Campaign Almanac: Pompeo PAC endorses Iowa Rep. Miller-Meeks

Also, The Family Leader issues Iowa legislative endorsements

Mike Pompeo, the secretary of state under the Trump administration, is endorsing the Republican incumbent in Iowa’s 1st Congressional District race.

Pompeo, who first served as the CIA director before becoming the secretary of state from 2018 to 2021, this week threw the support of his political action committee behind U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks.

“As a doctor, veteran, and member of Congress, Mariannette Miller-Meeks has spent her life protecting and defending Iowans and their values,” Pompeo said in a news release from his committee, Champion American Values.

“I am honored to have Secretary Pompeo’s support,” Miller-Meeks said in a statement. “As a fellow veteran, Secretary Pompeo knows the threats facing our country, both foreign and domestic, and he understands the challenges facing Iowa farmers and small business owners. I’m proud to continue working alongside him as we work to make America’s families safe, secure, and prosperous!”

According to the political action committee’s website, Miller-Meeks is one of four candidates for U.S. House who Pompeo has endorsed. He also has endorsed eight U.S. Senate candidates. Most have some kind of military experience.

Christian group issues Iowa legislative endorsements

Conservative Christian group The Family Leader announced its support Monday of nine candidates running for election and re-election to the Iowa Legislature.

The group — which successfully had pushed for strict abortion restrictions and taxpayer funded savings account for Iowa families to send their children to private schools — said it supports Republican incumbents Dan Dawson and Brad Zaun, who are seeking re-election to the Iowa Senate.

Dawson, who chairs the Senate Ways and Means Committee that oversees tax policy, is seeking re-election this fall to represent most of Council Bluffs and Carter Lake. He faces Democrat and Council Bluffs City Council member Steve Gorman.

Zaun, who was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 2004, serves as chair of the Judiciary Committee and president pro-tempore of the Iowa Senate. The Urbandale Republican faces Democrat Matt Blake, a judge advocate in the Iowa Army National Guard from Urbandale, who is challenging Zaun to represent Senate District 22, which covers Johnston, eastern Urbandale and some parts of Polk County.

The Family Leader also endorsed four Republican incumbents and three GOP candidates running for the Iowa House of Representatives. They are:

Hermanson and Wengryn are running for open seats with Democratic opponents. Weldon is running to challenge Democratic incumbent Rep. Molly Buck of Ankeny.

Tiara Mays-Sims, vice chair of the Iowa Democratic Black Caucus from Johnston, is challenging Andrews. Bradley faces a rematch with former Iowa Rep. Andy McKean of Anamosa. Lynne Campbell, a Democrat from Grimes, is running to challenge Gehlbach.

“The FAMILY Leader is confident these candidates will give everyday Iowans strong, pro-family leadership in the Iowa Legislature,” President and Chief Executive Officer Bob Vander Plaats said in a statement. “And while The FAMILY Leader does not seek to make an endorsement in every race, when our voice can help elect candidates who desire to honor God in office and stand strong on the issues that impact families, we are thrilled to stand with them.”

RNC chair to speak at Iowa Faith & Freedom banquet

Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley will co-headline Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition’s annual banquet in Des Moines, along with Tom Homan, former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement under former President Donald Trump.

The gathering of conservative, grassroots voters has become a high-profile event in past years for Republicans seeking the White House, including Trump.

“This is a crucial time for conservatives in Iowa and across the country” to stop a “liberal woke agenda,” said Steve Scheffler, president of Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition and Republican National Committee member.

“Iowa Faith & Freedom’s Fall Banquet will provide an invaluable opportunity for our community to come together, get inspired, and make our voices heard,” Scheffler said.

For more information about the Sept. 21 banquet, including purchasing tickets, go to ffciowa.com.