William Petroski

bpetrosk@dmreg.com

State Sen. David Johnson, one of the senior members of the Iowa Senate, says he has suspended his Republican Party membership to protest "the racist remarks and judicial jihad" by presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump.

Johnson, 65, a resident of Ocheyedan in northwest Iowa who has served 18 years in the Iowa Legislature, said he changed his voter registration on Tuesday from Republican to "no party." He told The Des Moines Register he has not decided yet whether he will quit the Republican Caucus in the Iowa Senate.

"I will not stand silent if the party of Lincoln and the end of slavery buckles under the racial bias of a bigot," Johnson said, referring to Trump. His criticism was prompted by Trump's comments that federal Judge Gonzalo P. Curiel, who is presiding over a lawsuit involving the now-closed Trump University, was biased because of his Mexican heritage. The judge was born in the United States.

"Mark me down as Never Trump," Johnson said. But Johnson also said he will never support Hillary Clinton, the likely Democratic Party nominee for president. Prior to the Iowa caucuses, Johnson supported former Texas Gov. Rick Perry for president, then backed former business executive Carly Fiorina after Perry dropped out.

Johnson said national and state Republican leaders have been too timid and should go further in condemning Trump. He urged U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan and U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, as well as members of Iowa's congressional delegation, to immediately withdraw their support for Trump.

Trump issued a statement Tuesday saying his criticism of the judge has been "misconstrued."

"I do not feel that one's heritage makes them incapable of being impartial," Trump said but also noted he feels justified to question whether he is receiving a fair trial.

Taylor Mason, a spokesman for the Iowa Republican Party, said party officials had no immediate comment on Johnson's decision. Meanwhile, state Sen. Brad Zaun, R-Urbandale, a Trump supporter, said he was surprised at Johnson's decision and it appeared to him that the lawmaker's statement was a protest. Zaun added he hopes his colleague "comes to his senses and decides that the Republican Party is better than the Democratic Party in growing our economy and other issues."

"Obviously, there are statements that upset me from time to time, including what Donald Trump said about the judge," Zaun said. "But I am still supporting Donald Trump because the alternative is Hillary Clinton, and I don't believe it is in the best interests of the state of Iowa and our country to support Hillary Clinton."

Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, a Republican, told reporters Monday that Trump’s comments attacking Judge Curiel are inappropriate, though the governor said he does not believe Trump is a racist.

“Most people that know Donald Trump know that he’s not a racist and that he’s had tremendous relationships with minorities, and he has a lot of minorities and women that have been in key positions in his business,” Branstad said.

However, Johnson isn't the only Iowa Republican unhappy with Trump. A.J. Spiker of Ames, who was Iowa Republican Party chairman from 2012 to 2014, said he is hoping another GOP candidate will step forward to challenge Trump at the upcoming Republican National Convention in Cleveland. He describes Trump as an authoritarian who is unfit for public office.

"I think the delegates ought to vote their conscience in Cleveland and the party ought to move in a different direction than Donald Trump," Spiker said.

Paul Ryan rips Trump comments as 'textbook definition of racist'

Johnson said his no-party status will be unchanged until next month’s Republican National Convention plays out.

“If Mr. Trump is the nominee, he becomes the standard bearer for a party that’s on the verge of breaking apart. He simply cannot unify the GOP. If there is a profound split, I’ll gladly re-join Republicans who are dedicated to equality and justice for all, and let Mr. Trump lead his supporters over the cliff," Johnson said.

Johnson is in the middle of his fourth term in the Iowa Senate. He previously served four years in the Iowa House. He represents Iowa Senate District 1, which includes Clay, Dickinson, Lyon, Osceola and Palo Alto counties. Democrats control the Iowa Senate by a 26-24 margin.

“There are consequences to the decision to suspend, for now, my Republican registration. I am fully aware of that,” Johnson said. “As I have for the past 18 years, I will put a high priority on constituent service. Many of the voters who elected me are supporting Mr. Trump. I respect that, but disagree that he is qualified to lead the nation and the free world.”

House Speaker Ryan disagreed with Trump's remarks about the judge's Mexican heritage on Tuesday, describing them as "the textbook definition of a racist comment." Ryan acknowledged that a controversy over Trump's comments was hurting his own efforts to promote a positive policy agenda for Republicans..However, Ryan still reiterated his support for Trump's presidential candidacy.

Curiel, who was born in Indiana to Mexican parents, is presiding over a lawsuit that accuses Trump University of fraud. Trump has repeatedly called on Curiel to recuse himself from the case saying his Mexican heritage creates an inherent conflict of interest.

“This judge is giving us unfair rulings,” Trump said in an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper. “Now I say why. Well, I want to — I’m building a wall. OK? And it’s a wall between Mexico. Not another country.”

Trump said Sunday it's possible he would have the same concerns with a Muslim judge. Trump has proposed a temporary ban on Muslims entering the United States as a way to combat terrorism.

Iowa Democratic Party Chair Andy McGuire said in a statement that Trump's "racist rhetoric and divisive tactics" have no place in American political discourse. "Donald Trump has clearly invoked racism as an integral portion of his campaign platform. It is Gov. Branstad’s and Sen.(Chuck) Grassley’s obligation as high-profile leaders of this state to denounce Trump’s offensive rhetoric and place their priorities with the good of our country over political posturing," McGuire said.