What would that look like to Iowa voters? We are down to crunch time in a five way primary to determine which Republican will be on the ballot in November, facing unchallenged Democrat Rob Sand.
Feenstra came into this race with a well-stocked coffer, name ID, and the title “Congressman.” He also came into the race having earned a reputation throughout his counties as “no show Randy.” Republican county chairs would learn afterward he had checked the box in their county with a surprise photo op at a coffee shop or Pizza Ranch. Then we have the record of his full career of refusing to debate. I would never have believed Feenstra could pull that off in a five way Republican primary for governor. The utter disrespect for voters aside, there is no way to pull off a general election victory in Iowa by emulating Joe Biden’s Basement Campaign strategy.
Knowing the eventual Republican candidate for governor will have to face Democrat Rob Sand multiple times on the debate stage, I recently asked this question while speaking at a Mahaska County Republican dinner, “Who do you think best matches up against Sand in debate?” I heard, “Sherman, Steen, Lahn.”
Given that Feenstra was reported in the most recent poll to be in the lead with 28.5% of likely Republican primary voters, I flatly asked, “Did anybody say Feenstra?” The entire room instantly broke up in unrestrained laughter! No one in that Republican crowd would stand up for Randy. They know he is charismatically and linguistically challenged, a literal laughing stock.
The opposite emotion was reflected at the Sac County Republican Convention, when a request was made for someone to read Feenstra’s letter—utter silence—no volunteers. The chairman then read the letter. The response again was utter silence. That’s two county events in two Congressional districts without a soul who would advocate for Randy. How many more?
Republican voters know that Feenstra was groomed by and hand picked by Bruce Rastetter to help enable Bruce’s Summit Carbon Solutions Boondoggle. When asked if he would have signed HF 639, the property rights bill vetoed by Governor Reynolds last year, Randy’s answer to John Fredericks on national radio was not “yes” or “no,” it was, “I would have called a special session,” which would only be necessary after he vetoed the bill. The give-away confession of Randy’s Freudian slippery subliminal reply really said, “I would have vetoed it.” If he has a solution, what is it?
It is well known that Feenstra is by far the most moderate of the five candidates. Primary voters want to nominate a conservative, not an insider whose campaign cash box has been filled by Summit Carbon Solutions’ investors who have contempt for the property rights of those who own and farm the best land in the world—utter contempt.
The four other candidates between them hold the votes to win the nomination outright. Between them, according to a recent poll by the Iowa Standard, the four conservatives will carry 60% with another 11.8% undecided. That’s 72% who are not supporting the “front runner” who has been running heavy ad buys for months. The poll, in summary, shows Feenstra at 28.5%, Lahn at 18.4%, Steen at 16%, Sherman at 13.5%, Andrews at 11.8%. The winner of the nomination must prevail and receive more than 35% of the primary voters. If no one clears that bar, the nomination will be decided by the delegates in a state convention. In that scenario, nomination is almost certain to go to one of the four conservatives.
Judging by the work they have done, both Andrews and Sherman have earned more support than they show. Steen, after a questionable tactic against Andrews, appears to have plateaued. Zach Lahn, who two months ago was trailing the pack, is now in the lead among conservatives. His trajectory is ascending and he is clearly the only candidate with momentum. Zach has made a big ad buy and has the resources to sprint through the tape. He is doing so well that he can expect to be targeted by negative attacks any day. In fact, as I write I have learned, the attacks have begun.
Lahn’s agenda is one that resonates with Iowans, from our heritage, health, clean water, agriculture production, education, opportunities for youth, breaking up monopolies, and putting the brakes on eminent domain for private gain. His fiscal and social conservatism meets or exceeds the standards of the others and he has the momentum and the resources to finish strong.
I write from experience. In 2020, we had a 4th District Congressional primary race which exactly mirrors the governors primary of today. Feenstra was the known moderate insider supported by establishment donors, many of whom are investors in Summit Carbon Solutions. The other four candidates emerged as actual conservatives in the race. Conservatives couldn’t vote for Randy and they split their votes between the other four. The result was a win for Feenstra which subjected 4th District Iowans, in one of the most conservative districts in the country, to endure six years of the least active, least accessible, least conservative Congressman in more than a generation.
Now he wants to be governor and is currently gifted with exactly the same scenario. The four conservatives are very likely to split the vote in such a way that Feenstra could creep up to 35% and win the nomination. We can, I think, stipulate that if any of the four dropped out and threw their support behind another conservative, precious few votes would flow to Feenstra.
The nearly universal opinion among Republican primary voters is that Feenstra would flop against Sand. Almost no one thinks he and his campaign will do anything in the general election except demoralize the base and suppress the turn out. That means we lose the governorship. A low turnout because of a demoralized base could mean we lose 2-3 Congressional seats, a U.S. Senate seat and a number of seats in the Iowa House and Senate. Loss of seats in the U.S. House could cost the majority. A Democrat majority in the House would bring certain impeachment efforts that would tie up President Trump and his agenda for the rest of his term. Call this the domino effect.
What is the right thing to do? Good and noble men occupy the conservative rungs on the nomination ladder. I call upon the four conservatives to get together, check your cell phones and egos at the door, close and lock it, say a prayer and come out unified, no mater how long it takes. Take a blood oath of “all for one and one for all.” Come out all backing one candidate. What a fantastic cabinet can be shaped with a unifying message of the four. If we fail to unify, the domino effect would be too terrible a price to pay.The destiny of Iowa and America may well hinge on four honorable men and their decision. Rise or fall, history will long remember this pivotal time. Let us all do our duty to bring forth a conservative governor candidate who will defeat Rob Sand.
Blessings, Gentlemen
Steve King
U.S. Congress (ret)
2003-2021
Iowa District #4
I hope Sherman and Andrews drop out and make an endorsement. Voters need to ask which candidate can beat Rob Sand. I only see it in Zach Lahn and that includes no compromises. I am very impressed and behind him 100%.