13 GOP presidential candidates make their pitch at Iowa Lincoln Dinner. What they said:

A full slate of Republican presidential candidates, including former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, spoke in front of the Iowa GOP's annual Lincoln Dinner in Des Moines Friday night.

The 13 hopefuls were in front of a sellout crowd of more than 1,000 guests and 100-plus registered members of the press, in the latest "cattle call" bringing almost the entire presidential field to Iowa.

Here's what they had to say:

Donald Trump, sticking to prepared remarks, touts his history with Iowa and polling lead

The final speaker of the night, Trump stuck almost entirely to prepared remarks, joking that he was "going to go quickly" as he ticked through his administration's record in Iowa.

"We did a lot of things, it's hard to do that quickly," Trump said.

As he took the stage, the crowd rose to its feet, with many snapping photos and videos. He highlighted his administration's tariffs on China that directed money to U.S. farmers, his reworking of a North American trade deal and his support of ethanol and E-15 fuel.

"Iowa has never had a better friend in the White House," he said to begin his remarks.

Trump criticized Biden's withdrawal from the war in Afghanistan, arguing it "was the incentive for Vladimir Putin to invade Ukraine." He waved off his multiple pending civil and criminal court cases, saying that "if I weren't running, I would have nobody coming after me."

He continued to cite baseless claims that the 2020 presidential election was "rigged," and he ticked off a number of polls that showed him with significant leads in the early states.

"There's only one candidate, and you know who that candidate is," Trump said. "He's going to get the job done."

Vivek Ramaswamy promises to shut down federal agencies, bring about a ‘revolution’

Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy promised Republicans to take on the “bureaucratic deep state” by shutting down a swath of federal agencies if elected president.

“When you have an agency that should not exist, an agency that has become so corrupt that it has abandoned the rule of law, from the U.S. Department of Education to the FBI, to the IRS, to the ATF, to the CDC, we will not just reform them, we will shut them down,” Ramaswamy said. “That is how we restore the integrity of a constitutional republic.”

Ramaswamy said there are “good people” in the Republican presidential race who will advocate for reforming federal institutions. But that is “a false promise,” he said.

“They don’t know it’s a false promise,” he said. “But when those institutions, when that government, when that deep state has become so rotten we can no longer just fix it from the top. This is not a moment for reform. I don’t stand for reform. I stand for revolution.”

Larry Elder says MLK wanted a 'colorblind society'

Conservative radio talk show host Larry Elder said he’s running for presidency to address the issues that just aren’t “being talked about.”

There’s an “epidemic” of children growing up without fathers, said Elder, who anchored his speech around his father's journey from the segregated South to California.

Elder told guests that his father, a lifelong Republican, was an eighth-grade dropout who later joined the Marines but struggled to get a job after he completed his service. The only job Elder's father was able to find, he said, was one that involved cleaning toilets.

But over the years, Elder said his father later came to own a restaurant, the property next door to his business and a home — which is still in his family.

“Not too shabby,” he said.

During his speech, Elder promoted school choice, saying that public education especially in cities like Chicago and Baltimore is a “disaster” and that initiatives driving diversity, equity and inclusion are “opposite” of what civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. called for.

“He wanted a colorblind society, not a color-coordinated one,” he said.

Ryan Binkley urges Republicans to look ‘beyond 46’

Ryan Binkley, a businessman and pastor from Texas, urged Republicans to look “beyond 46” to the future for new ways to grow the GOP after Joe Biden is out of office.

Binkley, a little-known candidate, contrasted himself against some of his better-known opponents.

“I’m not standing on this stage and I’m not in this race because I want to extend a brand name,” he said. “I’m not selling a book. I don’t have any other mission. I’m not looking for another position. Literally, some words came to my heart about eight years ago from God for our country.”

He said it’s time for America to have an economic and spiritual revival by going “beyond 46.”

He said the phrase has a few meanings, and “the first one is obvious.”

“It means going beyond our 46^th president of the United States, President Joe Biden,” Binkley said. “I’m sure you’re in agreement with that. President Biden has led us to really one of the greatest places of disunity in our lifetime.”

But, he said, Republicans also need to find a way to grow the party after electoral losses in major cities and among young people.

