Iowa's 50 Most Wanted: These Republicans will help shape the 2024 presidential caucuses
Presidential candidates get the headlines in Iowa as they rally potential caucusgoers to support their vision for the country.
But legions of Iowans play supporting roles in the leadup to Caucus Day — Iowans who can give candidates a leg up by sharing the exact contours of Sioux County’s political landscape; Iowans who know the perfect venue and the perfect volunteer for a last-minute event in Dubuque; and Iowans who can persuade whole groups of caucusgoers to consider their favored candidate with a well-timed, full-throated endorsement.
It’s those people who can make or break a presidential campaign in the first-in-the-nation caucus state, where grassroots organizing is critical to success.
With Iowa’s 2024 presidential caucuses about a year away, the Des Moines Register is highlighting the 50 Most Wanted Iowa Republicans who will have a hand in shaping this year’s caucus season — a list pulled from interviews with nearly two-dozen in-the-know Iowa Republicans.
The 50 include seasoned political staffers who will run campaigns, high-profile influencers who will shape public opinion, connectors who can help campaigns find exactly what they need, and local activists who will help candidates learn the state, county by county. All of them will be influential in their own way.
The list is by no means exhaustive. Iowa’s Republican Party has grown substantially as the party moves into new corners of the state and claims political offices long held by Democrats. New generations of leaders are taking the stage. But it represents a snapshot of Iowa’s political terrain and sets the stage for the year of campaigning ahead.
Click each picture to learn more about why we selected these Republicans, and toggle between categories with our filter options.
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Josie Albrecht
President of Latitude 41 Public Relations
Josie Albrecht “is one of the best communicators in the state,” one operative said. “And she’s not the kind of person who makes it about her. It’s all about the client.” Albrecht was the communications director for the speaker of the Iowa House of Representatives for nearly nine years and in 2017 launched Latitude 41 Public Relations. She advised the Republican Party of Iowa through its 2020 caucus planning and has a finger on the pulse of Republican politics in the state and the connections to communicate it effectively.
Jeff Angelo
WHO-AM radio talk show host
The former state senator turned morning talk radio host plays an important role in Iowa’s conservative media landscape. His show, “Need to Know With Jeff Angelo,” airs live from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on WHO — a station that aired future president Ronald Reagan as a sportscaster in the 1930s. Iowa Republicans say Angelo is plugged into state politics and has a reputation for catering to more establishment-style conservatives. “I can tell any candidate who comes through town to go do his show,” said one operative. Iowa’s WHO Radio is also home to Simon Conway (a registered independent) who is another favored stop on presidential candidates’ Iowa media tours.
Brett Barker
Story County GOP chair
Brett Barker is a triple threat: He’s the mayor of the city of Nevada, he’s the chair of the Story County Republican Party and he helps lead the Young Republicans of Iowa. The Story County GOP, which covers Ames, is one of the more effective county parties in the state, Republicans say, hosting a steady stream of presidential candidates. And the Young Republicans organization is becoming a force in its own right.
David Barker
Iowa City Republican
David Barker is a big donor for Iowa Republicans, but he’s gaining influence in the party beyond his pocketbook. The Iowa City Republican is a member of the party’s State Central Committee and of the Iowa Board of Regents, previously was an economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and currently serves on Gov. Kim Reynolds’ Empower Rural Iowa initiative. “He’s active in almost every major campaign and every major event in Iowa,” said one prominent Republican.
Brenna Bird
Iowa attorney general
Attorney General Brenna Bird is racking up Republican goodwill in Iowa — both for her defeat of longtime Democratic Attorney General Tom Miller and for her eagerness to join lawsuits challenging the Biden administration. Her “Give ’em the Bird” campaign slogan was polarizing but right in line with the fiery rhetoric many in the GOP want to see. Bird is fresh off a campaign that took her to every corner of the state and put her in touch with the Republican base — a wealth of knowledge she may be willing to share.
Terry Branstad
President of the World Food Prize Foundation
When it comes to Iowa politics, Terry Branstad has seen it all. He’s the longest-serving governor in the country, was appointed by President Donald Trump as U.S. ambassador to China and was recently named president of the World Food Prize Foundation. Branstad previously has been all in for Trump, and his son, Eric Branstad, is helping run Trump’s 2024 Iowa campaign. Even though his new post means he won’t be endorsing, Branstad could be deeply influential if he chooses. Particularly in a race that could come down to Trump versus Ron DeSantis, any move that looks like a break with the former president will be closely scrutinized.
