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Iowa, national conservative leaders talk abortion, school choice at Family Leader event
In a panel led by Family Leader President and CEO Bob Vander Plaats, Reynolds and former U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos praised one another for their work in education and expanding the availability and public funding for K-12 private and charter schools as alternatives to public school systems. Much of the conversation centered on Iowa’s ESA program, providing public funding for private school tuition and associated fees. The program provides scholarships that match per-pupil funding at Iowa’s K-12 public schools — for the upcoming 2024-2025 school year, an fund of $7,826 per participating student. The law is on a three-year timeline for implementation, being available to all kindergarteners, Iowa public school students and private school students with a family income of 300% or below the federal poverty line in the first year of implementation — the 2023-2024 school year. In the upcoming year, the family income eligibility limit will grow to 400% of the FPL, and in the 2025-26 school year on there will be no income limit. Reynolds said that while she has been an advocate for “school choice” for many years, she believed the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on schools has changed many people’s minds about the correct path forward for education policy.
(Iowa Capitol Dispatch 7/12/24) READ MORE>>>>>
In a panel led by Family Leader President and CEO Bob Vander Plaats, Reynolds and former U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos praised one another for their work in education and expanding the availability and public funding for K-12 private and charter schools as alternatives to public school systems. Much of the conversation centered on Iowa’s ESA program, providing public funding for private school tuition and associated fees. The program provides scholarships that match per-pupil funding at Iowa’s K-12 public schools — for the upcoming 2024-2025 school year, an fund of $7,826 per participating student. The law is on a three-year timeline for implementation, being available to all kindergarteners, Iowa public school students and private school students with a family income of 300% or below the federal poverty line in the first year of implementation — the 2023-2024 school year. In the upcoming year, the family income eligibility limit will grow to 400% of the FPL, and in the 2025-26 school year on there will be no income limit. Reynolds said that while she has been an advocate for “school choice” for many years, she believed the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on schools has changed many people’s minds about the correct path forward for education policy.
(Iowa Capitol Dispatch 7/12/24) READ MORE>>>>>
‘You gotta be tough’: White evangelicals remain enthusiastic about Donald Trump
White evangelical Christians show no signs of backing away from Donald Trump. That appears to be one takeaway from Iowa's Republican caucuses, where the former president won a decisive victory over several challengers. In 2016, there was a lot of head-scratching about evangelical support for Trump - given his divorces, allegations of both extramarital affairs and sexual assault, and his insults toward women, immigrants, and others. (Sarah McCammom/OBD 1/21/24) READ MORE>>>>>
White evangelical Christians show no signs of backing away from Donald Trump. That appears to be one takeaway from Iowa's Republican caucuses, where the former president won a decisive victory over several challengers. In 2016, there was a lot of head-scratching about evangelical support for Trump - given his divorces, allegations of both extramarital affairs and sexual assault, and his insults toward women, immigrants, and others. (Sarah McCammom/OBD 1/21/24) READ MORE>>>>>
“I do think the reason that DeSantis is in second and Nikki is in third is because of organization,” said Republican Party of Iowa Chair Jeff Kaufmann. “It's the reason that Ted Cruz was first and Donald Trump was second and Marco Rubio was third in 2016. It's organization. I mean, I definitely take that away from the battle for second and third. And that's not to say that Nikki Haley did something wrong. It's just to say that Ron DeSantis did have very, very good organization. That was the difference in my opinion.” |
How the suburbs, evangelicals and ground game helped Trump, DeSantis beat Iowa expectations
