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GOP goes on the offense

Republicans optimistic about upcoming election at local chili supper

-Messenger photo by Elijah Decious
Iowa Sen. Randy Feenstra, a primary challenger to Congressman Steve King in 2020, introduces himself to former Webster County Sheriff Brian Mickelson at the Rasch Chili Supper on Monday evening.

The Webster County Republican Party exuded confidence and optimism for 2020 at the Ken & Jane Rasch Chili Supper & Auction, a contrast to a Democratic Party also confident a blue wave is coming with the challenge of President Donald Trump’s potential re-election.

“If I were the Democrats, I’d be a little bit nervous,” said state Rep. Pat Grassley, of New Hartford, who is the Speaker-elect of the Iowa House of Representatives. He highlighted several seats held by Democrats running for re-election in areas that supported Trump and Sen. Joni Ernst strongly in the last cycle.

“This is about seeing how many seats we can have after the election, not just keeping the majority,” he said.

Keynote speaker Gov. Kim Reynolds echoed the sentiments of other speakers, bringing the backing and authority only a sitting governor can offer to a party anticipating another election cycle.

“Because of all your work, we won in a tough election cycle,” she told the crowd at the Cardiff Center, which was lined with the signs of nearly every Republican name on the last ballot or the next one in Iowa.

-Messenger photo by Elijah Decious
Gov. Kim Reynolds emboldened the grassroots organizers and volunteers of the Webster County Republican Party with optimism going into 2020 at the Rasch Chili Supper Monday evening.

And she emboldened them with a call to action.

“If you work hard, I promise you we are going to keep America great and we are going to keep Iowa moving,” Reynolds said behind a red “Keep Iowa Moving” sign, whose acronym is KIM.

With Iowa having been named a top state for low unemployment and ranking in the top five for lowest business costs, a $289 million budget surplus and strong signs of fiscal health, Republicans statewide are taking credit, hoping it will carry over into the next election cycle amidst trade challenges that could potentially threaten the state’s economic standing.

But buttressing the Chinese trade war with tit-for-tat tariffs led by the Trump administration, Reynolds says the state has been given the gift of unprecedented access to the administration.

“I’m so proud to say I appreciate what President Trump and Vice President Pence are doing on our behalf,” Reynolds said. “They’re working on behalf of Iowans and Americans.”

-Messenger photo by Elijah Decious
-Messenger photo by Elijah Decious
Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig spoke to the challenges facing the current horizon of agriculture in Iowa at the Rasch Chili Dinner.

“I’ve never seen the kind of access we have to this adminstration,” she said, saying Iowa is “blessed” to have such leadership that is “willing to stand on principles despite everybody working against them.”

She contrasted that to Democratic presidential candidates crisscrossing the state, whom she derisively referred to as socialists, touting the Green New Deal, Medicare for all, and “abortion on demand.”

“The list goes on and on,” she said. “They want to tell us how to run our families, our farms, and our businesses.”

She said the crowded field of candidates trying to “out-left” each other makes her more determined to work to elect leaders “that want to fight for the values we believe in.”

Afterwards, Reynolds told The Messenger that while her administration is still working on formulating legislative priorities for the 2020 legislative session, they remain focused on growing the economy, continuing to strengthen Future Ready Iowa, the state’s work force program, and Second Chances, a program to help rehabilitate ex-offenders.

-Messenger photo by Elijah Decious
Jim Oberhelman, chairman of the Webster County Republican Party, snags a picture with Gov. Kim Reynolds Monday at the Rasch Chili Supper.

The governor said she didn’t believe Trump’s stances on trade and the hindrances farmers have sustained through loss of market access for pork and soybeans in China would impact Republicans facing re-election in Iowa, particularly if progress continues to be made.

“Our farmers are still willing to give them the time to get it right,” she said, calling China “bad actors.”

“It’s not easy,” she said, but market facilitation program payments have helped ease the pain.

Reynolds emphasized that workforce development, housing and broadband remain the biggest barriers to economic growth in the state, and wants to make passage of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement a priority.

“I want to put this in great big scream-it-loud gold letters,” she said. “Our congressional delegation should be insisting Speaker Pelosi get this on the floor. Don’t talk to me about China when you have the opportunity to ratify the USMCA and get that done.”

-Messenger photo by Elijah Decious
Iowa House Rep. Ann Meyer spoke briefly at the Rasch Chili Supper at Fort Frenzy’s Cardiff Center on Monday.

Mexico and Canada remain two of the United States’ top trade partners.

“We think we can continue to play offense and see good things happening on trade,” Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig said, calling any small move forward with China one step closer to a more comprehensive, enforceable deal.

Speaker-elect Grassley, Sen. Charles Grassley’s grandson, emphasized “non-partisan” priorities with The Messenger before he introduced the governor on stage.

He said “issues that move us forward” would likely be top of mind as he assumes his new role, listing items like childcare access and high-speed internet access in rural areas as examples.

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