“This is the open door for the Republican Party,” he said. “We have a chance to grow our party. We have a chance to lead a movement ... to change the culture of our country and to secure our economic freedom. But the question remains: are we going to do it?”

Francis Suarez touts Miami's growth, decrying 'Bidenomics'

Suarez, aiming to make the jump from mayor of Miami to the White House, spent much of his remarks criticizing the Biden administration's approach to the economy while touting his city's growth and approach to law enforcement.

"We never got into the defund police nonsense, the no cash bail nonsense," said Suarez. "We are a city of law and order."

The U.S. "needs the personality of someone who is a solver of problems, someone who can bring people together," he said. He pointed to what he viewed as existential threats — the "rising threat of China" and the "national crisis" of fentanyl.

He referenced Sound of Freedom, a Christian film currently in theaters that focuses on sex trafficking and has faced criticism for its depiction of trafficking and perceived ties to the QAnon conspiracy movement.

Suarez acknowledged that his campaign didn't have the resources of those polling well ahead of him but still urged attendees to give him consideration.

"I don’t have a fancy bus, I don’t have a private plane," he said. "But we do have these amazing towels with my name on them for the Miami heat that I've brought up here."

Will Hurd says Donald Trump is only running for president 'to stay out of prison'

Former U.S. Rep. Will Hurd said former President Donald Trump is running for another term in the White House for one reason: “to stay out of prison.”

“Donald Trump is not running for president to make America great again,” said Hurd, whose remarks were received with boos from the crowd. “… But if we elect Donald Trump, you’re willingly giving Joe Biden four more years in America.”

Hurd explained to guests the reason why the "red wave" didn't materialize and why Trump lost the last election. It's because, he said, Trump "failed" to grow the Republican party and reach voters who are "women with college degrees, Black and brown communities and people under the age of 30.”

“We need leaders who like your Gov. Reynolds went to places that people didn’t expect — and that’s how y’all turned red,” he said.

Mike Pence calls for ban on transgender troops and new leadership for the Republican Party

Former Vice President Mike Pence sought to create a break from his former running mate, Donald Trump, during his speech at the dinner.

“I believe we must resist the politics of personality and the siren song of populism unmoored to conservative values because different times call for different leadership,” Pence said, a line he has delivered before. “To defeat Joe Biden I believe we must give the American people new Republican leadership, leadership with a proven commitment to the conservative agenda.”

Pence has repeatedly led the Republican field in calling for more restrictive abortion bans around the country.

“We can end Biden’s radical abortion agenda by doing just what you all did recently here in Iowa, and that is promoting pro-life laws in states across the country,” Pence said. “And I believe the time has come for a minimum national standard of a 15-week ban at the federal level.”

But despite an enthusiastic response from Reynolds when she mentioned the state’s new abortion law, Pence’s line drew little applause from the crowd.

He got his best response of the night by promising to ban transgender troops from serving in the U.S. military.

“We can end the political correctness at the Pentagon including reinstituting a ban on transgender personnel in the United States military,” Pence said.

Doug Burgum hones in on personal background, navigating 'global economy'

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum focused on introducing himself to the crowd of Iowans, touting his youth holding blue-collar jobs and his rise through the global economy as the head of a software startup.

"Imagine a president who knows what it takes to compete and win in a global economy," Burgum said, after criticizing Biden on his approach to foreign affairs and the country's financial health.

He called for a robust energy-independent United States to "beat China in the cold war," urging the country to "stop buying energy from our enemies and start selling it to our allies." And he pointed to his rise in a 2016 Republican primary for governor, where he oversaw tax cuts and other conservative policies in North Dakota. References to small-town living permeated much of his remarks.

"'Woke' is something we used to do every day when we got up at 5 a.m.," Burgum said. "Some of our big cities could use some small town values."

And he earned some half-hearted boos, and then laughs, when he referenced North Dakota State's previous wins over Iowa and Iowa State in basketball.

"Too soon? Too soon?" he asked jokingly.

Perry Johnson calls out Vivek Ramaswamy on following similar platforms

Amid his usual stump about the economy, longshot presidential candidate Perry Johnson called out one of his opponents — Ohio tech executive Vivek Ramaswamy — for following his lead on specific platforms.

