Former GOP congressional candidate in Iowa who lost June primary is endorsing a democrat

DES MOINES, Iowa — A Republican congressional candidate in northwest Iowa is now endorsing a democrat for Iowa’s 4th Congressional District.

Kevin Virgil lost in a June primary to Congressman Randy Feenstra and now says he won’t vote for his prior opponent. Virgil says he will vote for Democrat Ryan Melton in November.

Virgil explained his reasoning on a long X (formerly Twitter) article.

I am not a career politician and never had any ambitions to run for office. I only chose to do so because our current congressman, Randy Feenstra, is so widely disliked. Most voters acknowledge that he accomplishes nothing, that he refuses to engage with his constituents, and that he has been bought and paid for by the national party establishment and by his corporate donors. – Kevin Virgil on X.

Virgil went on to say he plans on supporting Donald Trump on the presidential ticket because the National Democratic Party, “has completely lost its way.”

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He says he has heard from hundreds to thousands of supporters that plan to write in his name in November but he is asking them to vote out Feenstra instead.

“I urge them to consider ‘holding their nose’ and voting out a bad leader, and sending a very clear message to Des Moines that our elected leaders need to remember who they work for,” Virgil said.

The Iowa GOP responded Monday with the following statement.

The Iowa Republican Party strongly condemns Kevin Virgil’s endorsement of a radical, liberal Democrat for Iowa’s 4th Congressional District. Congressman Randy Feenstra is a conservative Republican who has opposed the dangerous Biden-Harris agenda every step of the way — and his conservative credentials speak volumes. He has been recognized for his track record of conservative excellence by the American Conservative Union Foundation, he has been named a Fiscal Hero by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, and he has perfect record from the National Rifle Association and National Right to Life. Iowans should vote for conservative Randy Feenstra to stop the radical, liberal agenda and stand with President Trump.