In an unexpected move, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has deflected criticism from President Trump and thrown her support behind Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in the 2020 presidential race. This comes after Trump told reporters earlier this week that he was not comfortable with DeSantis and refused to endorse him due to his recent controversial comments on voting rights.
In a statement released late on Wednesday, Reynolds said she is confident in DeSantis’s “commitment to advancing conservative principles,” and added that his impressive record of accomplishment showed “what can happen when limited government and conservative principles are put into action.” While speaking to reporters, Reynolds also expressed her strong support for the president’s efforts to stop voter fraud and enhance election security.
The move by Reynolds is somewhat surprising since she has been closely aligned with the president in the past. However, it also shows a willingness to go against the grain of the Trump administration on certain issues. While both Trump and Reynolds have called for more stringent voting regulations and streamlining of the voting process, the governor of Iowa argued that DeSantis had championed similar efforts in Florida.
Reynolds has also been critical of Trump’s approach to immigration and voiced her support for a pathway to citizenship for some undocumented immigrants. Her decision to support DeSantis in the 2020 election is further evidence of her independence from the president’s policies and could be seen as a signal to conservatives across the country that she is interested in finding common ground on various issues.