Johnson, a Michigan businessman, said he's publicly shared with voters his plans to dismantle the FBI and pardon former President Donald Trump — and that Ramaswamy has promoted similar ideas afterward.

As Johnson spoke of impeaching President Joe Biden, he said Ramaswamy is going to "go along with this one, too."

Throughout his speech, the 75-year-old shared tidbits of his childhood, growing up in a middle-class family and facing eviction notices while in graduate school. He pushed forward a message about the American dream – one that he wants his three teenage children to be able to see.

"I want them to have the American Dream available to them," he said.

Tim Scott describes the values he learned from his grandfather: ‘kneel to the Father’ and ‘stand for the flag’

U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina focused on his history, describing his upbringing with his grandparents and the lessons they taught him.

His grandfather, he said, taught him two lessons: to “kneel to the Father in prayer” and to “stand for the flag in respect.”

“He said, ‘Son, you can be bitter or you can get better. But you can’t be both,’” Scott said. “These were valuable lessons.”

Scott said he also learned his values from his mother, who worked long hours as a nurse’s aide.

“She taught me that there is dignity in all work and that if you’re able-bodied in America, you work,” Scott said. “That’s called America. If you take out a loan, you pay it back. And if you commit a violent crime, you go to jail. And if God made you a man, you play sports against men.”

Then he turned his focus to Joe Biden.

“These are simple, common-sense lessons of America,” Scott said. “But Joe Biden and the radical left, he is attacking the values that made this possible.”

As president, Scott said he would support law enforcement, protect the Southern border and invest in critical industries in America.

Scott said he is “living proof” that anything is possible in America.

“Protecting the values of America is protecting the rungs on the ladder that allow the poorest, most vulnerable students in this nation to climb,” he said. “We must protect our values. I’m running for president because I know America can do for anyone what she’s done for me.”

Ron DeSantis gets standing ovations, attacks Kamala Harris in ongoing fight over Florida slavery curriculum

DeSantis, delivering remarks at the dinner after a multiple-day bus trip through Iowa, received the best reception of the night thus far.

As he ticked through the pivotal aspects of his campaign message — his record in Florida, his aims to halt "weaponization" of the federal government and his pledge to "rip the politics out" of the military — he received consistent applause from the crowd. He took and left the stage to standing ovations from a portion of those in attendance.

"I'm running for president because we as Republicans cannot be content with simply managing the decline of our country a little better than the Democrats," DeSantis said.

He also attacked Vice President Kamala Harris, who has criticized new educational standards in Florida that she and others say undermines critical conversations around slavery, in part instructing that enslaved people "developed skills" for "personal benefit."

DeSantis' defense of his state's new curriculum has drawn criticism from several Black Republicans, including U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, whom he said this week are siding with "the left" and the vice president. He said Harris was creating "phony narratives" about the new standards.

"We have beaten the left's agenda in the state of Florida, so she thinks she can come down and lie about what we're doing," DeSantis said. "I'm not budging an inch. We are going to fight back against these people, and we are not letting them take over our schools any longer."

2024 Iowa caucuses: Ron DeSantis says Tim Scott, DC Republicans are buying the left's lies on slavery lessons

Asa Hutchinson calls to move on from Trump, pending legal battles

Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson took a direct line of attack at Trump, proposing that the Republican Party needs a "serious" leader.

“We need a new direction for America and for the GOP,” the 72-year-old said just before his mic was cut off at the 10-minute mark. “We are a party of individual responsibility, accountability and support for the rule of law. We must not abandon that. We are the party of Abraham Lincoln. We are the party of Ronald Reagan, and we think it’s time for serious leaders to meet the serious challenges.”

Hutchinson, like Haley, voiced concerns about border policies and a "struggling" economy and touted pivotal points in his career, including being the youngest state's attorney.

"This last week, they announced that we're going to have higher interest rates that impact your pocketbook, your mortgage payment, your ability of your children to buy their first home, and so we have to get the economy back on track. It is a result of too much spending by the administration," he said.

Referencing Mitch McConnell, Nikki Haley again calls for mental competency tests for politicians over 75

Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley spoke first, rattling off a string of policy proposals, including term limits for the presidency and members of Congress.