Iowa Republicans credited stellar field operations with helping propel Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis in Monday’s GOP caucuses — sending Trump over the 50% threshold and boosting DeSantis ahead of rival Nikki Haley. Trump had downplayed expectations in Iowa in the days leading up to the caucuses, suggesting after months of boasting about his lead in the polls that he might not finish with a majority of support. . (Brianne Pfannenstiel/Des Moines Register 1/17/24) READ MORE>>>>> |
Iowa Republicans Double Down on Support for Trump in 2024 Caucuses, Evangelical Voters Key
Former President Donald Trump received overwhelming support from Iowa Republicans in the nation’s first primary, solidifying his grip on the party despite facing numerous lawsuits and felony charges. Young Republican voters also showed increased support for Trump in 2024 compared to 2016. Since 2016, Trump has consolidated support among evangelical Christian voters, with evangelicals making up 53% of his supporters in the 2024 Iowa caucuses. This support can be attributed to a deal struck between church leaders and Trump in 2016, granting evangelicals institutional power in his administration in exchange for their support and endorsements. (Tobias Everhart/BollyInside 1/17/24)
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Former President Donald Trump received overwhelming support from Iowa Republicans in the nation’s first primary, solidifying his grip on the party despite facing numerous lawsuits and felony charges. Young Republican voters also showed increased support for Trump in 2024 compared to 2016. Since 2016, Trump has consolidated support among evangelical Christian voters, with evangelicals making up 53% of his supporters in the 2024 Iowa caucuses. This support can be attributed to a deal struck between church leaders and Trump in 2016, granting evangelicals institutional power in his administration in exchange for their support and endorsements. (Tobias Everhart/BollyInside 1/17/24)
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Have a question about the Iowa caucuses? Ask your pastor
The agenda this week at Cornerstone World Outreach church in Sioux City, Iowa, looked something like this: On Sunday, congregants worshipped together in a morning service. On Wednesday evening, they studied the Bible. And on Thursday night, they learned how to vote. “Our faith is not just this compartment that stays for Sundays and Wednesday nights,” Pastor Mike Demastus told the congregation during Thursday’s meeting. “Our faith is for every area and arena of our life, and so it goes with us into the voting booth.”
(Alex Cochran/Deseret News 1/13/23)
READ MORE>>>>>
The agenda this week at Cornerstone World Outreach church in Sioux City, Iowa, looked something like this: On Sunday, congregants worshipped together in a morning service. On Wednesday evening, they studied the Bible. And on Thursday night, they learned how to vote. “Our faith is not just this compartment that stays for Sundays and Wednesday nights,” Pastor Mike Demastus told the congregation during Thursday’s meeting. “Our faith is for every area and arena of our life, and so it goes with us into the voting booth.”
(Alex Cochran/Deseret News 1/13/23)
READ MORE>>>>>
How Trump Is Securing the Evangelical Vote Ahead of Iowa
When Donald Trump launched his 2024 presidential campaign, many prominent evangelical leaders were wary of declaring their support. Others outright opposed him. But with just a few days to go before the Iowa caucuses, the former president seems destined to lock up the pivotal evangelical bloc in the Republican primary. That likely outcome would erase more than a year of anti-Trump campaigning by Iowa’s Bob Vander Plaats, a conservative evangelical power broker who is backing Florida governor Ron DeSantis. Of course, disapproval from established evangelical leaders amounts to little when the laity so fervently backs Trump. A December poll from NBC News, The Des Moines Register, and Mediacom found that 51% of Iowa evangelicals support Trump, nearly double the share backing DeSantis. And though Vander Plaats is hoping for something like a repeat of 2016—when Trump lost Iowa to the more evangelical-tinged Ted Cruz campaign—anything outside of a total Trump victory seems unlikely: He currently leads his closest competitors, DeSantis and former UN ambassador Nikki Haley, by more than 30 points among likely Republican voters in the state.
