Joni Ernst says Iowans are ‘still keeping their minds open’ for 2024
Jack Birle
Video Embed
Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) said that while Republican voters in Iowa have their favorites, including former President Donald Trump, they are “still keeping their minds open” for the 2024 presidential race.
The Iowa Republican told Fox News that some contenders, including Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, have been well-received in the Hawkeye State.
BIDEN DRILLS DOWN ON FIVE KEY TOPICS AS HE BEGINS HIS FINAL CAMPAIGN
“Everybody will have their favorites. There are some that have really gotten on track with a few candidates so far,” the senator said. “The former president has his baseline here in Iowa, but I’ve heard from a lot of those folks that … they’re still keeping their mind open,” Ernst told the outlet.
She also said that voters in Iowa want to hear about the future, rather than the past, when deciding who they want to support for the presidential primary.
“Iowans want to not hear so much about the past. They want to look forward and know how we’re going to correct the path that we’re on right now,” Ernst told Fox News.
Ernst held her annual “Roast and Ride” event earlier this month, where she hosted most declared GOP presidential candidates at the time. Trump was notably absent from the lineup, but Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), former Vice President Mike Pence, Haley, and Scott all attended.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Trump has a significant lead over the GOP field, per polling data, but some recent polls at the national and state level show the former president’s lead may be slipping. DeSantis is in second place, while Haley, Pence, and the rest of the field remain far behind the two Florida men, per the RealClearPolitics polling average.
Iowa will hold the first contest of the 2024 Republican presidential primary process when it holds its caucuses in early 2024.