In response to the Iowa Democrats hosting their 2023 Liberty & Justice Dinner with special guest Sen. John Fetterman, Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Jeff Kaufmann released the following statement:

"In between having to defend Joe Biden's disastrous record on everything from the economy to the border to foreign policy and completely surrendering their first-in-the-nation caucus at the behest of the DNC, Iowa Democrats don't have a lot to celebrate.

"Good on them for at least being able to get the second biggest fool in Washington in lieu of Biden himself to come headline their little shindig."

In light of conflict raging in Israel after Hamas terrorists captured around 200 hostages, including several Americans, and killed over 1,400 Israelis, the chair of the Iowa Democratic Party's Arab American Caucus, Newman Abuissa, was photographed  addressing a pro-Palestine, anti-Israel protest in Iowa City last weekend. 

In response to this development, Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Jeff Kaufmann released the following statement:

"Innocent women and children have been brutally slaughtered and taken hostage by Palestinian militants, but one of Rita Hart's party lieutenants is out rallying anti-Israel demonstrators. Will Hart disavow this atrocious misalignment of priorities or stay mum as usual?"

DES MOINES – Back in June 2022, the Iowa Democratic Party accepted a one-time contribution of $250,000 from Nishad Singh, a former executive with the embattled and bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange FTX. Recent court testimony made by Singh underscores the ethical conundrum that Iowa Democrats are in by having accepted FTX-linked cash.
 
Singh’s $250,000 donation to Iowa Democrats was one of many that comprised millions in political contributions – largely to Democrats and Democrat-aligned groups – made by disgraced FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried and his inner circle. Bankman-Fried and numerous other high-level FTX executives have since been arrested and charged with crimes that include wire fraud, securities fraud, money laundering, and campaign finance violations. 
 
Trials against these FTX executive have recently begun, during which Singh, who is cooperating with prosecutors, admitted to the jury that political contributions made in his name were made using funds stolen from FTX customers – all but confirming that the Iowa Democratic Party accepted dirty money.
 
Singh also noted that political contributions were made in his name for optics purposes. “It was useful for my name to be associated with some donations, even if the end recipient understood they were really coming from something else,” he said during recent trial proceedings.
 
In response to these developments, Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Jeff Kaufmann released the following statement:
 
"It's now been almost a year since the Iowa Democratic Party said that it was 'looking into' a $250,000 contribution from FTX executive Nishad Singh. Will Iowa Democrats continue to sit on money from blatant con artists who defrauded innocent Americans? Or will they do the right thing and return this dirty money?”

Gruesome terror attacks against innocent civilians in Israel – including the kidnapping of women and children, murder of civilians, and even rape – have been met with swift and widespread condemnation. 

Except from the Iowa Democrats' candidate for the First Congressional District, Christina Bohannan, whose first instinct was to seize a Middle East humanitarian and security crisis not seen in decades to take a cheap political shot:

Only ten hours later did Bohannan, after being called out for her misguided focus, bother to condemn barbaric terrorism and express her support for Israel. 

In response to this, Republican Party of Iowa Communications Director Kush Desai released the following statement:

"Iowans deserve leaders who know when to put politics aside for the greater good. By prioritizing petty political potshots over an acknowledgement and condemnation of gruesome terror attacks against innocent civilians, Christina Bohannan has clearly demonstrated that she does not meet this basic standard for office."

In response to the Iowa Democratic Party releasing its "compromise" caucus plan with the Democratic National Committee, Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Jeff Kaufmann released the following statement:

"Constant and repeated attempts to thwart Iowa's cherished First-in-the-Nation Caucus is nothing new. While there have been different tactics deployed this year – including the complicity and incompetence of the Iowa Democratic Party – the Republican Party of Iowa and the Republican National Committee will continue to steadfastly defend our half-century-old carveout system, to ensure the triumph of grassroots democracy that ultimately strengthens our presidential nominating process."

Iowa's Tax-Cut Triumph

The Wall Street Journal | October 4, 2023

"Kim Reynolds is spending time with the Republican presidential hopefuls barnstorming her state, and we hope they’re taking notes on her record. The Iowa Governor has made her state a model of good tax policy, and she says she’s only getting started.

Ms. Reynolds said last week that Iowa wrapped up its fiscal year with a surplus of $1.83 billion. That may sound small compared with overgrown blue-state budgets, but it’s about 22% of what the Hawkeye State spent in 2023. It’s also the third surplus in a row in the Governor’s tenure.

These results have followed significant tax cuts that have helped the state’s economy. Since revenue surged during the pandemic recovery in 2021, Ms. Reynolds and the GOP Legislature have cut the state’s individual income tax rates. The top rate has dropped to 6% from 8.53% since 2022, and it is scheduled to drop to a flat 3.9% rate by 2026.

[...]

Crucially, state spending has grown modestly since 2021, despite annual increases in per pupil school funding. Steady job growth has pushed the state’s unemployment rate down to 2.9%.

[...]

The Iowa tax experience belies the claims of the left that cutting taxes produces deficits. In Iowa the tax cuts have helped to produce record surpluses that then can be used to cut income-tax rates further. Ms. Reynolds has also shown that you can cut rates across the board, even at the top, and succeed politically. The GOP presidential candidates could stand to ask her for a few tax-cutting pointers."

Read the full story here.

In response to tonight's Republican presidential debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California, Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Jeff Kaufmann released the following statement:

"Republicans have always supported healthy, robust debate of the issues that affect everyday Americans. That's what we saw tonight, with seven candidates from our immensely talented presidential field discussing solutions to the mess – from our raging dumpster fire of a border to our economy in the doldrums – that Joe Biden and Democrats have put us in over the last three years."

The Gazette | September 27, 2023

"In Iowa’s most competitive congressional district, the first-term Republican incumbent who won by less than a percentage point, has yet to field a single contender.

And it’s not the only seat where Iowa Democrats have had difficulty recruiting candidates as the party struggles to rebuild after bruising defeats in a state that has shifted dramatically from purple to red politically.

[...]

Over the previous five election cycles in Iowa, only three of the 17 non-incumbent candidates who eventually became their party’s nominee entered the race later than will Iowa Democrats’ candidates in the 2nd and 3rd districts for the 2024 election.

[...]

Yesterday during a special meeting, the Central Committee of the Republican Party of Iowa voted to approve the Caucus-to-Convention schedule for the 2024 election cycle.

Having already set next year's caucus date for January 15th, the Central Committee approved the following county, district, and state convention dates:

• February 17: County Conventions
• April 6: District Conventions
• May 4: State Convention 

In response to the Central Committee approving the 2024 Caucus-to-Convention schedule, Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Jeff Kaufmann released the following statement:

"The Republican Party of Iowa remains steadfastly committed to preserving our half-century-old First-in-the-Nation Caucus and building on our traditions of grassroots democracy in action across all 99 counties.

"We are excited for the Republican presidential primary process to play out, and look forward to rallying behind our eventual nominee to put an end to the nightmare that is the Biden presidency come November 2024."

In response to Democrat Jay Brown announcing his bid later today to run for the 4th District's congressional seat, Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Jeff Kaufmann released the following statement:

"Iowa Democrats should feel free to run as many candidates and pour in as many resources as they can into the 4th Congressional District.

"A champion for Iowa's farmers, a fierce defender of life, and a watchful steward of taxpayer dollars against Democrats' runaway spending, Randy Feenstra isn't going anywhere – especially not after his nearly 40-point margin of victory last November."