(Caleb Ecarma/Vanity Fair 1/12/24)
READ MORE>>>>>
When Donald Trump launched his 2024 presidential campaign, many prominent evangelical leaders were wary of declaring their support. Others outright opposed him. But with just a few days to go before the Iowa caucuses, the former president seems destined to lock up the pivotal evangelical bloc in the Republican primary. That likely outcome would erase more than a year of anti-Trump campaigning by Iowa’s Bob Vander Plaats, a conservative evangelical power broker who is backing Florida governor Ron DeSantis. Of course, disapproval from established evangelical leaders amounts to little when the laity so fervently backs Trump. A December poll from NBC News, The Des Moines Register, and Mediacom found that 51% of Iowa evangelicals support Trump, nearly double the share backing DeSantis. And though Vander Plaats is hoping for something like a repeat of 2016—when Trump lost Iowa to the more evangelical-tinged Ted Cruz campaign—anything outside of a total Trump victory seems unlikely: He currently leads his closest competitors, DeSantis and former UN ambassador Nikki Haley, by more than 30 points among likely Republican voters in the state.
(Caleb Ecarma/Vanity Fair 1/12/24)
READ MORE>>>>>
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Iowa 'kingmaker' on the GOP race and white evangelical vote
The Iowa caucuses are now just three days away, which means the candidates are making their final pitches to a coveted group of voters: white evangelicals. Bob Vander Plaats is perhaps Iowa’s most recognizable and influential evangelical leader and is often called a kingmaker in Iowa politics. Lisa Desjardins sat down with him in Des Moines to discuss the GOP race (PBS News Hour 1/12/24) |
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WATCH: Christian Veteran Who Beheaded Satanic Statue Delivers Dire Message
Earlier this month, Michael Cassidy, a Christian veteran, single-handedly demolished a statue symbolizing Satan. It had been installed in an Iowa Capitol building. Driven by his faith and conviction, Cassidy bought a plane ticket to Iowa without a clear plan. His inspiration partly came from the movie ‘Field of Dreams.’ In the moment, Cassidy’s disbelief soon turned into a conviction that action was necessary. He explained, “Yeah, and it wasn’t a prank. It was a real Statue of Satan. And you know, the Satanists, some of them may think it’s just a joke, that they’re there just trying to troll people, but the devil is real.” (Chris Powell/Trending Politics 12/29/23)
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Earlier this month, Michael Cassidy, a Christian veteran, single-handedly demolished a statue symbolizing Satan. It had been installed in an Iowa Capitol building. Driven by his faith and conviction, Cassidy bought a plane ticket to Iowa without a clear plan. His inspiration partly came from the movie ‘Field of Dreams.’ In the moment, Cassidy’s disbelief soon turned into a conviction that action was necessary. He explained, “Yeah, and it wasn’t a prank. It was a real Statue of Satan. And you know, the Satanists, some of them may think it’s just a joke, that they’re there just trying to troll people, but the devil is real.” (Chris Powell/Trending Politics 12/29/23)
READ MORE>>>>>
DeSantis, Trump court Iowa's evangelical voters, promising Christian-focused policy
In November, Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis netted what seemed to be a key evangelical endorsement in the run-up to the Iowa caucuses -- now just less than three weeks away.
Bob Vander Plaats, president of the FAMiLY Leader organization and a major evangelical figure in the Hawkeye State, endorsed the governor in an interview on Fox News, calling DeSantis a "bold and courageous leader."
(Oren Oppenheim/ABC News/12/28/23)
READ MORE>>>>>
In November, Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis netted what seemed to be a key evangelical endorsement in the run-up to the Iowa caucuses -- now just less than three weeks away.
Bob Vander Plaats, president of the FAMiLY Leader organization and a major evangelical figure in the Hawkeye State, endorsed the governor in an interview on Fox News, calling DeSantis a "bold and courageous leader."
