Iowa Co-Chair of Haley Campaign Endorses Kamala Harris
Iowa Co-Chair of Haley Campaign Endorses Kamala Harris
....longtime Republican makes an endorsement
The following letter of endorsement is from Dawn Robert, Iowa co-chair of Nikki Haley’s presidential campaign. Today, she announces her support of Kamala Harris. I am happy to run her letter in its entirety. Julie
Iowa Co-Chair of Haley Campaign Endorses Kamala Harris
By Dawn Roberts
I served as an Iowa State Co-Chair of the Nikki Haley for President Campaign. I think both parties let us down by selecting two 80-year-olds as candidates for President. I was at a loss. Then when President Biden stepped down and endorsed Kamala Harris as his replacement, I decided to see who she was. I was impressed with how she handled herself saying that she wanted to “earn everyone’s support.” She showed a willingness to listen to a wider range of views to solve problems. So I am supporting Kamala Harris for President.
I am a lifelong Republican. In August 1965, after Steve and I were married and moved to Des Moines we both became active in the Polk County Republican Central Committee. Steve went on to be Chair of the Republican State Central Committee for 4 years and National Committeeman for 20 years. Steve passed away on Nov. 7, 2020, after 55 years of marriage. While I miss him every day, I’m often thankful that he didn’t live to see what happened to our nation’s Capitol on January 6th, 2021.
I served as Polk County Co-Chair for several of Governor Robert D. Ray’s Campaigns and in 1974 Governor Ray asked me to be State Co-Chair of President Ford’s Campaign in Iowa. In 1982 I was elected the first woman chair of the Polk County Central Committee. I retired as Polk County Chair in 1985 and was recruited by the State Chair Sally Novetzke to run for Secretary of State after which I entered a career of over 30 years in the non-profit world.
The convention was almost perfect. She could unite her party immediately. She said she wanted to be the President for “all of the people.” She allowed representatives from a variety of views from her party, the Republican Party, and world leaders like Leon Panetta, former Defense Secretary, to participate in the convention. All reinforced the skills she has to work with domestic and world leaders in representing our country and keeping our military strong.
At a news conference, she said she would consider having a Republican in her cabinet. All of these statements lead me to believe that she truly has the skills needed to bring us together as a country and hopefully the world. I heard her articulate that she has always brought groups of diverse individuals and opinions together to solve problems. That is a healthier and wiser way to lead.
At the debate, she continued to impress looking at the audience and emphasizing bringing the country together rather than divide, to lift people up rather than tear people down.
It also doesn’t hurt that she (as the most qualified candidate running for President) happens to be a woman. My husband Steve, often questioned why the United States is one of the few countries that has never had a female president. I think the time is now and Kamala Harris is the person to lead our country into the future.
Dawn Roberts was a Co-Chair of the Iowa Haley for President Campaign. She was selected to be the first female chair of the Polk County Republican Party and was nominated by Republicans to run for Secretary of State in 1986. Her late husband, Steve Roberts, was a former State Chair for the Republican Party of Iowa. She is a community activist and proud mother of three grown children and three grandchildren.
Please consider our extraordinary writers who are members of the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative:
Bravo! Very well articulated!
Thanks, Mrs. Roberts. Some days I think the Republican Party my father and grandfather loved is gone forever. And then this. Again, thanks for your courage.