Hunter
05/06/24
Iowa Republicans held their state convention over the weekend, and officials called for voters to unify around presidential candidate Donald Trump and elect Republicans to Congress to gain control of the Senate.
The convention was held in Clive and featured electing delegates to the national convention, finalizing the state platform, and electing members to the Republican National Committee.
The initial platform did not include a plank calling for the repeal of legalized same-sex marriage, but it was added as an amendment and approved. Same sex marriage has been legal in Iowa since 2009 and federally since 2015. The Respect for Marriage Act passed in 2022 guaranteed protections under Federal law.
The Gazette reports Iowa GOP Chair Jeff Kaufman told those gathered in the convention hall Saturday, “Every action I take from now until November, I’m going to ask myself one question; How does this help to put Donald Trump back in the White House? That’s all that matters.”
Governor Kim Reynolds praised the conservative agenda that led to tax cuts, a school choice program and higher scrutiny on foreign-owned farmland in the state. She also criticized President Joe Biden for the crisis at the southern border and reiterated her support for Donald Trump after initially backing Florida governor Ron DeSantis.
Iowa Democrats held their district conventions Saturday; their state convention will be held June 15th.