Campaign

Iowa governor says GOP needs to narrow 2024 field: ‘We don’t need more candidates’

by Miranda Nazzaro - 08/20/23 1:45 PM ET

FILE - Republican Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds delivers her inaugural address, Jan. 13, 2023, in Des Moines, Iowa. An Iowa court ruling expected Friday, June 16, 2023, could outlaw most abortions in the state or keep the procedure legal up to 20 weeks of pregnancy, at least for now. Reynolds is looking to reinstate the blocked 2018 “fetal heartbeat” law that does not allow abortions once cardiac activity can be detected, usually around six weeks of pregnancy and before many women know they are pregnant. Currently, abortions are allowed up to 20 weeks of pregnancy. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File) — FILE – Republican Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds delivers her inaugural address, Jan. 13, 2023, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) on Sunday said the GOP needs to narrow its field of 2024 candidates, urging against more people entering the already crowded race.

“I think we have a great field of candidates right now,” Reynolds said in an interview on “Fox News Sunday.” “And I think we don’t need more candidates in the field, we probably need less.”

Reynolds was asked about the possibility of more candidates entering the GOP race following an Axios report that detailed Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp receiving proposals from top GOP donors.

Pointing to the GOP Iowa caucuses, Reynolds said they are “not really to protect the winner, but to really start to narrow the field.”

The Iowa GOP caucuses, slated for Jan. 15, 2024, are the first in the nation for the party and will kick off the GOP primary race calendar. The caucuses continue a decades-long tradition where voters physically move around in a room to cast their vote instead of using ballots.

Reynolds herself has vowed to remain neutral for now with regards to endorsing a candidate and has previously said she wants all candidates to feel welcome to campaign in the state.

“So I’m remaining neutral, but I just don’t want to rule it out down the road,” Reynolds said. “I think it is really important right now to — as I said, encourage all of the candidates to come to Iowa. Shannon, I think they should go to all 99 counties, it’s a great opportunity for them.”

Trump attacked Reynolds in July over her approach to the presidential primary, a move that prompted criticism from several GOP counterparts.

Republican candidates vying for the 2024 presidency include Trump, former Vice President Mike Pence, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, former Rep. Will Hurd (R-Texas), Miami Mayor Francis Suarez and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.

Most of those candidates who have met the Republican National Committee’s debate requirements will take the stage Wednesday night in Milwaukee for the first GOP primary debate.