Ron DeSantis unveils sheriffs’ endorsements as he looks to jumpstart Iowa campaign

CHARITON — A slate of Iowa sheriffs and sheriff deputies are endorsing Ron DeSantis for president, his super PAC told the Des Moines Register Thursday as the Florida governor swings through the state on a bus tour he hopes will help jump-start his presidential campaign.

The endorsement list includes two sheriffs who have previously endorsed DeSantis, as well as 11 new ones.

Wayne County Sheriff Keith Davis, who previously announced his endorsement, joined DeSantis at stops in Chariton and Corydon. He said he’s previously voted for Donald Trump but believes the former president “just has too much baggage” this time.

“I think he did great things,” Davis said. “I was happy with the results that he had. But I believe that Governor DeSantis is proven. He's just like our Gov. Reynolds.”

But Davis is under no illusions about the steep hill DeSantis will have to climb, particularly in areas of rural Iowa like Wayne County where support for Trump still runs deep.

“I talk to a lot of people, and there's still a lot of support for Trump. There really is,” he said. “And I understand and appreciate their reasoning for that. But … we need to get support from both sides before we can take back the White House. There's a certain amount of Republicans that just will not vote for Donald Trump, and we need to find an alternative.”

In addition to Davis, the list of endorsements includes:

• Marion County Sheriff Jason Sandholdt

• Grundy County Sheriff Kirk Dolleslager

• Jefferson County Sheriff Bart Richmond

• Ringgold County Sheriff Rob Haley

• Hardin County Sheriff Dave McDaniel

• Henry County Sheriff Rich McNamee

• Jackson County Sheriff Brent Kilburg

• Guthrie County Sheriff Deputy Blake Michelsen

• Guthrie County Sheriff Deputy Kent Gries

• Appanoose County Sheriff Deputy Jonathon Printy

• Cedar County Sheriff Deputy Matt Jackson

• Appanoose County Sheriff Gary Anderson, who previously endorsed DeSantis

DeSantis’ allied Never Back Down Super PAC rolled out the endorsements and organized the three-day bus tour through Iowa.

The group has signaled it intends to increasingly host its own events for DeSantis to attend, ramping up the governor’s presence in the first-in-the-nation caucus state.

The changes come as DeSantis is looking to reset after his most recent financial disclosures showed his campaign is quickly burning through money while failing to close the large polling gap with the Trump, the race's clear front-runner.

His campaign, which once employed more than 90 people, has cut 38 positions in an effort to streamline the operation.

Iowa Republican operatives and activists said they believe DeSantis still has room to grow in Iowa, particularly if he commits to campaigning aggressively ahead of the caucuses.

DeSantis told reporters Thursday he plans to complete a full 99-county tour of the state.

Brianne Pfannenstiel is the chief politics reporter for the Register. Reach her at bpfann@dmreg.com or 515-284-8244. Follow her on Twitter at @brianneDMR.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Sheriffs endorse Ron DeSantis as he tries to jumpstart Iowa campaign