The Ida County GOP is preparing to host its largest political event of the year—a first-of-its-kind candidate forum featuring all declared Republican contenders for Iowa Governor and U.S. House District 4.
The forum will be held Monday, Nov. 24, at the Cobblestone Event Center in Holstein, with doors opening at 5 p.m. and supper served at 5:15.
Lori Leonard Reyman, who serves as PR Chair for Ida County Republicans and for the State and National Federations of Republican Women, says this is the first time the county has hosted a forum specifically for these races, noting that the candidates themselves are new to these contests.
Among those invited to speak are six gubernatorial hopefuls, including current state lawmakers and former congressional candidates, as well as five contenders for Iowa’s Fourth Congressional District, which includes Ida County. The forum comes amid a wide-open election cycle following announcements from Gov. Kim Reynolds and Sen. Joni Ernst that they will not seek re-election.
The timing—just ahead of Thanksgiving—is intentional. Leonard Reyman says organizers hope harvest will be wrapped up and families will be ready to gather, making it an ideal moment for civic engagement.
Planning the event has been a team effort, involving dozens of volunteers from the Ida County GOP Central Committee and Trunk and Tusk members.
Leonard Reyman says the forum is a chance to spotlight rural Iowa’s role in shaping state leadership—especially in agriculture-heavy regions like Ida County.
Attendance is expected to range between 100 and 150 people. Leonard Reyman says Ida County may be small, but it’s “tiny but mighty.”
The format will be a forum, not a debate. Each candidate will speak individually about their priorities and platforms.
Early bird tickets are available by cash or check through Nov. 15 for $15 by emailing Leonard Reyman at lori@iowafrw.org. After that, admission is $25 at the door. Supper includes ribeye steak sandwiches grilled by the Ida County Cattlemen, plus sides and dessert.
