The Republican Party of Iowa will hold its traditional straw poll at caucus meetings in February 2020, a spokesman said Friday, even as other states reportedly are planning to cancel their primaries and caucuses in a show of solidarity with Republican President Donald Trump.

Politico reported Friday morning that Republican parties in South Carolina, Nevada, Arizona and Kansas are expected to formally cancel their primaries and caucuses in an effort to stem any potential momentum for Republican challengers to the president.

"Our 2020 caucus plans remain unchanged," Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Jeff Kaufmann said in a statement Friday.

So far, former U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh of Illinois and former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld, both Republicans, have launched primary bids challenging Trump. Former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford is also considering a bid. In a March Des Moines Register/CNN/Mediacomm Iowa Poll, Republicans said they liked Trump, but many also said they would welcome challengers.

Kaufmann previously told the Des Moines Register that Iowa Republicans would hold their straw poll in 2020. He said he planned not to formally endorse any candidates or encourage Iowans to support one candidate. But, in most ways, he said, he'll be backing the president.

"I should be fired on the spot if I am not supporting the sitting president," he said at the time. "That is one of the fundamental duties (of my job)."

Iowa's first-in-the-nation presidential caucuses are typically quieter affairs for the party that controls the White House. In some cases, the party has chosen not to cast ballots in its caucus straw poll when a Republican incumbent is running, most recently in 1992.

The New York Times reported in February of that year: "Republicans have decided not to hold a straw poll at the start of their caucuses, apparently fearing that such a tally could diminish President (George H.W.) Bush's showing. Neither of the two Republican insurgents, Patrick J. Buchanan and David Duke, have mounted challenges here."

Brianne Pfannenstiel is Chief Politics Reporter for the Register. Reach her at bpfann@dmreg.com or 515-284-8244. Follow her on Twitter at @brianneDMR.

Support reporters who follow your government by becoming a subscriber. Sign up at DesMoinesRegister.com/Deal.