Iowa GOP chair nominates Donald Trump at RNC, lauds agenda 'for all Americans'

Iowa was center stage as the Republican National Convention kicked off in Milwaukee on Monday, just days after an assassination attempt on former President and GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump.

Republican Party of Iowa Chair Jeff Kaufmann gave the speech formally nominating Trump, highlighting the caucus process that kicked off the party’s presidential primary as a “lengthy democratic process” and “profoundly important choice.”

“Earlier this year Iowa Republicans overwhelmingly voted for Donald Trump,” Kaufmann said. “Then the vast majority of Republicans in primaries and caucuses across the nation seconded Iowa’s good judgment in a nominee.”

Shortly after, Trump officially received the delegate votes to clinch the Republican nomination and announced that his running mate would be J.D. Vance, a first-term U.S. senator from Ohio.

Kaufmann said the spirit of the caucuses extends to the national Republican Party — that it’s a “party of the people” and not the “bosses.”

Trump, he said, had earned the trust of the people who voted for him, for a third time, to be the party’s standard bearer.

Kaufmann’s speech made no mention of the shooting on Saturday that left Trump injured, one rally attendee dead and two others injured. The shooter was killed by Secret Service. The incident is being investigated by state and federal authorities.

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Speaking to the Gazette on Sunday, Kaufmann said he did not change the content of his planned speech after the attempted assassination of Trump. He said he would focus his remarks on the caucus process and on Trump’s policy agenda.

Still, Kaufmann’s speech carried notes of the message of unity that Trump has suggested he will emphasize in the wake of the shooting.

“This is not a program just for Republicans, but one for all Americans,” Kaufmann said of Trump’s policy agenda. “It reflects the values of America. It’s a program that acknowledges that our nation has seen better days, and we can and we will blaze a brighter future.”

Republican Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, who endorsed Trump before this year's caucuses, was named a permanent convention chair as the convention was called to order Monday afternoon. She will address the convention on Tuesday, when the theme will be “Make America Safe Again.”

Iowa alternate delegate says Trump showed ‘courage,’ ‘fortitude’ after shooting

Gary Leffler, an alternate delegate from Iowa who ran in the 2022 primary to represent Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District, said the attempt to assassinate Trump has invigorated those in attendance at the convention.

“If he can take a bullet for the team we can do what we need to do,” he said. “When he displayed that kind of courage and that kind of fortitude, everyone else was just like, ‘Alright game on. Roll up our sleeves. Let's get at whatever needs to be done, let’s get it done.’”

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That feeling of urgency is mixed with a somber mood as delegates reckon with the historical moment in which the convention is being held, Leffler said.

“We could have just as easily, within a quarter of an inch, we could have been trying to figure out who was going to run for president today,” Leffler said. “So, very sober.”

Trump announces J.D. Vance as running mate

Vance received the official nomination as the party's vice-presidential candidate on Monday, just hours after Trump announced him as his running mate.

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Vance rose to prominence after writing the 2016 bestseller "Hillbilly Elegy," which detailed his family and upbringing in Middletown, Ohio. Vance was at one time a sharp critic of Trump, opposing his 2016 campaign and calling the former president "cultural heroin."

Iowa U.S. Sens. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst — both Republicans — congratulated Vance in posts on X, formerly Twitter.

"Congratulations to (J.D. Vance) on being chosen as Trump’s VP!" Ernst said. "He served our country as a Marine, and it has been a privilege to fight in the U.S. Senate alongside him on behalf of hardworking Americans."

Congratulations to @JDVance1 on being chosen as Trump’s VP!

He served our country as a Marine, and it has been a privilege to fight in the U.S. Senate alongside him on behalf of hardworking Americans.

Our party is coming together to beat and reverse his failed policies! #MAGA

— Joni Ernst (@joniernst) July 15, 2024

"Sen JD Vance is a very good choice by Trump for Vice President I’m very happy," Grassley wrote.

Sen JD Vance is a very good choice by Trump for Vice President I’m very happy

— Chuck Grassley (@ChuckGrassley) July 15, 2024

Speaking Monday before Vance had been announced, Leffler speculated that he may be the pick. North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida were also on the shortlist, according to reports.

"He's young, he's from the Midwest, he's from that Rust Belt, which is critical," Leffler said of Vance.

Other GOP officials meet with Iowa delegation

As delegates meet to nominate their candidate for 2024, some national Republicans may already have their eye on the 2028 primary. Should Trump be elected, he will be serving his second term and ineligible to run again.

Vivek Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur who ran in the 2024 GOP primary, is planning to meet with the Iowa delegation this week, Leffler said. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, another 2024 Republican candidate, also will meet with the group, according to Bloomberg.

The Iowa caucuses are expected to lead the presidential nominating calendar for Republicans in 2028. Leffler said he expects GOP candidates to test the waters in Iowa early to prepare for a 2028 run.

“It would not surprise me at all if we didn’t start seeing people in February or March of this coming year start laying the groundwork,” Leffler said. “That would not surprise me at all.”

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Tom Barton of The Gazette contributed to this report.