As Governor Resists Mask Mandate, Iowans Sour on the G.O.P.
Gov. Kim Reynolds has adopted President Trump’s defiant attitude toward public health guidance on the coronavirus. But while she isn’t on the ballot, her leadership may be dragging down Republicans who are.
NEWTON, Iowa — As Iowa set a record for patients hospitalized with Covid-19, Gov. Kim Reynolds appeared at an indoor fund-raiser for the Republican Party this week, just days after joining President Trump at one of his huge rallies in Des Moines, where she tossed hats to the clamorous crowd.
At neither event were social distancing or face masks high priorities. The rally last week defied guidelines by the White House’s own health experts that crowds in central Iowa be limited to 25.
Iowa’s governor is not on the ballot next month. But her defiant attitude toward the advice of health experts on how to fight the coronavirus outbreak, as her state sees a grim tide of new cases and deaths, may be dragging down fellow Republicans who are running, including Mr. Trump and Senator Joni Ernst.
| by Anonymous | reply 18 | November 2, 2020 10:55 PM
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Ms. Reynolds, the first woman to lead Iowa, is an avatar of the president’s approach to the pandemic, refusing to issue mandates and flouting the guidance of infectious disease experts, who say that universal masking and social distancing are essential to limiting the virus’s spread. Defying that advice has eroded support for both Mr. Trump and Ms. Reynolds in Iowa, especially among voters over 65, normally a solid Republican constituency, according to public and private polls.
“Our older Iowans — many have not been able to leave their homes because they do not feel safe,” said Representative Cindy Axne, a first-term Democrat who represents Des Moines and southwest Iowa. “If you go into a grocery store, the large majority of people are not wearing masks.”
Ms. Axne added that disappointment with the governor’s handling of the virus was lifting Democrats like her who are on the ballot this year. “Voters know we’re standing up to keep their families safe,” she said.
A Monmouth University poll on Thursday showed Democrats are leading in three of Iowa’s four congressional races, with even the fourth, in deeply conservative Northwest Iowa, unexpectedly tight.
Rick Flanagan, a 61-year-old voter from Newton who had planned to vote for Ms. Ernst in the Senate race, recalled the moment he changed his mind in favor of her Democratic opponent.
| by Anonymous | reply 1 | October 25, 2020 8:06 PM
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It's just the flu! All those people on ventilators are paid crisis actors! Why isn't anyone paying attention to the REAL important issues facing America: Duncan Hunter, and the Durham report??!??!?
| by Anonymous | reply 2 | October 25, 2020 8:07 PM
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She seems like a real witch
| by Anonymous | reply 3 | October 25, 2020 8:10 PM
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The NYTimes is laying it all out there. Other media should follow the example. This is a good article.
| by Anonymous | reply 4 | October 25, 2020 8:32 PM
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Iowa voters want to vote out the GOP for not protecting them from coronavirus, but the majority don't wear masks to the grocery store? Get your shit together, Iowans.
| by Anonymous | reply 5 | October 25, 2020 8:39 PM
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Why Iowa is currently No. 6 in the USA in the "Cases per 1M Population" column.
| by Anonymous | reply 6 | October 25, 2020 9:55 PM
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Iowans happily waving " Goodbye" to the citizens infected with Covid.
| by Anonymous | reply 8 | October 25, 2020 10:29 PM
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If enough of defiant Repugs die or even too ill to vote, would the Democrats be able to flip the state? *fingers crossed*
| by Anonymous | reply 11 | November 2, 2020 6:56 PM
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I thought Cunti Ernst was leading in the latest polls?
| by Anonymous | reply 12 | November 2, 2020 6:59 PM
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Hopefully Iowa returns to blue so it will survive another election.
| by Anonymous | reply 13 | November 2, 2020 7:47 PM
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To use a medical term, governor reynolds “sucks.”
| by Anonymous | reply 14 | November 2, 2020 8:08 PM
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Don’t let Covid take over your life! It’s just a 20% positivity rate. The president was right about herd mentality, just listen to him he understands Iowa so well!
| by Anonymous | reply 15 | November 2, 2020 8:13 PM
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R9 Kool-Aid was invented in Nebraska not Iowa! Only some of us drink it. The educated and transplants tend to avoid it.
| by Anonymous | reply 16 | November 2, 2020 8:14 PM
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What is the matter with Iowa..it used to be a sensible state
| by Anonymous | reply 17 | November 2, 2020 8:19 PM
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Anything you say Donnie! 🤡
| by Anonymous | reply 18 | November 2, 2020 10:55 PM
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