Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said Sunday she will continue to stay neutral in the crowded Republican presidential primary — for now.
“I'm remaining neutral, but I don't just want to rule it out down the road. I think it’s really important right now to encourage candidates to come to Iowa,” the Republican governor told host Shannon Bream during an interview on “Fox News Sunday.”
Republican presidential hopefuls have flocked to Iowa to woo voters ahead of the crucial Iowa caucuses next year. Reynolds has appeared at events with several candidates in the GOP field, including during her well-known “fairside” chats.
But the Iowa governor has been the subject of criticism from one prominent presidential hopeful: former President Donald Trump, the current frontrunner in the race.
Trump publicly lashed out at Reynolds on social media last month, after she appeared at several events with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, one of Trump’s closest opponents in the polls.
Trump won’t get a pass from Iowa voters, who are used to candidates doggedly hitting the campaign trail in the state ahead of the caucuses.
“They expect him to be here and want to interact with all the candidates,” Reynolds said.
“What I'm hearing, they are checking and holding and asking questions,” Reynolds said of Iowa voters. “Because ultimately what they tell me is we need to put a Republican in the White House in 2024, and they want the candidate they think can win.”
