Iowa Gov. Reynolds endorses Ron DeSantis

Iowa Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds on Monday endorsed Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, marking a considerable notch in his belt as he seeks to carry the Hawkeye State in the upcoming Iowa Caucuses.

Speaking at a rally in Des Moines, Reynolds stated that "when we look at what is happening to our country, it is almost unrecognizable," before lamenting a litany of adverse developments under the Biden administration.

"If we don't get this next election right, if we don't choose right, we are not going to get this country back," she said. "We need someone who will fight for you and win for you."

"That leader is Ron DeSantis," she declared. "He is one of the most effective leaders that I have ever seen."

DeSantis currently trails former President Donald Trump by 30.3% in Iowa, according to RealClearPolitics. The caucus is slated for January and is the first nominating contest in the Republican primary. DeSantis has invested heavily in the state, hoping to notch an early win against Trump, who currently enjoys a considerable polling lead.

News broke that Reynolds intended to back DeSantis over Trump over the weekend, prompting Trump to retort that "Reynolds apparently has begun her retirement tour early as she clearly does not have any ambition for higher office."

Notably, the winner of the Iowa Caucuses has not won a seriously contested Republican primary since George W. Bush carried the state in 2000. John McCain lost the Caucuses in 2008, Mitt Romney lost in 2012, and Trump lost the contest in 2016. All went on to earn the Republican nomination.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.