Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA) will host a “BBQ bash” on Sunday, welcoming several of the Republican candidates for president in 2024 to speak in front of Iowans and make their cases for the job.
The barbecue will be a relatively informal event for Iowans, and Hinson noted that candidates wouldn’t be “tethered to a podium” like they might be at other events.
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“You get to see them interact with everybody” on a grassroots level. According to her, “it gives that flavor that you can really tell which candidates have it,” she said in an interview with the Washington Examiner. “And that’s what people are looking for—that quality and that inspiration.”
More than 700 people are set to attend the bash.
The event will feature speakers including Gov. Kim Reynolds (R-IA), Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy, Gov. Doug Burgum (R-ND), Larry Elder, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, and Perry Johnson.
Hinson, who is remaining neutral but has hinted at the possibility of a future endorsement, extended invitations to all of the Republican 2024 candidates. While she is disappointed that some are unable to make it, she is happy with the group that will be attending and is looking forward to seeing others out on the campaign trail.
Prominent candidates such as front-runner former President Donald Trump, former Vice President Mike Pence, and Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) will not be attending the event. Hinson did point out that Scott headlined the event last year.
“When you look back at his speech last year, he was down there and working the crowd. I was amazed at how one-on-one he got, even when he was the keynote speaker,” she recalled. “This is an opportunity for these candidates to really step up and show off and show Iowans and Americans what kind of leadership they offer, and they will get that in a really authentic way.”
As to whether Iowans are sticking with Trump or are willing to consider fresh faces, she indicated that voters in the state have always been open-minded. “Some people obviously are set in their ways and pick their horse early. But I think what’s really important about the process here in Iowa is we do value hearing from everyone. We take our first-in-the-nation status very, very seriously,” she explained.
Despite Trump’s lead in the state and nationally, a newly released New York Times-Siena College poll showed that other candidates are making gains in Iowa. According to the poll, 44% of likely caucus-goers said they would vote for Trump, which is 10 percentage points less than his showing nationally. Twenty percent indicated that they would vote for DeSantis, an increase from 17% nationally. Scott also saw a boost, with 9% saying they would vote for him in the state, as opposed to 3% nationally.
Hinson previewed that each candidate will be given about eight to 10 minutes onstage to pitch themselves to attendees. The venue will offer them “a chance to differentiate themselves, which you might not see when you’re seeing them individually,” she said.
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She further characterized the event as a “one-stop shop” to familiarize themselves with the candidates. “It’s also really fun,” she added. “We have a band. I’m actually going to play my violin.”
The event will start at 3 p.m. on Sunday at Hawkeye Downs Speedway & Expo Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
