Iowa Republican grassroots signal unease with Feenstra as county parties hold unsanctioned straw polls

DES MOINES — Republican grassroots activists across Iowa used Monday night’s precinct caucuses to send an early signal of dissatisfaction with U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra, the presumed front-runner in the wide-open race for the GOP nomination for governor.

Several county Republican parties — including those in Linn and Scott counties — opted to conduct unsanctioned straw polls giving caucusgoers a chance to express support for alternatives.

Republicans and Democrats gathered Monday night at caucus sites across the state to elect precinct officers, select delegates for future conventions and discuss party platform priorities in a non-presidential election year. While the Iowa caucuses are typically organizational in off-years, some Republican county parties chose to go a step further by holding informal straw polls, despite the lack of approval from the Republican Party of Iowa.

The state party emphasized that such polls were not part of its official caucus process. The party does not hold a straw poll for any offices other than in presidential years, and said it had no information on the counties that conducted straw polls at their caucus sites.

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In counties that did conduct straw polls, results pointed to a desire among some activists to register opposition to Feenstra, who has drawn criticism from within the party for skipping forums and debates attended by his primary opponents.

In Scott County, unofficial results showed former state agency director Adam Steen of Runnells leading with 177 votes, or 39.1 percent, according to reporting by the Quad-City Times. business owner Zach Lahn of Belle Plaine followed with 114 votes, or 25.2 percent, while former state legislator Brad Sherman of Williamsburg received 83 votes, or 18.3 percent. Feenstra finished fourth with 66 votes, or 14.6 percent, and state Rep. Eddie Andrews of Johnston placed fifth with 12 votes, or 2.6 percent.

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In Linn County, unofficial results showed Steen finishing first with 140 votes across 94 precincts. Sherman followed with 52 votes, while Feenstra placed third with 47. Andrews received 17 votes and Lahn finished with 10, according to results released by the Linn County Republican Party.

Linn County GOP Chair Bernie Hayes said the straw poll was intended to boost engagement in a non-presidential caucus year by giving attendees a more meaningful way to participate and gauge candidate support in a crowded governor’s race.

Some caucusgoers said the straw polls were a way to ensure grassroots voices were heard in a race many view as unsettled, despite Feenstra’s fundraising advantage and name recognition.

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Grassroots frustration surfaces at caucus sites

Richard Jacobson, 72, of Bettendorf, told the Quad-City Times he attended the caucuses because he believes Republicans face an uphill battle in the 2026 midterm elections and worries about complacency within the party.

Jacobson said he found several candidates impressive but ultimately cast his straw poll vote for Sherman after hearing him speak, adding that he believed Feenstra’s campaign “dropped the ball” by not having a representative or written statement at his caucus site.

“You cannot do that. You cannot take Scott County or Bettendorf for granted,” Jacobson said. “Everybody else showed up or had a letter.”

Jacobson said he would support Feenstra if Republicans ultimately choose him as their nominee.

The straw poll activity comes as Republican activists increasingly discuss the possibility of a contested convention, which would occur if no candidate reaches the required 35 percent threshold in the June 2 primary. Under Iowa GOP rules, the nomination would then be decided by delegates at the party’s state convention.

Steen campaign touts straw polls as proof of momentum

Steen’s campaign has embraced the straw poll results as evidence of momentum, asserting he won about 40 percent of the vote in counties that held straw polls, while Feenstra finished with roughly 15 percent.

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Rebekah Oleson, a spokesperson for Steen’s campaign, said the campaign mobilized 452 volunteers across 429 caucus locations, covering more than 1,000 precincts. She also cited Steen’s recent statewide tour alongside conservative commentator Steve Deace, saying it “has amplified our message and it’s clearly resonating with conservatives who want a fighter, not a placeholder.”

The campaign said it is focused on expanding turnout, strengthening its presence ahead of the June primary, and organizing beyond Election Day at the precinct, county and state levels, framing the effort as a long-term grassroots movement aimed at keeping Iowa red.

Conservative news website The Iowa Standard reported aggregated, unofficial straw poll totals from multiple counties showing Steen with 35.9 percent support, followed by Sherman at 30.7 percent, Feenstra at 14.1 percent, Lahn at 13.1 percent and Andrews at 6.1 percent.

“I think what it shows is the declining support for the supposed front-runner,” Andrews said in an interview Tuesday, adding that the results highlight growing grassroots support for other candidates and the importance of organizing delegates in case the race goes to convention.

Feenstra dismisses unrest, leans on Trump ties

Feenstra, who remains widely viewed as the front-runner due to his fundraising lead and endorsements, dismissed concerns about a contested convention and said his campaign is focused on earning support across the state.

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“I am confident that I’ll be the nominee, but I am working every day to earn every vote,” Feenstra said in an interview Monday.

Feenstra acknowledged he is working to secure President Donald Trump’s endorsement, saying he discussed the race with Trump while traveling on Air Force One last week.

“I’m working to earn his endorsement,” Feenstra said. “For me, it’s all about America First and how we can grow our Iowa economy.”

But criticism of Feenstra from the party’s conservative base has intensified in recent weeks. A Fox News report detailed a petition circulating among Iowa Republicans urging Trump ahead of his trip last week to Iowa not to endorse Feenstra, arguing that an early endorsement could distort the race.

Feenstra, now in his third term in Congress, has emphasized his record of supporting Trump’s agenda, including border security, tax cuts and energy production. He has raised $4.3 million from roughly 2,000 donors in seven months and received endorsements from several prominent Iowa Republicans, including U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, and U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks.

The petition argues that Iowa Republicans should be allowed to fully vet candidates and choose a nominee without a Trump endorsement tipping the scales. Republican operatives and grassroots activists quoted in the Fox News report criticized Feenstra for skipping multiple candidate forums and debates, and questioned whether he could energize the base in a general election.

Feenstra said his campaign is focused on building what he described as a broad grassroots operation.

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He said his campaign has deployed volunteers across the state to speak on his behalf at precinct caucuses and to explain his policy vision, which he described as centered on making Iowa the most business- and agriculture-friendly state in the country, delivering “world-class education,” lowering health care costs and freezing property taxes.

He defended his campaign’s approach amid criticism from activists and opponents who have faulted him for skipping forums and debates.

“I do both,” Feenstra said. “I’ve been all over the state at Pizza Ranches and campaign stops, telling Republicans, ‘If you have questions or thoughts, please come.’ I will debate — it’s just a matter of finding the time.”

Feenstra pointed to his responsibilities in Washington, noting the narrow Republican majority in Congress, and said balancing his role as a congressman with campaigning has required trade-offs.

“I’ve got to make sure I do my job,” he said.

Asked about the possibility of a contested convention, Feenstra said he is confident that outcome can be avoided, citing his fundraising strength, endorsements and what he described as a record of delivering results at multiple levels of government.

Still, Feenstra said his campaign is not ignoring the convention process entirely and is working to ensure supporters are represented if the race were to go that route.

“Absolutely, we’re working very hard to have convention delegates,” he said. “It’s important that our vision gets told. … The bottom line is, I’m going to defeat Rob Sand. That’s the whole goal,” he said of the state auditor seen as the Democratic front-runner in the open race for governor.

Feenstra said criticism from within the party does not change his strategy, which he said remains focused on “lowering prices, creating jobs and making sure Iowa stays red.”

Quad-City Times reporter Sarah Watson contributed to this report.

Comments: (319) 398-8499; tom.barton@thegazette.com