DES MOINES — Gov. Kim Reynolds drew a full house Friday night at the Republican Party of Iowa’s annual Lincoln Dinner at the Hilton Des Moines Downtown, using the party fundraiser to both bolster turnout plans for November and mark the close of her time in office.
Reynolds pushes final county visits
Reynolds, who has said she will not seek reelection and plans to leave office in 2027, framed the Lincoln Dinner as part of a series of events celebrating her tenure under the banner of a “Governor Kim Reynolds Legacy Tour.” She told attendees she intends to visit all 99 counties before her term ends.
“We’re going to do one last 99 county tour before I’m done because I really miss being out in the state and just connecting with people,” Reynolds said. “They fire me up. They give me energy. I’m anxious to get back out on the stage and spend some time just saying thank you to Iowans.”
Jeff Kaufmann, the Republican Party of Iowa chair, led a fireside-style conversation with the governor. Kaufmann used his opening remarks to criticize the Democratic nominee for governor, arguing that the opponent is trying to distance himself from his party while contrasting that with the pride Kaufmann said Republicans have in candidates such as Zach Lahn and U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson.
Candidates show support amid outside protests
Gubernatorial candidate Zach Lahn and Rep. Ashley Hinson also addressed attendees during the program. Lahn publicly thanked Reynolds for her service and reiterated his support for the governor’s record. He did not directly engage with a group of protesters who gathered outside the venue before the event.
More than 40 demonstrators assembled prior to the dinner, holding signs and voicing opposition to another Reynolds-style administration. Demonstrators cited concerns ranging from healthcare and education to water quality and economic growth.
“We need a change in Iowa,” said Des Moines resident Deborah Gadlin during the demonstration. “We don’t want to be number one in cancer. We don’t want to be last in economic growth, we don’t want to have terrible education, we don’t want to have water that you can’t drink. We don’t need a Kim Reynolds 2.0.”
The gathering highlighted divisions within the state electorate as Republicans organize around their nominees and the governor’s final year in office.
What happened at the Lincoln Dinner
- Event: Republican Party of Iowa Lincoln Dinner
- Location: Hilton Des Moines Downtown
- Notable attendees/speakers: Gov. Kim Reynolds, Jeff Kaufmann, Zach Lahn, Rep. Ashley Hinson
- Outside action: More than 40 protesters
The Lincoln Dinner serves as both a fundraiser and a barometer of party energy heading into the fall. For Republicans, it has become a focal point to rally volunteers and donors around candidates they hope will carry the state in November. For critics gathered outside, the event provided a visible moment to press grievances and try to shape public conversation.
| Speaker | Role at event |
|---|---|
| Kim Reynolds | Featured speaker; celebrating governor’s tenure |
| Jeff Kaufmann | Host; Republican Party of Iowa chair |
| Zach Lahn | Gubernatorial candidate; supporter of Reynolds |
| Ashley Hinson | U.S. representative; speaker |
As Iowa moves through 2026’s campaign season, events such as the Lincoln Dinner will likely continue to shape narratives about both party unity and dissent. For voters, the visit promises a last round of town-hall style outreach from the governor and a clear signal of where leading Republicans are positioning themselves ahead of November.
