Trump wins, DeSantis second in GOP caucus here

Former President Donald Trump won the 2024 Republican Caucus here and statewide Monday, Jan. 15.

The battle for second was just as much a storyline as anything. Here, that position went to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who visited the Freedom Rock south of Menlo to speak to supporters in August.

Republicans caucused at Nodaway Valley High School and mostly filled one-half of the gymnasium there during the opening part of the night.

Democrats held a soup supper and uncontested caucus at The Gathering Place, as President Joe Biden will be their party’s presidential nominee.

Republican Party of Adair County Chairman Ryan Frederick said that the turnout at his party’s caucus didn’t surprise him. Republicans divided up into five precincts after speeches were made in support of three candidates.

“Considering the weekend we’ve had in the weather – there’s still a good part of the county that can’t get out of their houses yet — I think that’s a pretty good crowd,” Frederick said in a follow-up interview Tuesday morning. “We had a nice, big crowd, but not a record. If it wouldn’t have been for the weather, it would have been a record.”

In the presidential preference straw poll here, Trump received 120 votes, DeSantis 67, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy 29 and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley 21.

Ramaswamy, who visited the county multiple times late in the lead up to the caucus, suspended his campaign late Monday evening, based largely on his performance here in the state.

Haley never campaigned here in the county.

Clel Baudler of Greenfield spoke during the caucus in support of DeSantis, Dianne Jungmann of Greenfield spoke in favor of Trump and Brent Bernard of Stanzel spoke in support of Ramaswamy.

Those the newspaper spoke with in support of Trump talked about his track record during his time as president and how they feel he actually won the last election. They said the economy was in much better shape under his administration and Americans were able to feel that tangibly.

Those in support of DeSantis were concerned about Trump’s ongoing legal woes and expressed it is time for a change. They also pointed to his success leading Florida as governor.

Ramaswamy supporters said he was clear in his platform and liked his confidence, though he’s only 39.

Fifty-one percent of the state’s caucus-goers stated their preference for Trump. Frederick called that a win, but not a decisive or convincing one for the former president.

“There aren’t any screaming headlines this morning. I think [the caucus] did what everybody thought it would,” Frederick said. “The conventional wisdom is that there are three tickets out of Iowa. That’s, more or less, what we saw.”

World War II veteran Bruce Westphal, 97, was at the Republican caucus, as was first-time participant Landon Klobnak, 17, who will be eligible to vote by November.

“The older generations are fading out,” Klobnak said. “I decided I need to be part of a new generation, so that’s why I’m here.”

At the Adair County Democrats soup supper, county co-chairman Kevin Shilling said he enjoys events like these.

“It’s a lot of party business — Biden’s the nominee, so there’s not a lot of bickering,” he said. “This is where the fun is – mealtime, shooting the stuff, and having fun.”

Democrats heard a video message from Nicole Loew, a candidate for Iowa Senate District 12, currently served by Republican Amy Sinclair of Allerton.

Karen Varley of Stuart also announced her intention to run for Iowa House District 23, currently served by Republican Ray “Bubba” Sorensen of Greenfield.

Back across the aisle, Frederick said he will be interested to see how the Jan. 23 New Hampshire primary turns out. He said he wouldn’t be surprised if the results are vastly different there than in Iowa.

“It’s such a different state than Iowa. It’s much smaller in population and geography, and a conservative in New Hampshire is a much different critter than a conservative in Iowa. Historically speaking, we’ve very rarely picked the winner in Iowa, but we generally narrow the field.”