The Iowa state senator’s support for Trump soured, shifting to DeSantis

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An Iowa Republican senator has withdrawn his endorsement of former President Donald Trump after he attacked Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds on social media.

First-term Republican state Sen. Jeff Reichman on Thursday that he is now endorsing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for president in 2024 after Trump slammed the popular GOP governor on his social media site, Truth Social, after he avoided endorsing a candidate in the 2024 GOP presidential primary.

“Trump is very outspoken. We’ve come to expect that, and that’s fine when it’s aimed at the right people,” Reichman said in an interview with the Des Moines Register. “And this week, when it became focused on our governor, I felt it was the right thing to do to watch our governor, our home team here. Keeping that in mind, I decided to take my endorsement for Trump.”

“I have decided to withdraw my endorsement for Trump.”

Jeff Reichman, Iowa State Senator

Former US President Donald Trump greets supporters joined by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds at a campaign rally, in Davenport, Iowa, US March 13, 2023. (Reuters)

Kim Reynolds, governor of Iowa, speaks at a campaign kickoff event for Ron DeSantis, governor of Florida, in Clive, Iowa, US, on Tuesday, May 30, 2023. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty images)

Reichman added that Gov. Reynolds is “like family,” and after Trump’s remarks, he decided to pull his endorsement and support Gov. DeSantis presidential run.

Trump said he “opened up” the gubernatorial position for Reynolds in 2018, then endorsed him “when he fell.”

“I don’t invite him to events!” Trump wrote.

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In a follow-up Twitter post, DeSantis called the Hawkeye State governor a “strong leader” who knows how to “ignore the hum.”

“Kim Reynolds is a strong leader who knows how to ignore the hum and get it done.” DeSantis wrote in a post on Twitter. “He got a landslide re-election because he delivered big results, and he’s poised to deliver even more for Iowans in the special session.”

Iowa governor Kim Reynolds introduces former United States President Donald Trump, not pictured, at an “America First Education Policy” event in Davenport, Iowa, US, on Monday, March 13, 2023. (Miriam Alarcon Avila/Bloomberg via Getty Images )

Trump in 2017 nominated longtime Republican Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad as US ambassador to China. Reynolds who was lieutenant governor at the time succeeded Branstad as governor. The then-president endorsed Reynolds ahead of his narrow 2018 election to a full term in office. Reynolds was easily re-elected by 19 points last year.

Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson called Trump’s criticism of Reynolds “dictatorial,” saying “America deserves better than Donald Trump.”

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“No one should be attacked for refusing to endorse a politician. That behavior is dictatorial,” wrote former Gov. Asa Hutchinson in a post on Twitter. “I applaud @KimReynoldsIA for welcoming all GOP candidates to Iowa. America deserves better than Donald Trump.”

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley called the governor a “conservative rock star” in a post on Twitter. “Like I always say, Iowa is growing strong women!”

Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley (C) smiles as Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds (L) introduces her. Haley held a town hall in Urbandale, Iowa, after announcing her candidacy for President of the United States. (Greg Hauenstein/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Florida Gov. spoke. Ron DeSantis at a campaign event with Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds on Friday, March 10, 2023, in Davenport, Iowa. (AP Photo/Ron Johnson)

While remaining neutral, Reynolds has hosted several presidential hopefuls in his home state including former Vice President Mike Pence and South Carolina Senator Tim Scott.

Reynolds joined Casey DeSantis in launching “Mamas for DeSantis” last week, a campaign to attract more women and parents to the DeSantis camp.

The DeSantis campaign on Thursday also announced two new legislative endorsements from Rep. Josh Meggers, R-Grundy Center, and Rep. Matt Rinker, R-Burlington.

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Thirty-nine Iowa lawmakers have endorsed DeSantis, according to DeSantis’ Never Back Down statement.

The office of Sen. Reichman did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

Sarah Rumpf-Whitten is a writer on the breaking news team for Fox News Digital. You can reach him on Twitter at @s_rumpfwhitten.

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