Iowa Republican gubernatorial nominee Zach Lahn did not attend a White House event with President Donald Trump announcing a new multibillion-dollar steel plant in the state on Monday because of a previous fundraising engagement.
A source familiar with the matter confirmed to the Washington Examiner that Lahn has been in touch with the Trump administration but was unable to reschedule the prior commitment.
Lahn is very much in support of the steel plant in Iowa and the positive effects it will bring to rural Iowa, the source said.
“One of the largest steel plants in American history is coming to Iowa,” Lahn posted on X Monday morning. “Nearly 2000 manufacturing jobs & the highest quality steel made in Iowa. This is a direct result of focusing on building in America. Iowa is the best place to do just that. Looking forward to working with President Trump to get this plant fully online.”
Rob Sand, the Democratic gubernatorial nominee in Iowa, also said the announcement was a “promising idea for Lee County and for our state given that our economy is among the worst in the nation,” in a post on X.
“I look forward to hearing more details, particularly on what protections for Iowa taxpayers will be built into the deal, and what guarantees will exist for Iowa workers to build and work in the plant if Iowa taxpayers will be asked to chip in,” Sand added.
Several Republican leaders from Iowa attended the announcement in the Oval Office, including Gov. Kim Reynolds, Sen. Joni Ernst, and Reps. Ashley Hinson and Mariannette Miller-Meeks. Hinson is running to succeed Ernst in the Senate this November.
The steel mill will be built in Southeast Iowa and will create 1,700 permanent jobs and 6,000 construction jobs.
TRUMP TO ANNOUNCE $15 BILLION IOWA STEEL PROJECT AMID TOUGH MIDTERM CLIMATE
The announcement comes as Iowa Republicans struggle to beat back competitive campaigns from Democrats in the state’s House, Senate, and governor’s races. The Iran war and rising gas and diesel prices have dampened the mood among Republicans in the final weeks before the midterm elections.
But Trump claimed he would come to the GOP’s aid in the near future. “I’m going to come to Iowa. I got more votes than anybody in history during the last election,” Trump said. “And I think I’m more popular now than I was then, which was a year and a half ago. I will say that we’re going to do a great rally, and we’ll all be there together. We have to get you all elected.”