Former Iowa GOP co-chair, once a Trump supporter, now endorses DeSantis due to impressive debate.
The Former Co-Chairman of the Iowa Republican Party Endorses Gov. Ron DeSantis for President
The former co-chairman of the Iowa Republican Party, Dr. Cody Hoefert, has officially endorsed Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) for president. Dr. Hoefert, who served as co-chairman from 2014 to 2021, was particularly impressed by DeSantis’s performance at the recent Republican National Committee’s primary debate.
“There was one candidate that stood in the center of the stage, stood strong, and spoke about the issues Iowans cared about,” Dr. Hoefert said, referring to Wednesday’s debate.
During the debate, DeSantis emphasized leadership and his plans to address the nation’s problems. Dr. Hoefert, watching with his family, was so inspired by DeSantis’s words that he made up his mind that night to endorse him for president.
It’s worth noting that Dr. Hoefert had previously been critical of former President Donald Trump due to a publicized feud with Gov. Kim Reynolds (R-IA). However, despite his disagreement with Trump’s actions, Dr. Hoefert refrained from endorsing another candidate.
Dr. Hoefert predicted that the rift between Trump and Reynolds would negatively impact Trump’s standing with voters in Iowa. He believed that Gov. Reynolds’s positive track record and popularity among Iowa Republicans would make it an unwise move for the former president to go after her.
Throughout the debate, Dr. Hoefert shared posts on social media, expressing his support for DeSantis’s answers and performance. Iowa Republican strategist David Kochel acknowledged Dr. Hoefert’s influence, stating that he is well-known and well-liked among activists in GOP-heavy northwest Iowa.
While DeSantis outperformed his national numbers in a recent poll of Iowa likely caucusgoers, Trump still maintained a double-digit lead as the most popular candidate. However, pollster Ann Selzer noted that DeSantis and Trump have competing “footprints” in the state, with DeSantis holding a 61% footprint compared to Trump’s 63%.
This endorsement from Dr. Hoefert comes at a crucial time for Team DeSantis, as they aim to demonstrate strength and momentum in the race for the presidency.
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