Photo by Julie Fleming

Standing in Elizabeth Warren’s corner on caucus night will be dozens of current or former Republicans and Donald Trump voters, and at least one former Ted Cruz precinct captain will be volunteering to bring out more.

The Warren campaign today is rolling out the public endorsements of over 40 Iowans who used to call the Republican Party their home. Sixteen of them, the campaign says, will be in precinct leadership roles for the campaign.

“Elizabeth Warren is building a coalition that will win this November because she’s fighting to level the playing field for all working families,” Judy Haynes, a former Republican from Manchester, Iowa, said. “She’s fighting to end corruption in Washington so our government works for the American people — not just the wealthy and well-connected. This former Republican is caucusing for Elizabeth on Feb. 3 because I want to live in the America she knows is possible.”

Bringing Republicans out to the Democratic caucus certainly isn’t without precedent. Barack Obama’s large coalition of first-time caucus-goers in 2008 included a not insignificant number of Republicans. The final Des Moines Register Iowa Poll of 2008 showed Republicans making up 5% of the expected Democratic caucus electorate, which famously sent Hillary Clinton’s pollster into a tizzy (he ended up being wrong).

Warren is not the only candidate touting their potential crossover appeal, but she’s the one that perhaps the conventional political wisdom would think is least likely to pull it off.

Amy Klobuchar and Pete Buttigieg have pointed to their more moderate positions and Midwestern background that could appeal to moderate Republicans distrustful of most Democrats. Joe Biden argues his blue-collar upbringing has won over exactly the kind of voter that bolted the Democratic Party to back Trump in 2016. Tom Steyer thinks his business background will inoculate him against charges of “socialism.” And Bernie Sanders’ supporters highlight how his outsider persona strikes the same nerve with frustrated voters that Trump does.

But Warren’s focus on anti-corruption measures may be under-appreciated in its potential appeal to Trump voters who believed in the man’s empty promises on “draining the swamp.” Distrust of the political system is a powerful motivator in American politics, and Warren’s platform emphasizes sweeping structural changes to lessen the influence of money in government.

Daily inspo‼️ @BROCKandR0LL is shifting a former precinct captain for TED CRUZ who’s all in for Elizabeth pic.twitter.com/iTC7fdBJzc — emily “organize everywhere” curtis (@emcurtiz) December 19, 2019

And there’s always simply the good reminder that not all voters fall into strict ideological buckets, so Warren’s progressive policy stances don’t necessarily shut the door on everyone who’s voted Republican in the past.

“Republicans, Democrats and independents alike can see that government today works great for those at the top, while leaving everyone else behind,” Warren said, in a statement. “I’m grateful to see Iowans from across the political spectrum joining our movement — together, we can make the big, structural change we need.”

Warren’s large field team in Iowa has also allowed her campaign to reach out beyond the traditional caucus-going crowd, which can find you some receptive voters not on the usual campaign lists. One organizer found a Republican teacher who was open to Warren’s message.

In the summer, I knocked the entire town of Wilton and met Sandy, a Republican teacher who was open to what I had to say. Today, when I knocked again 5 months later, Sandy committed to being a Precinct Team Member for the Teacher Candidate ♥️📚 — Marcos Descalzi (@DescalziMarcos) January 12, 2020

“She understands the financial issues,” said Republican farmer Ray Meylor, of Polk City in a video for the campaign. “She can write an easy-to-follow manuscript on how to fix this. Whether a single-parent family, or you’re a small town, or it’s a federal deficit issues — she understands those issues.”

Here is the full list of current and former Republicans/Trump voters that are publicly endorsing Warren in the Iowa Caucus:

Bobby Adams, Council Bluffs

Kristi Adams, Marion

Seth Banwell, Newton

Mahlon Barker, Dallas Center

Warren Bell, Maquoketa

McKenzie Beyer, Slater

Kathy Blazek, Anita

Sharon Bourke, Crescent

Susan Bragga, Centerville

Deanne Bryce, Des Moines

Kenneth Choquette, Des Moines

Matt Drake, Dubuque

Brandon Ermels, Urbandale

Holly Gross, Villisca

Judy Haynes, Manchester

Scott Hoodjer, Clarksville

Nanette Horton, Muscatine

Bryan Hurd, Bettendorf

Mike Kaldenberg, Winterset

Debra Kellogg-Rummel, Oelwein

Karla Lair, Des Moines

Judy Lucas, Des Moines

Jan Manders, Durango

Barb McBreen, Cambridge

Raymond Meylor, Polk City

Benjamin Miler, Inwood

Melinda Millard, Jefferson

Teri Moroney, Council Bluffs

Kristin Netemeyer, Mason City

Mark Olson, Council Bluffs

Karen Pierson, Marion

Terri Potter, Preston

Sue Rohner, Greenfield

Linda Schmitt, Atlantic

Curtis Schroeder, Fort Dodge

Terry Trimpe, Hiawatha

Isaac Truckenbrod, Grinnell

Janice Whaley, Marion

Terry Whaley, Marion

Bryan White, Boone

Stephen Wiedner, Waukon

Vincent Wolfe, Grinnell

Gene Wubbels, Grinnell

by Pat Rynard

Posted 1/13/20