(Oren Oppenheim/ABC News/12/28/23)
READ MORE>>>>>
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Iowa caucus goes ‘its own way’ when candidates appeal to ‘evangelical Christian base’
The Iowa GOP caucus has a reputation of “going its own way” with candidates who successfully appeal to the “evangelical Christian base”, according to Seattle University Associate Professor of American Politics Dr Patrick Schoettmer. Iowa Republicans will be the first to vote for a presidential candidate in the 2024 US election on January 16. (Sky News 12/27/23) READ MORE>>>>> |
“Iowa has a reputation of going its own way, in particular, candidates who do a good job of appealing to the evangelical Christian base tend to outperform expectations in the state,” Dr Schoettmer told Sky News Australia. |
Caucus candidates talk faith at Dordt
SIOUX CENTER—Religion and politics are usually the third-rail discussion topics but that was the agenda last Saturday at Dordt University. Five weeks before the Iowa caucuses, a quartet of presidential candidates visited Sioux Center to speak on spirituality and other subjects. Billed as “Faith and Family with the Feenstras,” the was hosted by Rep. Randy Feenstra at his alma mater. (Elija Helton/Northwest Iowa 12/15/23)
Read More>>>>>
SIOUX CENTER—Religion and politics are usually the third-rail discussion topics but that was the agenda last Saturday at Dordt University. Five weeks before the Iowa caucuses, a quartet of presidential candidates visited Sioux Center to speak on spirituality and other subjects. Billed as “Faith and Family with the Feenstras,” the was hosted by Rep. Randy Feenstra at his alma mater. (Elija Helton/Northwest Iowa 12/15/23)
Read More>>>>>
Pastor At Iowa Rally Threatens ‘Judgment,’ ‘Retribution’ When Donald Trump ‘Becomes The 47th President’
I‘ve written before about Republican leaders, pundits and supporters warning, and in many cases threatening, that Merica will see another “civil war” if the government and others continue the so-called “witch hunt” against Donald Trump and other conservative QMorons from the MAGA world. It’s wild, really. The so-called “law and order” party is constantly threatening violence and lawlessness. The so-called “facts over feelings” party is relying on demonstrably false right-wing propaganda to justify threats and intimidation. The so-called “patriots” want to kill everything in America that doesn’t fall in line with their warped, bigoted, whitewashing, “woke”-attacking ideology. (Zack Linley/Newsone 12/14/23)
Read More>>>>>
I‘ve written before about Republican leaders, pundits and supporters warning, and in many cases threatening, that Merica will see another “civil war” if the government and others continue the so-called “witch hunt” against Donald Trump and other conservative QMorons from the MAGA world. It’s wild, really. The so-called “law and order” party is constantly threatening violence and lawlessness. The so-called “facts over feelings” party is relying on demonstrably false right-wing propaganda to justify threats and intimidation. The so-called “patriots” want to kill everything in America that doesn’t fall in line with their warped, bigoted, whitewashing, “woke”-attacking ideology. (Zack Linley/Newsone 12/14/23)
Read More>>>>>
TPUSA pledges thousands to defense of Christian who beheaded Satanic idol in Iowa
Conservative activist and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk announced Thursday that TPUSA pledged $10,000 to the legal defense of the Christian veteran who is charged with beheading a Satanic idol on display at the Iowa State Capitol. "Michael Cassidy just beheaded a monument to Satan inside the Iowa State Capitol building," Kirk posted to X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
. (Luke Gentile/Washington Examiner 12/15/23)
READ MORE>>>>>
Conservative activist and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk announced Thursday that TPUSA pledged $10,000 to the legal defense of the Christian veteran who is charged with beheading a Satanic idol on display at the Iowa State Capitol. "Michael Cassidy just beheaded a monument to Satan inside the Iowa State Capitol building," Kirk posted to X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
. (Luke Gentile/Washington Examiner 12/15/23)
READ MORE>>>>>
Top evangelical leader says he doesn’t believe poll showing strong Trump support in Iowa
Bob Vander Plaats, an influential Iowa evangelical leader, said he doesn’t believe recent polling that shows evangelical voters still support former President Trump. “I don’t believe them, and there’s a reason I don’t believe them – because it does not match up at all to what I’m hearing on the ground,” Vander Plaats told The Washington Post on Thursday. (Lauren Irwin/Yahoo 12/15/23)
READ MORE>>>>>
Bob Vander Plaats, an influential Iowa evangelical leader, said he doesn’t believe recent polling that shows evangelical voters still support former President Trump. “I don’t believe them, and there’s a reason I don’t believe them – because it does not match up at all to what I’m hearing on the ground,” Vander Plaats told The Washington Post on Thursday. (Lauren Irwin/Yahoo 12/15/23)
READ MORE>>>>>
Trump campaign touts evangelical support in Iowa as faith leaders endorse him
"As a pastor in Iowa, I believe President Trump has demonstrated a profound understanding of the issues that are crucial to us," Crossroads Church Senior Pastor Joseph Hall said. More than 150 faith leaders in Iowa have thrown their support behind former President Donald Trump ahead of the state's primary contest, potentially helping him to shore up a key voting bloc in Hawkeye State.
