GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy picked up the endorsement of Iowa Treasurer Roby Smith this week, his campaign announced. Smith is the first statewide official to endorse any candidate in the 2024 presidential election.
This is big. It took real guts for Iowa Treasurer @RobySmithIA to become the first & only statewide elected official in Iowa to endorse a Presidential candidate this cycle. Picking a first-time candidate wasn’t the conventional move to make, I applaud him for being bold. He… https://t.co/zlc8oalEsG
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) August 21, 2023
“As a state senator, I voted for the largest tax cut in Iowa history, balanced the budget, and never missed a single vote on the floor of the Iowa Senate in 12 years. As State Treasurer, I’m working to keep politics out of investment strategy to ensure the best return on investment for taxpayers, retirees, and investors,” Smith said in a statement, according to a press release by Ramaswamy’s campaign.
“Vivek Ramaswamy is a businessman, a fiscal conservative, and a champion of the taxpayer. He shares my ideals and the ideals of many Iowa families and small business owners,” Smith added. “As President, he will reduce spending, cut taxes, and work with the private sector to grow jobs and the economy. I am proud to announce today that I am endorsing Vivek Ramaswamy for President of the United States, and I encourage my fellow Iowans to join our team.”
In response, Ramaswamy applauded Smith for “picking a first time candidate” to endorse in the 2024 race, adding that his decision “wasn’t the conventional move to make.”
“This is big…We won’t let you down, Roby,” Ramaswamy added.
Smith’s endorsement comes two months after Iowa State Senator Scott Webster (R-Bettendorf) also announced his support of Ramaswamy after initially being a supporter of Florida Governor and GOP presidential candidate Ron DeSantis.
This week following the first GOP debate on Wednesday in Milwaukee, Ramaswamy will be barnstorming Iowa with nine total scheduled events across the state on Friday, August 25 and Saturday, August 26.
Ramaswamy’s full schedule of events can be seen by clicking here.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
Photo “Roby Smith” by Roby Smith and “Vivek Ramaswamy” is by Vivek Ramaswamy.
