WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (Gray Media Iowa State Capitol Bureau) — U.S. Representative Randy Feenstra, a Republican from Hull running for governor in 2026, responded to criticism face-to-face during an event hosted by MAGA Nation Iowa. The organization named in tribute to President Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” campaign slogan had invited all five Republican candidates for governor to speak before members, and Feenstra was the final candidate to accept.
So far during the primary campaign, Feenstra has declined to participate in the one debate with the candidates, an event sponsored by Moms for Liberty in Des Moines last month.
Party activists, including some who support other candidates, have criticized Feenstra for not being more accessible.
Feenstra has also skipped various joint appearances with other candidates at Republican events across the state.
Feenstra said that he has been campaigning across Iowa and answering questions from voters, like he did at the MAGA Nation Iowa event in West Des Moines on Tuesday night.
He also said that Iowans don’t officially yet know which candidates are running for governor yet. The filing deadline for candidates with the Iowa Secretary of State’s office is March 13.
Republican candidates for governor
Four other Republican candidates have announced their candidacies: state Representative Eddie Andrews of Johnston, former state representative Brad Sherman of Williamsburg, businessman and farmer Zach Lahn of Belle Plaine, and former director of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services Adam Steen of Runnells.
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