(Ben Wedon/Just The News 11/21/23)
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"As a pastor in Iowa, I believe President Trump has demonstrated a profound understanding of the issues that are crucial to us," Crossroads Church Senior Pastor Joseph Hall said. More than 150 faith leaders in Iowa have thrown their support behind former President Donald Trump ahead of the state's primary contest, potentially helping him to shore up a key voting bloc in Hawkeye State.
(Ben Wedon/Just The News 11/21/23)
READ MORE>>>>>
Oct 25, 2023: Times of Israel: Support for Israel becomes top issue for Iowa evangelicals key to first GOP caucuses
Steve Rowland peered from beneath the brim of his baseball cap and admonished the roughly 500 people at Rising Sun Church of Christ in the Des Moines suburb of Altoona. It had been three days since thousands of Hamas terrorists invaded Israel and butchered over 1,000 civilians. In the US state of Iowa, where evangelical Christians dominate the first-in-the-nation Republican presidential caucuses, Rowland and other pastors are delivering a message meant to resonate both biblically and politically.
“What we’re seeing in that region is pure evil,” Rowland said. “Israel has mobilized their army and they are intent on stamping out evil, and we should be behind them. That’s where we should be, and I want you to know that, as a pastor.”
Steve Rowland peered from beneath the brim of his baseball cap and admonished the roughly 500 people at Rising Sun Church of Christ in the Des Moines suburb of Altoona. It had been three days since thousands of Hamas terrorists invaded Israel and butchered over 1,000 civilians. In the US state of Iowa, where evangelical Christians dominate the first-in-the-nation Republican presidential caucuses, Rowland and other pastors are delivering a message meant to resonate both biblically and politically.
“What we’re seeing in that region is pure evil,” Rowland said. “Israel has mobilized their army and they are intent on stamping out evil, and we should be behind them. That’s where we should be, and I want you to know that, as a pastor.”
| Aug 16, 2023 #breakingnews #politicalnews #christiannews Despite former President Donald Trump's growing legal issues, he still holds a formidable lead in the GOP primaries. While current polls indicate it might not be possible for any candidate to beat him, one evangelical leader tells CBN News that's not what he's hearing from evangelical voters in Iowa, the nation's first Republican caucus state. "I think Iowa is going to be wide open, I do think it's very open to defeat Donald Trump," Bob Vander Plaats from The Family Leader in Iowa told CBN News. Conservative evangelicals played a key role in sending Trump to the White House in 2016. While he delivered on many policy promises, voters in Iowa tell CBN News his demeanor this time around remains a challenge for the values-based voting block. That leaves 2024 GOP candidates hopeful there's an opportunity to chip away at the front-runner's evangelical support |
"I think Iowa is going to be wide open, I do think it's very open to defeat Donald Trump," Bob Vander Plaats from The Family Leader in Iowa told CBN News.
July 13, 2023: NPR: Republican presidential candidates vie for the influential evangelical Christian vote
Evangelical Christians make up an oversized share of the Republican vote in Iowa. One prominent leader wants the state to move on in 2024, but can anyone pry evangelical votes away from Trump?
