This article was published in the Des Moines Register.
I am grateful for the leadership of Governor Reynolds, who upholds the values that my family once saw in the DFL but now finds in Iowa.
Watching the changes in my native Minnesota has been difficult, but it also makes me thankful to now call Iowa home. I grew up in the Iron Range, a region in northeastern Minnesota that flourished for decades due to its timber and mining industries. My family has long been supporters of organized labor and the Democrat-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL). Today, however, most of them feel abandoned by the DFL and Governor Tim Walz and have shifted their allegiance to the Republican Party.
Minnesota has always had a streak of progressive populism, but under Governor Walz, it has moved to the extreme. Today’s DFL combines the economic theories of the early 20th century Farmer-Labor Party with cultural Marxism. Governor Walz has even shown sympathy towards socialism, as evidenced by his comment, “one person’s socialism is another person’s neighborliness.” My grandparents, who were staunch DFL supporters, would be shocked by what’s happening in Minnesota today.
Critics argue that Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds is too conservative. Recently, Governor Walz even called Senator J.D. Vance “weird” on the campaign trail. The truth is, both Governor Reynolds and Senator Vance reflect the values of my DFL-supporting grandparents far more than Governor Walz.
Under Governor Reynolds, Iowa has upheld traditional Midwestern values. The state legislature has passed laws prohibiting sexually explicit books in school libraries, requiring parental notification for pronoun use, and banning gender identity education for minors. Governor Reynolds also signed a bill prohibiting sex change procedures for minors. Meanwhile, Minnesota has gone in the opposite direction, legalizing marijuana and allowing abortion on demand.
Governor Reynolds has also expanded educational opportunities by delivering school choice to families and strengthening curriculum standards in public schools, focusing on American History and Western Civilization. In contrast, Minnesota has embraced radical “liberated ethnic studies” curriculums that stray far from traditional educational values.
The economy remains a critical issue for voters across the country, and Governor Reynolds has been a strong advocate for a pro-growth agenda. Her administration has implemented tax and regulatory reforms, including a flat 3.8% income tax set to take effect next year. Prudent spending under her leadership has resulted in budget surpluses, full reserves, and a $3.7 billion Taxpayer Relief Fund. On the other hand, Minnesota has some of the highest tax rates in the nation, with a top rate of 9.85%. High taxes have led to a mass exodus, with people fleeing the state. Despite inheriting an $18 billion surplus, Governor Walz’s unsustainable spending has led to a looming $1.5 billion deficit.
The contrasting responses to the COVID-19 pandemic further highlight the differences between the two states. Governor Reynolds approached the pandemic with a balanced perspective, keeping much of Iowa’s economy open and ensuring that schools remained accessible for in-person learning. In contrast, Governor Walz responded with heavy-handed government control, locking down the economy and even jailing some for violating his COVID orders. He went so far as to establish a “snitch” line for Minnesotans to report each other for supposed violations of social distancing mandates. While Governor Walz’s approach bordered on totalitarianism, Governor Reynolds chose to respect the freedom and responsibility of Iowans.
Governor Reynolds embodies the values that my grandparents lived by. My grandparents were “conservatives of the heart.” This is a conservatism that respects tradition, believes in an enduring moral order, and upholds the balance between order and freedom. This stands in stark contrast to the revolutionary changes currently sweeping Minnesota under Governor Walz.
As a native Minnesotan, I am grateful for the leadership of Governor Reynolds, who upholds the values that my family once saw in the DFL but now finds in Iowa.
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