“If this week didn’t prove it to you, we’ve got to have mental competency tests for anyone over the age of 75,” Haley said, repeating a position she’s advocated on the campaign trail.

This week, Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, 81, froze for nearly 30 seconds during a news conference and seemed unable to speak for several seconds. He later returned to answer reporters’ questions and said he was fine.

“That’s not being disrespectful,” Haley said of the competency test proposal. “These are people who are making decisions on our national security. They’re making decisions on our economic policy.”

President Joe Biden is 80 years old and former President Donald Trump is 77.

The questions on the tests are simple, Haley, 51, said, like “how many grandchildren do you have?” It was an apparent reference to President Joe Biden belatedly acknowledging his 4-year-old granddaughter living in Arkansas, who his son Hunter Biden fathered out of wedlock.

“What?” she said, as the crowd laughed. “I don’t know what y’all are laughing at.”

Gov. Kim Reynolds thanks lawmakers for in-person caucus law

Gov. Kim Reynolds spoke ahead of the crowd of presidential candidates, saying she wanted to give "a heartfelt huge thank you to our legislators that are here tonight for passing legislation that really prevented Democrats from holding a primary and going ahead and Hampshire."

Reynolds signed a law earlier this year to require the Iowa caucuses to take place in person. Iowa Democrats have proposed allowing mail-in participation in their party's caucuses.

She addressed New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, who was in the audience.

"Now, my colleague is somewhere out there, Gov. Sununu. And this is a collaboration and partnership that we've held for a long time, our first-in-the-nation caucus, our first-in-the-nation primary. I hope, Chris, you know that we've gone to great lengths to make sure that we keep that intact."

A prayer and a Jason Aldean shout-out begin the night

Attorney General Brenna Bird began the event by leading the crowd in prayer. Then the crowd gave the Pledge of Allegiance and heard a rendition of the national anthem.

Republican Party of Iowa Chair Jeff Kaufmann brought up the controversial Jason Aldean song "Try That in a Small Town" by referencing Iowa small-town traditions and praising Gov. Kim Reynolds.

"In Iowa small towns we stand up for the anthem," Kaufmann said. "In Iowa small town we protect women's sports. In Iowa small towns we believe in the power the people to make decisions with their own money. And in Iowa small towns, we support leaders led by a governor, the best governor in the United States of America."

The song has received criticism for lyrics that some have said contain elements of racism, but conservatives have rallied around the tune, boosting its place on the charts.

Event marks first time Trump, DeSantis will appear on same Iowa stage

The event marks the first time Trump and DeSantis both have attended the same event in Iowa. While DeSantis has appeared at events like U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst's Roast & Ride and The Family Leader's annual summit, Trump has opted to skip them — instead returning every few weeks for Fox News town halls and stops at restaurants and campaign volunteer events.

More: Candidates try to clear GOP debate fundraising hurdles. Is it changing their Iowa strategy?

DeSantis' appearance and remarks at the dinner follow an Iowa bus tour put on by his super PAC Never Back Down, as the governor's campaign moves forward from a "reset" that included significant staff layoffs and a pivot in messaging and strategy.

Trump, who in recent weeks has attacked Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds for her declining to endorse ahead of the caucuses, remains the far-and-away frontrunner in the race. He's widely expected to be indicted soon in a third case, as his campaign operation continues to pay his legal bills amid attempts by his challengers to chip away at his polling lead.

Democrats trash Republicans' record in morning news conference

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz held a news conference Friday morning with Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart criticizing Trump's record and touting Democratic leadership.

"We still have more work to do, but the contrast between the results we’ve seen under Democratic versus MAGA Republican leadership could not be more stark," Walz said. "Every single Republican candidate for president on stage tonight is proposing an extreme agenda that would hurt our economy and take us backwards."

Hart accused the Republican candidates of peddling "divisive rhetoric and extreme policies."

"Iowans remember just how difficult Donald Trump’s agenda made life for us and understand that we can’t afford four more MAGA years no matter who the candidate ends up being," Hart said. "Farms went bankrupt. Jobs were shipped overseas. All the while the ultra-wealthy and corporations lined their pockets on our backs."

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: 13 GOP presidential candidates speak at 2023 Iowa Lincoln Dinner