Iowa Legislator Who Left GOP Over Trump Nomination Gets The Message

Back in June, when Iowa Sen. David Johnson announced he was leaving the Republican Party to protest Donald Trump’s presidential nomination, he said he expected some backlash.

“There are consequences to the decision to suspend, for now, my Republican registration,” he said at the time. “I am fully aware of that.

“As I have for the past 18 years, I will put a high priority on constituent service. Many of the voters who elected me are supporting Mr. Trump. I respect that, but disagree that he is qualified to lead the nation and the free world.”

Actually, he called the GOP nominee a “racist bigot.”

Johnson, who represents at least a portion of five of Iowa’s 99 counties, has received a letter from the Republican county chairman for each of those five counties, rebuking him and his departure from the party. They also said they will work to find a qualified Republican to replace him when he comes up for re-election in 2018.

They wrote:

We wish to respond to your decision to declare a “no affiliation” position on June 7, 2016, effectively leaving the Republican Party.

Senator, your decision has left us, as chairs, past chairs, central committee members for over 18 years, in a situation where we cannot, and will not, in good faith, continue to support you as our senator. You recklessly abandoned your party, your supporters, your constituents, and your friends by declaring a “no affiliation” status. Your personal decision to publicly state you would not support our Republican presumptive nominee is certainly your choice as a voter. However, to go public, selfishly rejecting the Republican Party, and all affiliated with our GOP, including your constituents from the First District goes beyond the pale. In our opinion, your comments, comparing the GOP to racists and fascists was unworthy of you, and us, as your constituents. Then, without hesitation to rush to the media, eagerly creating a fanfare of celebrity for making such a “bold” move was insulting and hurtful to every voter who has ever supported you.

Senator Johnson, we recognize you have decidedly left the Republican Party, and we feel strongly you have deserted our district as our Republican senator. As a result of your action, we, the First District Party Chairs, affirm that a consequence of your decision is you will receive no support of any kind from us as county parties. We will make every effort to elect persons (sic) who support the party of Lincoln and the values we hold dear.

The letter was unanimously signed by the five county chairs: Clay County chairman Will Jones; Dickinson County chairman David Rowley; Lyon County chairman John Fluit Jr.; Osceola County chairwoman Mary Beltman; and Palo Alto County chairman Jesse Wolf. They represent 20,900 active GOP voters.

Iowa Senate District 1 comprises much of the northwest corner of the state where Republicans substantially outnumber Democrats. As of last week’s most recent tally by Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate, there are just 7,800 active Democrats and 12,600 “no party” voters in District 1.