In a strategic move to bolster his campaign in Iowa, Republican presidential candidate and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis secured a key endorsement from influential Iowa evangelical leader Bob Vander Plaats on Tuesday. This endorsement comes as part of DeSantis’ concerted efforts to disrupt the dominance of Republican front-runner Donald Trump in the crucial leadoff caucus state.
Vander Plaats, the president of the Family Leader and a notable figure in the anti-abortion movement, becomes the second major backer for DeSantis in Iowa this month, following the endorsement of popular Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds.
Evangelicals constitute a pivotal voting bloc in Iowa’s Republican caucuses, and Vander Plaats, known for his streak of endorsing eventual GOP caucus winners since 2008, is taking a calculated risk by supporting DeSantis, who currently lags behind Trump in polls. The decision will serve as a litmus test for Vander Plaats’ influence among Iowa evangelicals, a group that has historically shown strong support for Trump.
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Expressing his rationale for the endorsement, Vander Plaats remarked in an interview with Fox News host Bret Baier, “If Trump wins Iowa, he’ll probably go on to be the nominee, but I don’t think America is going to elect him president again.” He added, “I think America would be well-served to have a choice, and I really believe Ron DeSantis should be that guy. And I think Iowa is tailor-made for him to win this.”
Vander Plaats highlighted DeSantis’ decisive victory in the 2022 Florida re-election and his successful enactment of conservative legislation as key factors influencing his endorsement.
The evangelical leader, questioning Trump’s commitment to an abortion ban, cited concerns despite the former president’s role in appointing three Supreme Court justices leading to the overturning of the constitutional right to abortion last year. Trump has faced criticism from anti-abortion-rights activists for his reluctance to commit to national abortion restrictions and his characterization of Florida’s six-week abortion ban as a “terrible mistake.”
In response to Vander Plaats’ endorsement, Trump’s campaign issued a statement asserting Trump’s backing by over 150 faith leaders in Iowa and insinuating that DeSantis may have paid for the endorsement. Vander Plaats vehemently denied any financial incentives, emphasizing that payments from DeSantis backers to his organization were for ads at a candidate forum in July.
Trump also took to social media, posting a video targeting Governor Reynolds for her endorsement of DeSantis while reiterating his administration’s support for Iowa farmers. The video marks another chapter in the intensifying rivalry between the two Republican heavyweights as the Iowa caucuses draw near.
