Presidential candidates travel to Iowa State Fair

Former Vice President Mike Pence, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, radio host Larry Elder, and businessman Perry Johnson on Thursday attended the opening day of the annual festival. The event is a popular campaign stop during presidential elections where politicians give stump speeches and meet voters before the Iowa caucuses in January. Twelve GOP candidates accepted invitations to sit down with Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds for public one-on-one talks during the event. Former President Donald Trump declined her offer.

Who else plans to attend? Besides those already mentioned, eight other Republican candidates are planning to attend the ten-day event, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, and former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley. Former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, businessman and pastor Ryan Binkley, and former Texas representative Will Hurd will also visit. Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has not shared plans to attend. Democratic candidates Marianne Williamson and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will also visit the fair. President Joe Biden does not plan to attend. 

Dig deeper: Read a report in WORLD Magazine by World Journalism Institute students about campaign events in Iowa with DeSantis and Scott.