Former VP Mike Pence invokes Ronald Reagan in deep-blue Johnson County at GOP fundraiser

Former Vice President Mike Pence became the first 2024 Iowa caucuses contender to visit deep-blue Johnson County, attending a fundraiser Wednesday with the county's Republican central committee.

Pence spoke to a room of about 60 people at the annual Johnson County Republican Central Committee Ronald Reagan Dinner fundraiser just after 6:30 p.m. at the Coralville Radisson Hotel & Conference Center. Pence didn't stay for dinner or speak to reporters after his speech, but he spoke for more than 20 minutes and often invoked the 40th president as he weighs an attempt to become the nation's 47th.

"You all know the job you have to do here in Iowa. The unique responsibility that you accept to choose a standard bearer for our party. The only thing I want to encourage you to do is to look no farther than Ronald Reagan," he said.

Pence told the crowd the story of the first time he met Reagan when he first ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. House of Representatives from Indiana in 1988 when he was 29. He said that instead of reading from a card given to him by his staff, asking for better infrastructure for his district, he thanked the president who he said inspired him to join the Republican Party

Throughout the evening, Pence encouraged the embattled members of the Johnson County GOP who struggle to find success in elections within the county of over 140,000 people. Past Republican candidates for county supervisor Phil Hemingway and Jammie Bradshaw attended the dinner alongside members of the central committee and Republican National Committee member for Iowa Tamara Scott.

The county party did find some success in Johnson County in 2022, sending more than one Republican to the Iowa Legislature for the first time in over a decade in seats that represent portions of Johnson County and the entirety of its more conservative neighbors in Washington and Iowa counties.

Unlike some past out-of-state Republican visitors, Pence did not mention Johnson County's reputation or its nickname as "The People's Republic of Johnson County."

"I'm here in Iowa to say to each and every one of you, it is never more important for Iowa to choose the right leadership of the Republican Party to lead us out of the failed policies of the Biden-Harris administration," Pence said.

Coralville was stop No. 3 for Pence on a breakfast, lunch and dinner tour of Iowa on Wednesday. Pence spoke at the Westside Conservative Club in Urbandale Wednesday morning at The Machine Shed Restaurant and at the Cedar Rapids Country Club for the Linn Eagles, a Republican fundraising group.

In Urbandale, Pence said he "has nothing to hide" from a Justice Department investigation into former President Donald Trump's attempts to overturn the 2020 election. A federal judge ruled Tuesday that Pence must testify to a federal grand jury as part of a special counsel investigation into Trump's actions to overturn the result of the 2020 election, including the events of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

Pence didn't speak about the events of Jan. 6 in Coralville, but he touted the accomplishments of the Trump administration during his four years as vice president.

Pence also spoke about his family and personal life he's gotten to enjoy more now that he isn't carrying out his duties as vice president. He said that while a lot has changed in his life since then, including becoming a grandparent, his deep conviction hasn't changed and he is still inspired by Reagan, who he said was the reason he joined the Republican Party.

"The ideals at the heart of the Republican Party of a strong national defense, a limited government and an unwavering commitment to the traditional moral values is the foundation of the Republican Party today and is the pathway for American renewal," he said.

More: Where and when are presidential candidates visiting Iowa?

George Shillcock is the Press-Citizen's local government and development reporter covering Iowa City and Johnson County. He can be reached at (515) 350-6307, GShillcock@press-citizen.com and on Twitter @ShillcockGeorge

This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Mike Pence speaks at Coralville, Iowa, GOP fundraiser