Doug Boone
Sioux County activist
Nobody comes to Sioux County — the most Republican county in the state — without talking to Doug Boone. Republicans say Boone, who helps lead a telecom company, is involved in every visit, fundraiser, forum and rally in the county. “Literally because of him, Sioux Center has now become a destination (for Republicans) in Iowa,” said one party leader.
Denise Bubeck
Church Ambassador Network deputy director
Denise Bubeck is a key connector in Iowa’s faith community and beyond. She’s the deputy director for the Church Ambassador Network with The Family Leader, where she helps pastors and clergy engage with elected officials at the state and federal level. She’s a Christian delegate to the national council for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC, and the president of the Capitol Region Republican Women. “Some people have a profile, but they can’t do anything,” said one Iowa Republican. “But if you get Denise on your team, watch out.”
Debi Butler
Dubuque activist
Debi Butler and her husband are longtime family business owners with ties across much of Dubuque’s political and business landscape. The pair routinely holds fundraising events for Iowa Republicans and national political figures who come into the state, and she works with a nonprofit, Brain Health Now, which is focused on ending the stigma around mental health. Butler is most active behind the scenes in Iowa politics, said one prominent Republican, “but she’s incredibly effective” and is “key” to the continued influx of Republican support in this once-reliably Democratic stronghold.
Tyler Campbell
Principal at FIN Strategies
An Iowa native, Tyler Campbell has worked for two Iowa secretaries of agriculture, first as political director for Bill Northey and then as Mike Naig’s 2018 campaign manager. Today, he’s a founder and principal at FIN Strategies in Des Moines with a toe in communications and media, public affairs and advocacy – particularly around ag issues – and Iowa’s political scene. “He’s a smart and sincere operator,” said one operative.
Trudy Caviness
Wapello County GOP chair
“She’s the queen of all activists,” one Iowa operative said of Wapello County GOP Chair Trudy Caviness. Wapello sits about an hour and a half southeast of Des Moines — a working class area that voted for a Democrat in every presidential race since 1976 before flipping in favor of Donald Trump in 2016 and 2020. Republicans say Caviness, with her precision in organizing, has been an important piece of the party’s growing success in the region. “She’s one of the best county chairs in the state and has been for the last decade,” said a prominent Republican.
Jimmy Centers
Principal at Cornerstone Government Affairs
Jimmy Centers was communications director for then-Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds before co-founding Cornerstone’s public affairs practice. A behind-the-scenes player, Centers is a connector with his finger on the pulse of Iowa politics. Don’t expect him to sign onto a campaign. Do give him a call to get oriented with Iowa, its political contours, its media landscape and all the key players — he knows them all.
Sara Craig Gongol
Republican Governors Association executive director
Sara Craig Gongol was just tapped to be executive director of the Republican Governors Association, a prime post that precludes her from getting too involved in the Iowa caucuses. But “she’s the most connected operative in Iowa right now,” said one Republican. Craig Gongol ran Mitt Romney’s 2012 Iowa caucus campaign, and more recently she was chief of staff for Gov. Kim Reynolds, helping to run both her 2018 and 2022 campaigns. She’s fresh off that 2022 rout, giving her recent experience traveling the state and connecting with the grassroots of the party.
Michelle Crawford
Scott County activist
As vice chair of the Scott County Republican Party and first vice president of the Iowa Federation of Republican Women, she’s been critical in building up the Scott County Republican Women, insiders say. “Scott County Republican Women is the best Republican Women’s Group in the state because of Michelle Crawford,” said one Iowa Republican. “What used to be 50 or 60 at a meeting is now a couple hundred, with half of them being new members.” Scott County, on the eastern edge of the state, includes Davenport and Bettendorf.
Sophie Crowell
Ashley Hinson's 2022 campaign manager
Sophie Crowell had experience as a data consultant for the Republican National Committee before she signed on to help U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson’s 2022 reelection as campaign manager. “She was the best campaign manager of the last cycle in Iowa, which is meaningful in a really important district,” said one operative. Crowell knows the activists, knows the district, knows how to lead and can bring that all to bear for a caucus candidate, Republicans say.
