Firestorm over Republican's endorsement of Feenstra's Democratic opponent

(The Center Square) - Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds called fellow Republican Kevin Virgil a "sore loser" after Virgil endorsed the Democratic opponent of U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa.

Virgil lost to Feenstra in the June primary. He said in a statement posted on X that Feenstra is "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," Virgil said in the statement. "Yet for the past two terms voters have held their noses and voted for him, because Republicans outnumber Democrats 2-to-1 in this district."

Virgil said Republican voters tolerate bad leaders for the sake of the party.

"That’s why I am proposing a vote for Ryan Melton this November," Virgil said. "Ryan and I disagree on many issues – right to life, taxation, etc. But he’s pragmatic, and knows that Western Iowa is a highly conservative district. I believe that he has good character and will represent us well – certainly better than our current congressman."

Feenstra called Virgil a "New York liberal" and said his endorsement was not a surprise.

“Virgil is an east coast liberal and chose to endorse a Democrat that would block the Trump agenda at every opportunity," Feenstra said in a statement . "This November, Iowans will reject the radical Virgil-Melton agenda and elect conservative champion Randy Feenstra.”

Republican leaders criticized Virgil's endorsement.

"Sore loser Kevin Virgil just endorsed Randy Feenstra’s radical Democrat opponent - who praises Bernie Sanders and believes biological men should play in girls sports," Reynolds said in the post. "Conservatives in #IA04 won’t be fooled!"

State and County Republican organizations denounced Virgil.

"There is no excuse for supporting a Democrat who would continue to leave our border wide open, fuel the inflation fires and block President Trump's agenda," the Iowa Federation of Republican Women said on Facebook .

Republicans are not being introspective, according to Melton.

"How would most R's feel looking at these posts where Iowa GOP leaders are begging them to vote for Feenstra without acknowledging their role in the discontentment they created for the rank and file folks? Melton said in a social media post .