Former President Donald Trump endorses Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, other state GOPers for re-election

Days away from Tuesday's primaries, former President Donald Trump is unleashing a salvo of support for major Iowa Republican candidates, endorsing Gov. Kim Reynolds, making official his already announced backing of U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley and voicing his approval for two congressional candidates.

Reynolds, who began a five-day campaign tour of the state Thursday, acknowledged Trump's endorsement of her re-election campaign Sunday. "It's an honor to have his support," she said.

In a statement on Truth Social, a social media app he launched after being barred from other sites for claims the 2020 election was stolen, Trump called Reynolds a "strong leader and a fantastic governor," praising her support for Congress' ratification of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement and for defending the Second Amendment.

"A fifth-generation Iowan, Kim is fighting hard to Create Jobs, Cut Taxes, Eliminate Needless Regulations, and Protect the Livelihoods of our Great Farmers and Ethanol Producers," Trump wrote. "Kim Reynolds is an America First Conservative and she has my Complete and Total Endorsement."

Trump also endorsed U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, who represents Iowa's U.S. House District 1 in Congress and is seeking election to the newly redrawn District 2 seat. And he advocated for the re-election of U.S Rep. Randy Feenstra in Iowa's 4th House District, calling him an advocate for "Conservative Values."

None of three face opponents in Tuesday's primary. But each will have a Democratic opponent in the fall: Deidre DeJear in the governor's race; Iowa state Sen. Liz Mathis in the District 2 race; and Ryan Melton in the District 4 race.

Also opposing Reynolds will be Libertarian Rick Stewart; Feenstra will face Libertarian Kyle Grossman, Bryan Holder of the Liberty Caucus and independent Ryan O'Leary.

Trump previously endorsed Hinson and Feenstra in 2020.

Reacting to Reynolds' endorsement by Trump, DeJear said in a statement to the Des Moines Register that Reynolds' and Trump's "extremist agendas" are not good for Iowa, citing what she said were $1.7 billion in losses by the state's primary industries under the Trump administration.

"Iowans deserve a Governor who will prioritize investments in people. Under Kim’s leadership, we have fallen from #1 in the nation in education to #19," DeJear said. "She is nearly 365 days past due in building needed mental healthcare clinics; meanwhile Iowans are waiting 6 months for an appointment. Yet today, our state is short almost 50,000 affordable housing units. We cannot continue to fail our state with policies that only serve special interests."

Trump also officially endorsed the re-election of Republican U.S. Sen Chuck Grassley in a statement Saturday, calling him a "Courageous Patriot."

"During my Administration, Chuck worked closely with me to Appoint and Confirm Judges who Uphold the Rule of Law and Interpret the Constitution as our Founders Intended," Trump said in a statement. "Chuck fights to Support our Farmers, Empower Ethanol Producers, Restore American Energy Independence, and Protect Life."

He had given Grassley a verbal endorsement when the two shared the stage at an October 2021 rally in Des Moines, calling him "a great American patriot" and "a man who loves Iowa," at a rally in Des Moines.

Grassley faces fellow Republican Jim Carlin in Tuesday's voting.

Virginia Barreda is the trending and general assignment reporter for the Des Moines Register. She can be reached at vbarreda@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @vbarreda2.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, others get Trump endorsements