Trump opened door for Democrats to steal deep red state's governorship: report

A surprise decision by Gov. Kim Reynolds (R-IA) to not seek re-election in 2026 has given Democrats in the state hope that they can snag the seat in what is expected to be a midterm referendum on Donald Trump's return to the Oval Office.

According to a report from the Washington Post, Donald Trump's decision to enact tariffs that have severely impacted American farmers will likely not be forgotten when election time comes around in a state where agricultural policy is always at the top of the ticket no matter who the nominee is.

As Iowa Democratic Party Chairwoman Rita Hart put it, "There are a lot of people who are seeing this as an opportunity," before adding that Trump's tariffs will be front and center in the campaign.

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According to the Post's Patrick Svitek, "In Iowa — the second biggest agricultural exporting state in the country — not all Republicans have been fully onboard with Trump’s sweeping — and ever-changing — tariffs, which, at a minimum, have created deep uncertainty for farmers who make a living selling their crops to other countries."

Sam Newton, a spokesperson for the Democratic Governors Association, claimed, “It’s definitely a race we’re keeping our eye on. We believe that there’s a real opportunity for a competitive race with a strong candidate who fits the state well.”

There hasn't been a Democrat governor in Iowa since 2010.

The report also notes the election could be a harbinger on how strong Trump's pull will extend when he is not on the ballot.

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