Sally Hofmann, a conservative Christian, has been carefully considering the Republican presidential race.
“I pray for the candidates,” says Hofmann, who has been closely following the GOP contenders with an open mind for months. “I believe it’s crucial who gets into office and the direction they lead this country.”
The Iowa caucuses are scheduled for January 15th, where Republicans will gather in local precincts across the state to cast their votes. December is the critical period when many undecided voters will make their choices, adding a sense of urgency to the campaigns of Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, and others. They have only 40 days left to make their case.
Hofmann, who voted for Trump twice and was considering him this fall, has now settled on a new choice.
“I’m leaning towards DeSantis. I think I’ll go in that direction,” Hofmann stated during an interview in her farmhouse outside Cedar Rapids. “I’m thankful for what Trump did when he was in office, but I’ve been a little bit disappointed in Trump lately.”
It’s the season of political decision-making as fall transitions into winter. Iowa Republicans are participating in the first stop of the party’s presidential nominating process. This moment is particularly critical for DeSantis and Haley, who need to demonstrate that the primary is still a true contest and not just a coronation for Trump.
While there’s no denying that Trump remains a dominant force in the campaign, signs of exhaustion with the former president among the party faithful, once seldom voiced, are now emerging in conversations with Republicans like Roger Dvorak. He has placed a campaign sign for Nikki Haley in his front yard in Cedar Rapids.
“I would like to see her win the nomination. She’s a woman with empathy,” says Dvorak, who has attended campaign stops by the former South Carolina governor twice in eastern Iowa. “She listens when you ask her a question and gives you an honest answer, whether you like it or not.”
However, Dvorak’s decision to support Haley also reflects his concerns about Trump and the pending criminal cases against him. He believes that Trump’s legal challenges would be a distraction the country cannot afford.
“Whether he’s guilty or not, I don’t know. We’ll have to wait and see,” Dvorak comments. “I just don’t think he can be an effective leader for the country.”
The question now is how many Iowa Republicans are willing to go against the grain of their Trump-controlled party when making their final decisions.
Traditionally, the caucuses have served as a way to narrow down a crowded field rather than selecting the eventual nominee. Many caucusgoers take pride in elevating underdog candidates or humbling frontrunners.
Given the limited number of credible polls conducted in recent weeks, one Republican strategist has likened the situation to “flying blind,” especially considering the numerous new developments in the race. In late October, a poll conducted by The Des Moines Register showed Trump maintaining an overwhelming lead of over 25 percentage points over DeSantis and Haley in Iowa.
It remains uncertain whether this snapshot still provides an accurate depiction of the current state of the race.