Iowa Fourth District Representative, Steve King, says he is not surprised to see a long-time ally, Terry Branstad, the current U.S. ambassador to China and former Iowa governor, put support behind his primary challenger, Randy Feenstra. A report released last week from the Federal Election Commission shows Branstad contributed $1,000 in March to Feenstra’s campaign. King says support for him from his own party has waned, and Branstad’s donation is part of a pattern he has seen emerge in recent years.
King adds Republican opposition to his campaigns goes as far back as three election cycles. According to him, his former political allies have a history of offering financial support to Republicans who are willing to challenge him in the district’s primary.
While disappointed by these efforts, King does not intend to change the way he represents Iowans in Washington, D.C. or how he campaigns for office. He says constituents have come to expect his to-the-point style of governance and that will continue, regardless of what his critics say.
He adds he will start taking challengers seriously when they stop name calling and focus on the issues instead. King made his comments while traveling through the district late last week.