Joni Ernst
U.S. senator
Expect to see the full crop of presidential hopefuls standing with Joni Ernst on stage at her annual Roast and Ride fundraiser — but only the bravest will be ready to hop on the back of a Harley to join her in the traditional motorcycle ride over Iowa’s scenic rural highways. Ernst told the Register she doesn’t plan to endorse, but she “absolutely” wants to help connect candidates and make introductions where she can. She and her well-connected staff plan and execute a 99-county tour every year, picking up insights and expertise that would benefit any campaign.
Randy Feenstra
4th District U.S. representative
Republican statewide campaigns are won and lost in Iowa’s dark red 4th Congressional District, which is represented by U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra. The district spans 36 sprawling counties and includes some of Iowa’s bigger cities, including Sioux City and Council Bluffs. It’s also home to some of the state’s most conservative pockets, such as Sioux Center and Orange City. Feenstra — who was conservative enough to defeat former Republican U.S. Rep. Steve King in a primary but carries less baggage — can help candidates navigate this critical corner of Iowa. He hasn’t indicated he plans to endorse, but Feenstra’s help could move the needle for a caucus candidate this cycle.
Chuck Grassley
U.S. senator
After more than 50 years in Iowa politics, few Republicans have the kind of entrée into each of Iowa’s 99 counties that Chuck Grassley does. He consolidated the Republican base and won his eighth U.S. Senate race by a definitive 12 percentage points in 2022. Like his colleague U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, he’s promised to stay neutral this caucus cycle and welcome any candidate to Iowa. His insight gleaned over decades of traveling the state, listening to Iowans and connecting with key constituency groups is invaluable.
Pat Grassley
Speaker of the Iowa House
Pat Grassley has served in the Iowa Legislature since 2007 and was elected speaker in 2020. He’s leading an enormous Republican caucus this year — 64 members who have a presence in each of Iowa’s 99 counties. Fresh off an election year, Grassley knows better than most what Republican voters in each district want. And with a growing slate of legislative wins to tout, Grassley could be an effective emcee for a candidate looking to show what Republicans can do when they’re given power.
Jen Heins
Senior adviser for U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley
U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley is known for his legendary 99-county tours every year, and Jen Heins has been the brains behind that schedule for more than a decade. “She has a Rolodex from hell,” said one person, emphasizing the breadth of the connections she’s amassed while helping organize and shuttle Grassley across his 99-county tours every year, navigating the state’s political fault lines along the way. Grassley himself won’t endorse, but Heins could bring some of the institutional knowledge of his office to a campaign.
Matt Hinch
Principal at Cornerstone Government Affairs
Matt Hinch was a legislative director and campaign manager for former U.S. Rep. Tom Latham and a chief of staff to both former Iowa House Speaker Kraig Paulsen and former Gov. Terry Branstad. Today, he has a foot in the worlds of House Speaker Pat Grassley, Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver and Gov. Kim Reynolds at a time when the three don’t always see eye to eye. “There’s no lobbyist better connected in the state of Iowa,” said one Iowa Republican. “He great because he knows business politics and grassroots politics.”
Ashley Hinson
2nd District U.S. representative
A former television news anchor, a prolific fundraiser and a second-term congresswoman, Ashley Hinson is seen as a hard worker and rising star who won in a competitive district — twice. As a mom of two young sons, she campaigned on culture war issues that will likely play a big role in the 2024 cycle, including what’s being taught in classrooms around gender. The 2nd District is home to big population centers like Linn County and a handful of eastern Iowa river counties that have become increasingly important to Republican victories in the state.
Angie Hughes
Owner of Hughes Consulting LLC
An Iowa native, Angie Hughes worked for Iowa House Majority Leader Linda Upmeyer and was Iowa state director for a Carly Fiorina organization called the Unlocking Potential Project. Today, she runs Hughes Consulting LLC, doing fundraising for some of Iowa’s biggest names, including Gov. Kim Reynolds and Attorney General Brenna Bird. Iowa caucus campaigns aren’t typically focused on fundraising in the state, but Iowa Republicans say any campaign would benefit from Hughes’ ability to get things done and charm important people, as well as her knowledge of the state’s political landscape. “I would feel a lot better if Angie were on my team rather than someone else’s,” said one operative.
Don Kass
Plymouth County GOP chair
Don Kass is chair of the Plymouth County Iowa Republican Party and a member of the Plymouth County Board of Supervisors. A longtime Iowa grassroots leader who was critical in helping turn the party around when it was in decline in 2013 and 2014, Kass continues to be a sought-after voice and organizer for Republican campaigns statewide. But he’s especially helpful in crucial northwest Iowa. “He’s definitely someone I’d want introducing my candidate,” said one operative.
