion policies, said her nod for DeSantis is “an easy endorsement for me.”
She noted his work on lowering taxes, focusing on parental rights, and easing regulations.
“He's put them into play in Florida,” she said. “He's proven that he can do this work. He's proven that he can get reelected and can continue to do that work even in the face of opposition. And I can't think of a better person to serve as our president and really, honestly move America forward.”
Windschitl is described by the Register as a “passionate advocate for the Second Amendment.”
“We need a leader that's looking forward towards the future, not a leader that's looking in the rearview mirror and potentially going to be vindictive towards other people,” he said. “We need somebody that's accountable to the people that has proven in their state that they can do this job and take that same prosperity and spread it throughout America.”
Trump has also received a number of endorsements in Iowa, including former acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker, former U.S. Rep. Rod Blum, state Sen. Brad Zaun and 10 other state legislators.
On Tuesday, a nationwide poll by Morning Consult, found a full 60% of Republican primary voters say they back Trump, while 19% say they favor DeSantis.
Trump's lead is the largest yet over his potential rivals for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination since Morning Consult began tracking it in December.
Jeffrey Rodack ✉
Jeffrey Rodack, who has nearly a half century in news as a senior editor and city editor for national and local publications, has covered politics for Newsmax for nearly seven years.
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