Iowa GOP conventioneers say a 'red tsunami' should swamp any blue Democratic wave

Tony Leys | The Des Moines Register

Show Caption Hide Caption Reynolds vs Hubbell in race for Iowa governor Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds and Democratic businessman Fred Hubbell will vie for control of the state’s top office this fall.

Iowa Republican leaders urged their activists Saturday not to worry about predictions of a Democratic sweep in the fall elections.

“The Democratic Party may think that an opening exists to win seats here in Iowa. I’m here to say, ‘No such opening exists,’” state Republican Co-chairman Cody Hoefert declared to more than 1,200 cheering delegates gathered in Des Moines for the party’s state convention. “…I’m here to tell you, when that blue wave gets to Iowa, it’s going to be met by a red tsunami!”

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State GOP leaders encouraged Iowa Republicans to continue vigorous support for President Donald Trump, even when he sparks controversy.

“We’ve got to toot our own horn. We’ve got to say what we say,” Party Chairman Jeff Kaufmann said in a passionate pep talk. “Yes, I know President Trump’s tweets sometimes maybe make you pause a little bit,” he said.

But the only way to get his message through a biased media, Kaufmann said, is to “tweet loudly, firmly and often. Keep it up President Trump!”

Kaufmann asked delegates to stand if they support the president. The crowd rose to its feet with a cheer.

“Do you hear it? We’re united,” he exclaimed.

The Republican ticket will be led by Gov. Kim Reynolds, the former lieutenant governor who gained the top job last year when longtime governor Terry Branstad became U.S. ambassador to China.

Reynolds and her supporters talked up her record as governor, including cutting taxes, signing the country’s strictest abortion limits and implementing a broad mental-health reform bill.

Reynolds will face Democratic challenger Fred Hubbell, a wealthy Des Moines businessman. Republican activists, led by Kaufmann, have mocked Hubbell as “Sir Frederick,” whom they portray as an out-of-touch elitist.

Reynolds told the convention Saturday that she doesn’t begrudge Hubbell or the money he shares with his successful family.

“That’s OK, because we do celebrate wealth in this country,” she said. “But I have to ask, does he really understand the tough decisions families are making every day to make ends meet?”

The Reynolds campaign showed delegates a video emphasizing their candidate’s humble, small-town roots, which she is emphasizing as a contrast.

“I’ve seen what can happen when you’re not afraid to chase your dream,” she said.

The most prominent piece of business for Iowa Republicans to take care of Saturday was to pick an agriculture secretary nominee.

Incumbent Mike Naig nearly won the June 5 primary, gaining 34.7 percent of the votes in a five-candidate race. Because he didn’t receive 35 percent of the primary votes, the matter had to be decided at the convention, where a candidate needed 50 percent plus one vote to win.

Naig reached that threshold Saturday, but it took four rounds of voting. After each round, the bottom candidate was dropped from the ballot. In the fourth round, Naig topped Corning farmer Ray Gaesser, past chairman of the American Soybean Association, 54 percent to 46 percent.

Naig, 40, who grew up on a family farm near Cylinder, served five years as deputy agriculture secretary. The governor in March appointed him agriculture secretary to replace Bill Northey, who took a job with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Naig told delegates that he expects a competitive race this fall against Democratic challenger Tim Gannon, 41, a former U.S. Department of Agriculture associate administrator. Naig said his main goals would include encouraging young people to enter farming, “to plant their seeds, to grow their roots in the community.”

The Republican delegates also nominated Jeremy Davis to run for state treasurer against Democratic incumbent Mike Fitzgerald. Davis, who is from Ames, works for the National Pork Producers Council. The party did not nominate anyone to run against Attorney General Tom Miller, a Democrat who is running for his 10th term. Unless the Republicans decide to hold a special nominating convention for the office, Miller won’t face a formal GOP challenge in November. That hasn’t happened to him since 2006.

Most of the state's most prominent Republicans took turns speaking during the five-hour convention. Western Iowa Congressman Steve King took the stage to cheers from his fellow conservatives. King spoke admiringly of President Trump, including his confrontational approach to trade negotiations. King acknowledged concern that a trade war could cause great harm to Iowa’s farm economy.

“Give him time. Give him room,” the congressman said.

Congressman Rod Blum, whom national Democrats see as one of the most vulnerable Republican incumbents, said he’s not worried. He urged delegates to keep their confidence up.

“My friends, the Democratic Party, aided and abetted by biased media, want to demoralize our Republican base. They want to demoralize everyone in this room,” he said. “They want you to believe that our president is very unpopular. Not true.”

Party delegates said they share their leaders' confidence.

John Van Horn, a Glidden farmer representing Carroll County at the Republican convention, doubts there will be a Democratic wave this fall.

“If there is, I don’t think it will be in Iowa,” he said.

Van Horn said Reynolds is an appealing candidate who will turn out enough voters to buoy the whole ticket. She knows how to relate to everyday Iowans, he said.

“She learned from the master, Terry Branstad, as far as campaigning goes."

Van Horn, 59, has been coming to GOP conventions since he was teenager. He predicted Iowa voters will rally to President Trump’s cause again, as they did in helping elect him in 2016.

“He’s still pretty popular among the working people,” said Van Horn.

He added that farmers are used to ups and downs in the market, and won’t abandon Trump over aggressive trade stances that could lead other countries to block imports of U.S. farm goods.