Jeff Kaufmann
Republica Party of Iowa Chairman
Jeff Kaufmann helped right the Republican ship when he took over as chair of the party in 2014 after deep divisions between the establishment and Tea Party wings threatened to derail it. He’s staying on for another two-year term, lending stability and experience to the party as it fights to keep its first-in-the-nation caucuses untarnished in 2024. Don’t expect him to play favorites. But if you’re in Iowa and you haven’t met with Jeff Kaufmann, you’re doing it wrong. His influence (and Rolodex) stretches across the state, and he can help smooth rocky paths for campaigns that need an assist.
Kelley Koch
Dallas County GOP chair
A firebrand activist and a ball of energy, Kelley Koch was just reelected chair of the Dallas County Republican Party — in one of the fastest-growing counties in the country and a microcosm of the state. The county includes parts of West Des Moines, Waukee and Adel and covers suburban areas, small towns and farmland. This active county party reaches Republican voters in all of those locales. Koch has big plans for the party and is already hosting national politicians like Kari Lake and Nikki Haley after leading the charge for Zach Nunn’s election in the 3rd Congressional District in 2022.
David Kochel
Owner of Redwave Communications
David Kochel may have relocated to Colorado, but Iowa Republicans all say he remains a force to be reckoned with in the Hawkeye State, where he has decades of political experience helping congressional and presidential candidates find their footing. He helped vault Joni Ernst to the U.S. Senate in 2014, he’s orchestrated Iowa campaigns for Jeb Bush and Mitt Romney and helped engineer former U.S. Rep. Steve King’s ouster from the 4th Congressional District. Wherever he lands and in whatever capacity, expect it to be opposite former President Donald Trump.
Ryan Koopmans
Koopmans Group president
An attorney who previously worked in private practice, Ryan Koopmans joined Gov. Kim Reynolds’ office in 2017 as a senior legal counsel and chief policy adviser. He served as chief of staff for a year, was a senior adviser on her 2022 reelection and continues to have her ear as a member of her inner circle. He’s an operator who flies under the radar – you won’t find him spouting off on Twitter – but he’s always plugged in.
Annie Kelly Kuhle
Partner at FP1 Strategies
Annie Kelly Kuhle was Jeb Bush’s Iowa state director in the 2016 cycle, a regional political director for both the National Republican Congressional Committee and the National Republican Senatorial Committee. Plus, she’s had a hand in numerous winning Iowa races — most recently as general consultant on Zach Nunn’s 3rd District congressional race, toppling the Democratic incumbent in a district that slightly favors Democrats in voter registration totals. She’s on everyone’s short list for top political consultants in the state.
Matt Leopold
Chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra
Most Republican elected officials will be sought after this caucus cycle, but few more so than U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra, who presides over the ultra-conservative 4th Congressional District. His right-hand man, Matt Leopold, led his successful 2020 primary campaign to defeat nine-term incumbent Steve King. Today, he’s Feenstra’s chief of staff and will help advise him through the caucus cycle, drawing from his deep knowledge of the crucial 4th District landscape. “If you’re going to win a primary or a caucus, the 4th District is key,” said one activist.
Luke Martz
Republican political consultant
Find Luke Martz at the intersection of all things concerning Republican politics in Iowa, whether it’s advocating for various interest groups, connecting key players, shaping political strategy or helping orchestrate a messaging assault on Democrats or the media. He’s a veteran of Mitt Romney’s 2012 Iowa caucus campaign and an Iowa native. Few Iowa Republicans do more to stay in the know — information that sometimes spills onto the pages of the Iowa Field Report blog he runs.
Gloria Mazza
Polk County GOP chair
Gloria Mazza is a key contact for anyone looking to organize Polk County’s nearly 83,000 active registered Republicans. She is a past president of the Polk County Republican Women’s club and has been active with the Iowa Federation of Republican Women since 2014, including a stint as president. Iowa Republicans describe her as effective, principled and practical.
Mariannette Miller-Meeks
1st District U.S. representative
Mariannette Miller-Meeks earned Republican goodwill in the state after clinching a razor-thin victory over Democrat Rita Hart in 2020, winning by just six votes and flipping a previously Democratic-held district. As a veteran and a doctor who has challenged the Biden administration on its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, Miller-Meeks has a platform to talk about issues that are right in line with many of the things Republicans want to highlight this election cycle.
