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 had his worst day on the campaign trail yet after he was snubbed by Donald Trump in Clive and on Truth Social, exposed for having major problems with his party’s grassroots, and flamed for skipping a GOP primary debate. IDP Chair Rita Hart also outlined how Kim Reynolds and all of the Republicans running for governor support the disastrous economic policies out of D.C. that have made life too expensive and left working Iowans behind.
Let’s get into it.
Feenstra fail of the week: Snubbed three times by Trump amid major issues with his base
Feenstra had a flop of a day on Tuesday after he was snubbed three times by Trump, walking away with only an Air Force One participation trophy and no endorsement after spending the entire day with the President.
Despite stressing the importance of the Senate and Congressional races at his Clive rally, Trump refused to bring up the governor’s race or give Feenstra a speaking slot — which the rest of the Congressional delegation received — and “did not make any kind of endorsement for Feenstra in his gubernatorial primary race.” Trump also made a wave of key endorsements on Truth Social that same night in the second Congressional District and other competitive governor’s races in neighboring Wisconsin and in Pennsylvania, but still refused to endorse Feenstra — even after being told to keep a close eye on the governor’s race by an Adam Steen supporter at the Machine Shed Restaurant in Urbandale.
Earlier that day, Fox News revealed that a MAGA grassroots group is circulating a petition begging Trump to endorse anyone but “absent congressman” Feenstra in the GOP primary. Many of the Republicans who signed the petition are current and former elected officials, influential activists, and county party chairs who said that Feenstra isn’t a “worthy candidate.” The petition has garnered over 650 signatures, with over 300 added since Trump’s visit.
Infighting alert: Feenstra flamed for skipping the primary debate (with an empty podium to match)
Despite literally being in the Des Moines metro area on Tuesday to try to sell Trump’s disastrous economic agenda, no-show Feenstra skipped the Moms for Liberty primary debate that same night and refused to take questions from friendly moderators — the latest multi-candidate event he’s bailed on in an alarming pattern of refusing to face his primary opponents.
His opponents, event organizers, and those in the audience sharply criticized the move, referring to Feenstra’s empty debate podium as the “time-out podium” and attacking Feenstra’s absence to the biggest applause of the evening. Bob Vander Plaats didn’t hold back, saying “The only one who lost tonight” was Randy Feenstra.
Feenstra’s opponents blasted his debate no-show:
- Adam Steen warned that if Iowa Republicans choose Feenstra as their nominee, they would be “toast” in a general election. Steen added that “we do not have the ability, as a populace, to drag him across the finish line” in November.
- Zach Lahn called Feenstra out as the “establishment candidate.”
- Brad Sherman piled on, adding that Feenstra was “intimidated to be on this stage.”
- Eddie Andrews pointed out how Feenstra was in the Des Moines area that same day, telling the audience “it’s like throwing a middle finger at all of you. He doesn’t care.”
Bonus: IDP Chair Hart on Kim Reynolds and the GOP gov field’s cost-raising agenda
IDP Chair Rita Hart penned an op-ed in the Des Moines Register ahead of Trump’s visit on Tuesday to set the record straight on how Kim Reynolds and all of the Republicans running for governor support the disastrous policies out of D.C. that have devastated our economy, health care, and farming industry.
Chair Hart outlined how Kim Reynolds, Randy Feenstra, Adam Steen, Zach Lahn, Brad Sherman, and Eddie Andrews support Trump’s deeply unpopular economic agenda that has made life too expensive and left working families behind. Under a Republican trifecta in Washington and at home, Iowans are paying $1,303 more a year for everyday costs like health care, food, housing, and clothing.
Read Chair Hart’s full op-ed in the Des Moines Register.
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 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.