Welcome back to The Status Quo Squad — your weekly newsletter from the Iowa Democratic Party, bringing you the latest updates on the chaotic, messy, and wide-open Republican gubernatorial primary where all the candidates promise one thing: a continuation of the status quo that has failed Iowa for the last decade.
This week, Randy Feenstra was exposed for taking thousands from Chinese-state owned agricultural companies, was called out by farm groups for failing to deliver on year-round E15, and faced criticism from the media and his own party. New reporting also revealed Kim Reynolds spent taxpayer dollars on a secret state-owned plane, which she used to travel to a political event.
Let’s get into it.
Caught red-handed: Feenstra bankrolled by CCP-owned ag giants buying American farmland
Randy Feenstra is in the hot seat after the Washington Examiner revealed he took over $20,000 from agricultural companies owned by the Chinese Communist Party, despite publicly claiming that blocking Chinese ownership of American farmland is a “cornerstone of his congressional career” and “highlight[ing] this position during his ongoing run for Iowa governor.”
When asked about taking thousands in campaign contributions from Chinese companies buying up American farmland, “Feenstra’s office referred the Washington Examiner to the congressman’s gubernatorial campaign, which did not respond to a request for comment.”
Here’s what Iowa Republicans are saying about Feenstra’s CCP-linked ag donation scandal:
- GOP gubernatorial candidate Adam Steen: “Randy wants to brag about banning China from buying farmland, yet he’s still taking their money. Runaway Randy isn’t just running away from Iowans — he’s running toward big money and corporate interests.”
- Christian conservative leader Bob Vander Plaats: “This campaign of @RepFeenstra is like watching a train wreck in slow motion.”
- Former IA-04 Congressman Steve King: “The last thing Iowans tolerate is a hypocrite. Worse yet, a treasonist one.”
- Former IA-04 Congressional candidate Kevin Virgil: “I ran for Congress two years ago because anyone who was paying attention could see that @RandyFeenstra is completely unfit for office. This story is just the latest in a long list of reasons why.”
Feenstra fail of the week: Failing farmers (again) on the year-round sale of E15
Randy Feenstra, the co-chair of the E15 Council, blew past his self-imposed February 25 deadline for a vote on the year-round sale of E15 on Wednesday — once again failing to deliver for Iowa farmers who are struggling to break even under the weight of chaotic tariffs and rising input costs. Now, Feenstra is too busy ducking the press to avoid explaining why he keeps failing corn growers, farm groups, and biofuel advocates.
After Feenstra failed to prioritize Iowa farmers in January’s government funding bill, the Chair of the House Agriculture Committee made clear E-15 will not be included in the long-delayed Farm Bill — further complicating any chance of passage.
Here’s what they’re saying about Feenstra failing farmers on year-round E15:
- Iowa Corn Growers Association: “What are you waiting for? Iowa farmers are operating at over $1 per acre UNDER the cost of production. And Midwest BANKRUPTCIES are UP 200% since last year. ACT NOW! Help Iowa farmers, families and rural communities.”
- Iowa Renewable Fuels Association: “This is no time for quitting on E15. Farmers and consumers are counting on Congress and President Trump to finish the job for E15 … Congress needs to prove it can function, because we’re getting fed up with the dysfunction.”
- National Corn Growers Association: “Let’s blow their phones up. We don’t want any more excuses. We’re tired of waiting. We’re tired of being pushed around and bullied by big industry.”
- Renewable Fuels Association: “Our message to the Council—and to every member of Congress—is clear: Year-round, nationwide E15 is an urgent priority for America’s farmers, energy sector, and working families—and it can’t wait any longer. Unleash E15! Let’s get it done.”
- RFA President Geoff Cooper: “I am not terribly optimistic that we’re going to see legislation before summer on year-round E15 … We need to see the path to get that done, because I’m not sure I see it from where I sit today.”
- Senator Chuck Grassley: “It’s something that should’ve happened today based upon what we heard maybe a month ago now. And we’re hearing from farmers on this issue that they’re frustrated it’s not happening.”
Under friendly fire: Conservative columnist flames Feenstra’s “anemic” campaigning
After Feenstra faced a “skeptical” crowd at a MAGA Nation town hall this month, conservative columnist and former Americans for Prosperity staffer Althea Cole wrote that Feenstra himself “acknowledge[d] that getting past the June primary isn’t a slam dunk.” Besides once again refusing to debate his opponents — most recently punting the decision until after the filing deadline on March 13 — Feenstra also left the door open to more primary candidates filing for the governor’s race as he continues to face major problems with his own party.
Feenstra’s “anemic” and “lackluster” campaign continues to earn him criticism from not just the media, but also a growing chorus from within his own party — as GOP activists are planning for the “very, very real possibility” of the “unsettled” primary going to a “contested” convention.
Read more from The Gazette here.
Taking corruption to new heights: Reynolds used state-owned plane for political travel
New reporting from the Des Moines Register revealed Kim Reynolds spent up to $4.6 million in taxpayer dollars on a secret state-owned plane for suspicious “executive travel” — which her predecessor Terry Branstad called “a poor use of public funds” — then used the plane to travel to a political event.
The plane was purchased for law enforcement use with federal COVID-19 relief funds and costs taxpayers “about $830 an hour” to operate. Despite Reynolds claiming the state plane is only “for official use,” she used it to travel to a political event in Sioux City on January 29, where she endorsed Ashley Hinson for U.S. Senate. Reynolds then doubled down on her shady behavior, saying “I do use it … and I believe it’s the right thing to do. I don’t feel bad about doing it.”
Iowans deserve to know: Did Adam Steen — Reynolds’ former Department of Administrative Services Director, who said “I support everything that Governor Reynolds is doing” — know about Reynolds traveling to political events on the taxpayer’s dime?
Bottom line: No matter who emerges from this underwhelming and extreme crop of candidates, they are all running to continue Kim Reynolds’ failed policies that have put Iowa dead last in economic growth, set kids and public school teachers up for failure, and ripped away access to health care.
That’s a wrap for this edition of The Status Quo Squad. Thanks for reading, we’ll see you next week.