Florida Governor Ron DeSantis arrived in Des Moines, Iowa, Saturday evening for an unplanned last-minute stop to meet with local conservatives after former President Donald Trump canceled a rally that he was supposed to host there over weather concerns. The National Weather Service had issued a tornado watch for a large portion of the state earlier in the day, leading to Trump’s decision to cancel the rally.
The Trump campaign released a list of approximately 150 pro-Trump activists and elected officials who endorsed the former president in the state, including “about a dozen state legislators.” Meanwhile, the pro-DeSantis super PAC Never Back Down has released endorsements this week from 37 state-level Iowa lawmakers, including Senate President Amy Sinclair, Senate Majority Whip Waylon Brown, House Majority Leader Matt W. Windschitl, and House Speaker Pro Tempore John H. Wills.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former President Donald Trump were both set to be in Iowa this weekend but were forced to cancel their events due to severe weather conditions. Despite these setbacks, DeSantis kicked off his first campaign event of the weekend as a special guest at Rep. Randy Feenstra's third annual Feensstra Family Picnic alongside former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley who is also considering her own presidential run.
De Santis' presence in Iowa has stirred significant support among Iowan Republicans; receiving numerous endorsements from key figures such as Senate President Amy Sinclair along with 36 others from within her ranks demonstrates his overflowing support within the state - further solidifying him as potential contender for 2024 elections.
Making not one but two visits this year alone speaks volumes about how important meeting voters face-to-face has become for De Santis during his time spent campaigning throughout different parts of America's heartland region – even when faced against unexpected obstacles like sudden changes caused by the weather.
The threat of tornadoes may have forced former President Trump to cancel his outdoor rally, but De Santis was able to make his case without interference from the oxygen-guzzling Trump. On Saturday, he held a rally at Jethro's, a Des Moines barbecue joint located near the park where Trump had planned to hold his event.
Although remaining non-committal about officially entering the race and avoiding questions on topics such as abortion or potential pardons for those convicted in connection with Jan 6 insurrection - much like how former President Donald Trump has remained vague concerning specifics within their own campaigns – Governor Ron DeSantis continued delivering an abridged version of his stump speech focusing on familiar lines about handling COVID-19 pandemic head-on and fighting against right-wing media outlets during this unanticipated stop in Iowa.