The Iowa Republican Party's 2023 Lincoln Dinner fundraiser took place on July 28, 2023, and it was a highly anticipated event for the 13 candidates vying for the GOP presidential nomination.[0] With less than six months remaining before the crucial Iowa caucuses, this fundraiser provided an opportunity for the candidates to address donors and local party leaders.[1]
The lineup of speakers included some of the leading contenders such as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley.[2] Other candidates who took the stage included businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum.[3] Notably absent from the lineup was former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, whose campaign is banking on a strong showing in New Hampshire.[3]
The event was held in Des Moines, the capital of Iowa, and it attracted a significant amount of attention as it marked one of the largest campaign gatherings in the state so far in 2023.[4] Each candidate had 10 minutes to address the crowd, and they seized the opportunity to make their case to the voters.[4] However, one candidate, former Texas Congressman Will Hurd, faced a hostile reception from the audience after he began criticizing former President Donald Trump.[5] Hurd was booed off the stage, highlighting the strong support that Trump still commands within the Republican Party.[6]
Former President Trump himself made a rare appearance at the event, adding to the excitement and anticipation surrounding the dinner.[7] Trump used his speech to rally support for his preferred candidates and to emphasize his own record as a friend to Iowa, particularly highlighting his support for ethanol. He also took the opportunity to criticize Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds for remaining neutral in the nomination fight, claiming that his endorsement had helped her win the governorship in 2018.
The Iowa Republican Party's Lincoln Dinner is a significant event in the presidential campaign circuit, and it serves as a barometer of each candidate's support and standing within the party. The fact that the dinner attracted such a large number of candidates demonstrates the importance of the Iowa caucuses and the desire of these contenders to make a strong impression on the state's voters.[8]
As the campaign season progresses, candidates will continue to focus their efforts on Iowa and other early primary states. The Lincoln Dinner was just one part of a broader campaign strategy aimed at winning over voters and securing the party's nomination. With the race for the GOP nomination heating up, these candidates will need to navigate the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead as they seek to distinguish themselves from their rivals and emerge as the frontrunner in the race for the White House.
0. “Meet Ryan Binkley, the little-known Republican getting a high-profile Iowa platform” NBC News, 28 Jul. 2023, https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/meetthepressblog/who-ryan-binkley-republican-presidential-candidate-iowa-rcna96945
1. “Trump, DeSantis and top Republican candidates share stage at Iowa event” The Guardian US, 28 Jul. 2023, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jul/28/iowa-trump-desantis-scott-lincoln-dinner
2. “Trump, DeSantis and other Republicans to share stage at Iowa GOP Lincoln Dinner” NPR, 28 Jul. 2023, https://www.npr.org/2023/07/28/1190495657/trump-desantis-iowa-lincoln-dinner-gop-republican-scott-haley
3. “Trump’s polling lead and legal troubles loom over GOP presidential field as candidates collide in Iowa for critical audition” CNN, 28 Jul. 2023, https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/28/politics/iowa-lincoln-dinner-republicans-trump/index.html
4. “Presidential candidates converge on Iowa for a week full of events” ABC News, 27 Jul. 2023, https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/presidential-candidates-converge-iowa-week-full-events/story?id=101716805
5. “WATCH: Republican presidential candidates speak at Des Moines event” KTIV Siouxland's News Channel, 28 Jul. 2023, https://www.ktiv.com/2023/07/28/watch-live-6pm-republican-presidential-candidates-speak-des-moines-event/
6. “Trump tells Iowa dinner ‘there is only one candidate' who can win back the White House and voters shouldn't ‘t” Daily Mail, 29 Jul. 2023, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12350641/Trump-tells-Iowa-dinner-one-candidate-win-White-House-voters-shouldnt-chance-DeSantis-GOP-candidate-point-legal-woes-gets-BOOED-offstage.html
7. “Trump to appear at same Iowa event as Ron DeSantis, GOP rivals” New York Daily News, 28 Jul. 2023, https://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/us-elections-government/ny-trump-to-appear-in-iowa-at-same-event-as-ron-desantis-and-republican-field-20230728-etalk6vkfrh7pccebxnhbbpyzq-story.html
8. “Gov. Tim Walz criticizes Republicans ahead of Iowa GOP dinner” Minnesota Reformer, 29 Jul. 2023, https://minnesotareformer.com/2023/07/28/gov-tim-walz-criticizes-republicans-ahead-of-iowa-gop-dinner/
