Iowa Republican Party Chair speaks in Newton

The grand opening of the Jasper County Republican headquarters was held on May 23.

Around 50 people enjoyed a social time with pizza and pop before several Republican candidates for office and other dignitaries addressed the group. A bake sale and silent auction held at the event as a fundraiser for the party.

The keynote speaker at the event was Iowa Republican Party Chair Jeff Kaufmann. He addressed the mixed feelings towards the likely nomination of Donald Trump as the Republican Candidate.

“I would have bet money that Donald Trump wouldn’t be the nominee, but he is, and that’s because of the grassroots. Republicans listen to the grassroots,” Kaufmann said. “No establishment nominated him or hand picked him. The grassroots did.”

The Republican Party is a ground-up party, and with ground-up you sometimes get results you didn’t expect, Kaufmann said. National Committeeman Steve Scheffler echoed Kaufmann’s remarks in saying “we need to stand behind Trump. Even if he wasn’t your first pick, if we want to stop the trajectory of big government that is spiraling out of control.”

Other candidates for office who spoke include Dr. Christopher Peters who is running for U.S. House District 2, Patrick Payton who is running for Iowa House District 29, Doug Cupples and Mark Sutter.

The Third annual Jasper County Republican trap shoot is planned for September.

The next Jasper County Republican Central Committee meeting will be at 7 p.m. June 27 at the Newton American Legion, 1101 W. Fourth St. S.