Republican President Donald Trump has endorsed U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra for governor, just four days before Iowa’s June 2 primary election.
“Highly Respected American First Congressman, Randy Feenstra, is running for Governor of Iowa, a place I love and WON BIG in 2016, 2020 and 2024, getting the highest Vote in the History of Iowa,” Trump wrote in a May 29 Truth Social post. “Randy is MAGA all the way!”
Trump wrote that Feenstra has his “Complete and Total Endorsement to be the next Governor of Iowa.”
Feenstra said in a statement he is “honored and humbled” to earn the president’s support.
“President Trump is the greatest president of my lifetime, and he has kept every promise he made to Iowans and the American people,” Feenstra said. “I’m honored to have worked with President Trump to secure the border, deport dangerous illegal immigrants, and pass the largest tax cuts for working families in U.S. history.”
The endorsement is a coup for Feenstra, who had been working to win over the party’s grassroots, MAGA-aligned base — many of whom have viewed him with skepticism.
Feenstra entered the race as the presumed frontrunner, with millions of dollars behind his campaign and the backing of some of the party’s top elected officials. But he’s struggled to comfortably consolidate support going into Election Day.
Trump’s backing could buoy Feenstra, who needs to earn at least 35% of the primary vote to earn the nomination outright.
If no candidate hits that benchmark, the nomination will be decided by grassroots delegates at a statewide convention.
Independent polling of the race has been scarce, and it’s unclear whether Feenstra has that support. In the final days of the race, though, he’s trained his sights on challenger and businessman Zach Lahn, airing attack ads on TV.
A poll of the primary field conducted April 14-15 by Victory Enterprises, an Iowa-based Republican consulting firm associated with Feenstra’s campaign, found the congressman led the GOP field with 41% of the vote.
The margin of error was plus or minus 4.4 percentage points.
A poll released by JMC Analytics and Polling conducted May 27-28 found Lahn leading Feenstra 27% to 24%.
The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.18%.
Democrats were critical of the endorsement, saying it doesn’t change the state of the race.
“Washington sellout Randy Feenstra has spent years putting the swamp ahead of hardworking Iowans, all to score political points with Donald Trump,” Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart said in a statement. “Unfortunately, the grassroots has made it clear they want anyone but Feenstra in this race, and this bailout comes too little too late after months of bruising Republican infighting that’s left him weakened, cash-strapped, and deeply unpopular.”
Brianne Pfannenstiel is the chief politics reporter for the Des Moines Register. She writes about campaigns, elections and the Iowa Caucuses. Reach her at bpfann@dmreg.com or 515-284-8244. Follow her on X at @brianneDMR.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Donald Trump endorses Randy Feenstra for governor in Iowa primary
Reporting by Brianne Pfannenstiel, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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