Evangelical Christians make up an oversized share of the Republican vote in Iowa. One prominent leader wants the state to move on in 2024, but can anyone pry evangelical votes away from Trump?
May 7, 2023: Des Moines Register: GOP presidential candidates woo Iowa's pivotal evangelicals to pry them away from Trump
Des Moines Pastor Michael Demastus was meeting privately with U.S. Sen. Tim Scott and a group of other faith leaders earlier this year when Scott asked if he could pray over the group.
“He said he felt like being a pastor is the hardest calling in the world,” Demastus said. “And so that was really crazy. That was my first encounter with him, and I was really blown away by that.”
Des Moines Pastor Michael Demastus was meeting privately with U.S. Sen. Tim Scott and a group of other faith leaders earlier this year when Scott asked if he could pray over the group.
“He said he felt like being a pastor is the hardest calling in the world,” Demastus said. “And so that was really crazy. That was my first encounter with him, and I was really blown away by that.”
April 13, 2023: Baptist News Global: ‘High moral values’ group touts Trump as keynote speaker
An Iowa group that says it stands for “integrity in government, high moral values, constitutional authority and Christian principles” will host Donald Trump as a keynote speaker at its upcoming spring meeting.
The Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition, formerly known as Iowa Christian Alliance, sent out a news release announcing Trump’s appearance at the 23rd annual Spring Kick-Off on Saturday, April 22, at Horizons Events Center in Clive, Iowa.
An Iowa group that says it stands for “integrity in government, high moral values, constitutional authority and Christian principles” will host Donald Trump as a keynote speaker at its upcoming spring meeting.
The Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition, formerly known as Iowa Christian Alliance, sent out a news release announcing Trump’s appearance at the 23rd annual Spring Kick-Off on Saturday, April 22, at Horizons Events Center in Clive, Iowa.
April 12, 2023: Bharat Times: Trump and Iowa evangelicals: A bond that is hard to break
When Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina returns to Iowa on Wednesday, he will meet privately with a group of clergy at a Cedar Rapids church. For anyone considering the Republican presidential campaign, the visit is part of a decades-old courtship ritual in the state that kicks off the nomination process. Born-again Christians are the most influential group in Iowa’s GOP caucus, helping faith leaders organize voters and shape outcomes.
When Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina returns to Iowa on Wednesday, he will meet privately with a group of clergy at a Cedar Rapids church. For anyone considering the Republican presidential campaign, the visit is part of a decades-old courtship ritual in the state that kicks off the nomination process. Born-again Christians are the most influential group in Iowa’s GOP caucus, helping faith leaders organize voters and shape outcomes.
Feb 7, 2023: Sioux Center News: Sioux Center Christian reflects on school choice bill
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a school choice bill Jan. 24 called the Students First Act, which will allow any Iowa student to use state money to pay for private school tuition or other education expenses.
“Parents deserve choice. Government can no longer stand in their way,” Reynolds said on Twitter. “Let’s give every child an education that fits their needs!”
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a school choice bill Jan. 24 called the Students First Act, which will allow any Iowa student to use state money to pay for private school tuition or other education expenses.
“Parents deserve choice. Government can no longer stand in their way,” Reynolds said on Twitter. “Let’s give every child an education that fits their needs!”
Dec 19, 2022: Christian Post: Christian leader calls for 'fresh candidate' to lead Republican ticket in 2024
With the Iowa caucuses that historically kick off a string of presidential primaries in all 50 states slightly more than a year away, The Christian Post spoke with Bob Vander Plaats of the Iowa-based Family Leader, a socially conservative organization established to “strengthen families by inspiring Christ-like leadership in the home, the church and the government.”
With the Iowa caucuses that historically kick off a string of presidential primaries in all 50 states slightly more than a year away, The Christian Post spoke with Bob Vander Plaats of the Iowa-based Family Leader, a socially conservative organization established to “strengthen families by inspiring Christ-like leadership in the home, the church and the government.”