The battle for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024 is heating up as former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis make their way to Iowa for campaign events. Although Trump has not officially announced his candidacy, he is widely expected to run again in 2024, making him the frontrunner for the Republican ticket.[0] However, Governor DeSantis is gaining momentum in the race and has been making moves to position himself as a serious contender.
DeSantis was in Iowa on Saturday for a series of events, including a fundraiser for the state’s Republican Party and a speech at Rep. Randy Feenstra’s annual Family Picnic in Sioux Center.[1] The governor also received endorsements from 37 state legislative leaders in Iowa, including Senate President Amy Sinclair and House Majority Leader Matt Windschitl.[2]
While in Iowa, DeSantis emphasized the need for Republicans to focus on defeating President Joe Biden in 2024 and providing a positive alternative for the future of the country. “If we make the 2024 election a referendum on Joe Biden and his failures, and we provide a positive alternative … Republicans will win across the board,” he said.
Trump, on the other hand, had planned to hold a large outdoor rally in Des Moines on Saturday, but it was canceled due to inclement weather.[3] The former president has been making frequent attacks on DeSantis in recent weeks, criticizing his voting record and calling him disloyal for considering a presidential bid after receiving Trump’s endorsement in his 2018 run for governor.[4]
Despite the attacks, DeSantis has been cautiously approaching Trump and avoiding questions about his potential rival’s legal troubles. However, allies of DeSantis have begun testing potential counterattacks, with a super PAC aligned with the governor calling Trump “a candidate who has lost his luster” and accusing him of clinging to his eroding frontrunner status.
As the battle for the Republican nomination heats up, Iowa is expected to play a crucial role in determining the course of the primary. Trump already has endorsements from high-profile Iowans, including former acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker and former Rep. Rod Blum, but DeSantis is making gains with endorsements from state legislative leaders and a series of campaign events in the state.
The race for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024 is still in its early stages, but with both Trump and DeSantis making moves in Iowa, it is clear that the battle for the party’s ticket is well underway. As the primary season approaches, Republicans will be watching closely to see who emerges as the frontrunner and who will have the best chance of defeating President Biden in the general election.
0. “DeSantis talks ‘freedom’ in Iowa, while touting Florida’s book bans” Business Insider, 13 May. 2023, https://www.businessinsider.com/desantis-talks-freedom-in-iowa-while-touting-floridas-book-bans-2023-5
1. “Trump-DeSantis rivalry ratchets up with dueling Iowa visits” The Hill, 13 May. 2023, https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4002122-trump-desantis-rivalry-ratchets-up-with-dueling-iowa-visits
2. “Two high-profile Republicans endorse Ron DeSantis in 2024 Iowa caucuses” Des Moines Register, 11 May. 2023, https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/elections/presidential/caucus/2023/05/11/two-high-profile-republicans-endorse-ron-desantis-in-2024-iowa-caucuses/70199417007/
3. “Trump cancels outdoor Des Moines rally due to tornado watch” Iowa Capital Dispatch, 13 May. 2023, https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/briefs/trump-cancels-outdoor-des-moines-rally-due-to-tornado-watch/
4. “DeSantis tests his retail politics in Iowa as bad weather keeps Trump out of Hawkeye State” CNN, 14 May. 2023, https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/13/politics/trump-desantis-iowa/index.html