Bill Northey
CEO of the Iowa Agribusiness Association
Iowa agriculture issues are one of the bedrocks of Republican politics in the state, and there’s no better envoy to the ag community than Bill Northey. He’s the current CEO of the Iowa Agribusiness Association and served as undersecretary for farm production and conservation for the U.S. Department of Agriculture under Donald Trump. Prior to that, he was the Iowa secretary of agriculture from 2007 until 2018. “He’s the most loved of all the former electeds, maybe with the exception of Terry Branstad,” said one operative.
Zach Nunn
3rd District U.S. representative
Former state legislator Zach Nunn just defeated one of the National Republican Congressional Committee’s top targets in Democratic incumbent Cindy Axne, winning control of Iowa’s 3rd District and a seat in Congress. His campaign took him across the district, which includes Des Moines, Iowa’s largest population center, as well as growing suburban areas in Polk and Dallas counties. He’s already welcomed would-be 2024 contenders as surrogates during his campaign, and he will no doubt be on the receiving end of a fresh round of phone calls this year.
Chad Olsen
Republican Party of Iowa executive director
Chad Olsen is the quieter presence behind the party’s sometimes theatrical chairman. He rarely puts himself in front of crowds, but party insiders consistently say he’s one of the most knowledgeable people in the party, with the deepest connections. As a member of the state party, he won’t endorse. But his insight is worth seeking out regardless.
Alan Ostergren
Kirkwood Institute founder and attorney
Alan Ostergren left his job as the Muscatine County Attorney in 2020 to pursue legal work defending Republican causes, and he’s made a name for himself as an aggressive attorney willing to wade into hot-button issues and stir up attention. He catapulted into the public eye for his defense of U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks during her 2020 recount battle, and he’s got an “in” with Republican groups across the state. In addition to his legal counsel, Ostergren would be valuable to a campaign as an adviser and “troublemaker,” one Republican said.
Kathy Pearson
Linn County activist
“Icon status,” one operative said of Kathy Pearson, a longtime grassroots leader and business owner who is active with the Iowa Federation of Republican Women and the Linn Eagles. “She continues to be a major force in Cedar Rapids,” said another Iowa Republican. “Everybody leans on Kathy, and she gets along with all factions of the party.”
Starlyn Perdue
Pottawattamie County GOP chair
Iowa Republicans describe Starlyn Perdue as “overwhelmingly effective” in her role as Pottawattamie County GOP chair, calling her a “rising star” who is in touch with the grassroots in western Iowa. Perdue is the director of economic development at Iowa Western Community College and was just elected overwhelmingly to the party’s State Central Committee. Pottawattamie County, on the state’s western border, includes Council Bluffs.
Marlys Popma
Longtime Republican operative
Iowa’s caucuses reward grassroots enthusiasm, and they benefit candidates who know how to work the complex system of delegate math. If you need a primer, Iowa operatives agree: Call Marlys Popma. She’s a two-time president of Iowa Right to Life and a two-time executive director of the state party. She’s worked for multiple presidential campaigns, including John McCain’s 2008 run, has spent more than a decade on the consulting side of politics and wrote the first “caucus to convention” handbook for the Iowa GOP explaining how the system all works. “She’s who I’d hire to crack the code on caucuses and delegates,” said one Iowa operative. “It’s like she invented it herself.”
Kim Reynolds
Iowa governor
The governor of Iowa is always favored going into a caucus year, but Kim Reynolds is uniquely beloved within her party and wields enormous political clout after her midterm rout. She not only defeated her Democratic opponent by 18 percentage points, but also helped oust a handful of Republican state legislators she opposed during the primaries after they failed to support her education agenda. She has pledged neutrality in the caucuses, but she has the power to elevate issues, make key connections behind the scenes and lend her credibility to candidates publicly as she chooses. If someone in Iowa has the power to play kingmaker this caucus cycle, it’s Kim Reynolds.
Will Rogers
Polk County activist
Will Rogers just knows everyone, Iowa Republicans say. “He’s a guy you’d bring on your statewide steering committee and just have him go through his Rolodex and start calling everyone for you,” said one operative. Rogers previously served as executive director and chair of the Polk County GOP, and he’s influential in the Jewish community, both in Des Moines and across the state. He’s now serving on the board of the Faith and Freedom Coalition.
