An Iowa state senator who’d previously endorsed Donald Trump is flipping his support toRon DeSantis just days after the former president attacked Iowa’s popular Republican governor, Kim Reynolds.
Jeff Reichman, who is serving his first term in the state Senate, announced on Thursday that he is defecting to the Florida governor’s presidential campaign. In a statement, Reichman singled out praise for Reynolds, who Trump has targeted for her warmness toward DeSantis, his main rival for the GOP nomination.
“Iowa Republicans must be united if we are going to take our country back and reverse Joe Biden’s failures,” Reichman said in a statement. “Gov. DeSantis has achieved the same type of commonsense policy victories in Florida as we have in Iowa under Gov. Kim Reynolds, and he will deliver historic success for the conservative movement as president as well.”
Trump’s attack on Reynolds came on Monday, just after The New York Times published a report detailing the governor’s frequent appearances with the DeSantis campaign. In response, Trump released a statement saying Reynolds, who has pledged she will not officially endorse anyone in the primary, would not be governor if not for him, since he appointed her predecessor, Terry Branstad, to his administration. Trump also noted that he had previously endorsed Reynolds.
"Now, she wants to remain 'NEUTRAL,' Trump said. “I don't invite her to events!"
Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung brushed off the Reichman defection, saying in a statement that “there is no room for weak-kneed and lily-livered people on Team Trump.” He also accused the DeSantis campaign of buying off the state senator by offering to fundraise for and endorse him.
“The truth is that those who have been promised financial support are now regretting their deal with the devil because none of them have been able to schedule fundraisers with DeSantis,” Cheung added.
DeSantis is expected to fundraise for Iowa Republicans, including Reichman, who’ve endorsed him, according to a person familiar with the conversations.
But in response to the Trump campaign’s accusation, DeSantis spokesperson Andrew Romeo said the former president is “losing steam in Iowa and his failing campaign is now lashing out at former supporters. Sad!”
In addition to his attack on Reynolds, Trump has also come under criticism from some Iowa Republicans for his decision to skip this week’s Family Leadership Summit in the state. That forum is drawing other GOP presidential candidates, including DeSantis.
Trump also did not attend a recent political event hosted by Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst, though he is slated to campaign in the state next week. The former president is also expected to appear at an Iowa GOP dinner later this month.
With Reichman’s endorsement, DeSantis now has the support of 38 Iowa state legislators.
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