Former Republican Appointee and GOP Campaign Vendor David Greenspon Personally Contributed at Least $3,900 to Senator Ernst’s Campaign Effort and $20,000 to the Iowa GOP

A startling report from the Associated Press over the weekend detailed how Iowa’s GOP leaders signed multiple no-bid contracts for non-medical grade personal protective equipment with a campaign vendor run by major donor to Senator Ernst’s 2014 campaign and former Republican appointee to the Iowa Finance Authority David Greenspon – despite having “never before supplied such materials” before the pandemic. 

How Greenspon obtained the no-bid contracts grows more troubling when considering his long history with Iowa Republicans: Greenspon has personally contributed at least $3,900 to Senator Joni Ernst’s 2014 campaign effort and at least $20,000 to the Republican Party of Iowa. As a State Senator, Senator Ernst also voted to confirm David Greenspon as a Republican appointee to the Iowa Finance Authority.

Using emails and government documents, the report detailed how Greenspon’s Competitive Edge, Inc – a “go-to vendor” for Iowa GOP campaigns for yard and barn signs – received $7.2 million to oversee the production of PPE, even though their gowns and goggles do not meet medical grade.

“Given Senator Ernst’s close relationship with Governor Reynolds, this new report that Iowa’s GOP leaders are turning to a campaign vendor and major Ernst donor for medical equipment is extremely troubling – and Iowans deserve answers,” said Jeremy Busch, Iowa Democratic Party spokesperson. “Senator Ernst needs to come clean on her role in procuring the no-bid contracts: Did Senator Ernst direct, suggest, or know about the contract for non-medical grade PPE with her GOP donor’s company with no history in medical supply?”

Des Moines-based Competitive Edge’s supply line traces to three Chinese factories for production. This comes after the federal government “squandered months” by ignoring expert warnings on the shortage of PPE, and has refused to fully enact the Defense Protection Act to manufacture the urgently-needed equipment in the United States.