Steve Scheffler
Republican National Committeeman
Steve Scheffler is one of Iowa’s two Republican National Committee members and president of the influential Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition, formerly known as the Iowa Christian Alliance. The organization puts together major candidate events and is influential within Iowa’s evangelical community — a key constituency candidates will want to attract. Because he’s a member of the Republican Party of Iowa’s State Central Committee, Scheffler won’t endorse. But his experience in presidential politics, which goes back to 1988 with Pat Robertson, will still be sought after.
Tamara Scott
Republican National Committeewoman
Tamara Scott is the Republican National Committeewoman for Iowa and is chair of the Republican National Committee’s Faith Advisory Board. Like her counterpart, Steve Scheffler, she has pledged not to endorse this caucus cycle. But she’s got her finger on the pulse of Iowa’s MAGA community and has a platform hosting a show on LindellTV.com, the broadcasting platform created by MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell. She’s also the Iowa state director with Concerned Women for America.
Amy Sinclair
Iowa Senate president
Amy Sinclair was just elected president of the Iowa Senate in December, becoming the top Republican woman in the Legislature this year. From Allerton, she previously was majority whip and chair of the Education Committee. In addition to leading conversations about abortion restrictions, Sinclair was a key voice advocating for conservative education policy — an issue that has already begun to bubble up into national presidential conversations.
Linda Upmeyer
Republican Party of Iowa co-chair
Linda Upmeyer kept the Iowa House of Representatives humming like a well-oiled machine when she served as speaker of the House. Behind the scenes, she was known for her effective fundraising and candidate recruitment. Now that she’s retired from the Legislature, she brings a similar acumen to her post as co-chair of the Republican Party of Iowa. She launched a program called Build the Bench, focused on recruiting and empowering women to run for office. She was also chair of Newt Gingrich’s 2012 presidential campaign in Iowa, and she knows the ins and outs of Iowa politics as well as anyone in the state.
Bob Vander Plaats
President and CEO of The Family Leader
As president of the Christian conservative group The Family Leader, Bob Vander Plaats has clout with Iowa’s critically important evangelical community. He’s endorsed Rick Santorum and Ted Cruz in the last two competitive cycles and has been occasionally critical of Donald Trump since the 2016 cycle when the two got into a dust-up on Twitter. More recently, he’s been outspoken in saying many Iowa Republicans are ready to move on. Always expect to see a crowd of White House hopefuls at his summer Family Leadership Summit and keep tabs on him for hints about the direction Iowa’s evangelical voters may swing.
Matt Whitaker
Former acting U.S. attorney general
President Donald Trump appointed Whitaker, an Iowa native, as acting U.S. attorney general after Jeff Sessions resigned, and he served until February 2019. He previously was Sessions’ chief of staff. As acting AG, Whitaker oversaw the special counsel’s investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 election. Whitaker has been a staunch Trump ally and could be a compelling surrogate around the state.
Jack Whitver
Iowa Senate Majority Leader
Jack Whitver leads the Republican-controlled Iowa Senate, a body that has been more aggressive than the House in its push for issues such as abortion policy and tax cuts. Formerly of Ankeny, Whitver moved following redistricting into a new district that covers a more Republican-leaning electorate in rural parts of Polk and Dallas counties. Whitver was a key player for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio in 2016 and could be a similarly compelling surrogate in 2024. Plus, he was a wide receiver for the Iowa State Cyclones — a fun tidbit that endears him across much of Iowa (if not necessarily in Hawkeye territory).
Matt Windschitl
House Majority Leader
When he was first elected at 22, Matt Windschitl was the youngest member of the Iowa Legislature. Today, he serves as the House of Representatives’ No. 2 in command as majority leader. He’s known for his mastery of House rules and passionate advocacy for the Second Amendment. A Marine veteran who served a tour of duty in Iraq, the Missouri Valley Republican represents a deeply conservative district in the far western part of the state and would be a respected envoy on several important conservative issues.
Brianne Pfannenstiel is the chief politics reporter for the Des Moines Register. She will spend the next year chronicling Republican presidential hopefuls as they travel the state's Pizza Ranch circuit, meet with Iowans at big rallies and small coffee shops, and work to claim a victory in the state's 2024 presidential caucuses. You can reach her at bpfann@dmreg.com or 515-284-8244. Follow her on Twitter at @brianneDMR.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: 50 Iowa Republicans to watch as 2024 presidential caucuses approach
