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Reynolds touts Iowa reforms, warns on federal policy and urges Republican turnout
Summary
Gov. Kim Reynolds used a party fundraiser speech to highlight state tax cuts, regulatory rollbacks and disaster response, criticized federal border and spending policies, and urged support for Republican candidates including Donald Trump.
Gov. Kim Reynolds used remarks at a Republican fundraiser to cast Iowa as a model of conservative governance while pressing the audience to support Republican candidates in the coming election.
Reynolds thanked party activists and described what she called a record of fiscal restraint and regulatory reform in Iowa, saying the state had enacted multiple tax reforms and reduced the size of government. She credited legislative changes with speeding licensing processes and eliminating case backlogs, and said those reforms had allowed continued tax cuts alongside investments in education, workforce development and broadband.
Reynolds pointed to recent disasters in the state as evidence of communities’ resilience, saying "about 5,000 homes [were] impacted, 2,000 completely destroyed," and praised local volunteers and first responders for recovery efforts. She framed those examples as proof of local strength and the value of state policies.
Turning to national politics, Reynolds sharply criticized the Biden administration’s immigration and spending policies. She described the border as "an open border that can only be described as intentional" and said "over 11,000,000 illegal immigrants" have crossed, linking that to fentanyl entering communities. She also referenced an assassination attempt on a former president to underline what she called a crisis of national leadership.
On federal spending, Reynolds cited a $3 trillion figure tied to high‑profile legislation and criticized what she called aggressive climate and food‑policy proposals, saying they would threaten farm and rural economies.
Reynolds closed by urging listeners to help elect Republican candidates up and down the ballot and to back a national ticket she said reflected Iowa’s values. "We have to show up," she said, arguing that victories at state and local levels would make it possible to replicate Iowa’s approach nationally.
The speech combined policy highlights — including tax reform, regulatory review and investments in childcare, housing and broadband — with a campaign appeal to sustain party control at state and federal levels. There were no formal motions or votes recorded at the event.
