Conservative Iowa radio host Steve Deace endorses DeSantis

Conservative Iowa talk show host Steve Deace threw his support behind Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s presidential bid Friday. 

“I’m endorsing Ron DeSantis for president because I think he’s the strongest leader in the race. I think that’s proven. I’ve just seen a level of leadership, strength, that I’ve just not seen in this era,” the host said on “The Steve Deace Show.”

“I’ve seen a lot of good people come and go, but frankly I have never seen it, when it comes to the issues that are going to decide the future for our children and grandchildren, who has more knowledge, more willingness, more resume, in understanding them, what to do about them, and then actually doing it. I’ve never seen anything like what Ron DeSantis has done in Florida,” he continued. 

In a press release, DeSantis’s campaign referred to Deace as an “Iowa Kingmaker.” Deace endorsed 2008 Iowa caucus winner Mike Huckabee and 2016 winner Ted Cruz. 

The endorsement comes as DeSantis and GOP presidential field descend on Iowa for its State Fair. DeSantis’s campaign has made the early contest state its top priority as he seeks to gain momentum. The campaign has a goal of visiting all of Iowa’s 99 counties by the end of October. 

A New York Times/Siena College poll released last week shows former President Trump still dominating the 2024 field nationally and in Iowa. However, Trump performs better nationally than in Iowa.

Nationally, Trump leads DeSantis 54 percent to 17 percent, according to the poll. However, in Iowa Trump leads DeSantis 44 percent to 20 percent among likely caucusgoers.