Reynolds campaign ad on police support skips DeJear’s explanation

Iowa’s Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds released a campaign commercial Oct. 6 criticizing her Democratic opponent Deidre DeJear for not standing to applaud law enforcement at Reynolds’ Condition of the State address to the Legislature in January. 

The commercial says: "Liberal Deidre DeJear refused to stand for police. Can you imagine what she would do as governor?" 

The ad showed footage from the address when lawmakers, Democrats and Republicans alike, stood and applauded after Reynolds voiced support for law enforcement. DeJear is shown in a still photo sitting during the ovation. The photo was taken by Iowa Field Report, a politically conservative online publication. 

"While we can’t fix attitudes in other states," Reynolds said in her address, "we can certainly let our officers and officers across the country know that, in Iowa, they’re welcome and will receive the respect and support they deserve."

A key phrase in Reynolds’ ad is "to stand," which has multiple definitions. One Merriam-Webster dictionary definition of stand is: "to support oneself on the feet in an erect position." Another is: "to take up or maintain a specified position or posture." DeJear’s campaign is implying the first definition; Reynolds’ campaign is implying the latter. 

Reynolds’ campaign communications director, Pat Garrett, provided sourcing to PolitFact Iowa including the photo taken of DeJear sitting. He also pointed out accurately that Democratic legislator Chris Hall, who is critical of Reynolds, was among those standing during the applause. And DeJear admitted in a January Axios interview that she sat during the standing ovation. 

But why? DeJear’s campaign wrote in an email to PolitiFact Iowa that DeJear sat to protest Reynolds for not offering law enforcement officers more in terms of support than just a $1,000 bonus from American Rescue Plan Act.

"Deidre knows that our officers deserve more than a $1,000 bonus and hollow displays of gratitude. Democrats and Republicans alike often talk about supporting our law enforcement and it needs to be met with real actions," Shekinah Young, DeJear’s communications director, wrote. 

DeJear openly has said she doesn’t support defunding police and would support increasing reimbursement for mental health professionals in Iowa and fully funding public education if elected governor. 

Young pointed to DeJear’s work with police during her time as the financial director at the Financial Capability Network that partnered with the Evelyn K. Davis center, a community program that works to help working families gain financial stability. DeJear worked with police departments and law enforcement agencies around the state on reducing recidivism, which aids her understanding of the issues affecting Iowa law enforcement, Young wrote. 

Featured Fact-check

Mariannette Miller-Meeks

stated on September 8, 2021 in a tweet

“My opponent wants to abolish” law enforcement.

An example of the solutions DeJear supports to help police includes making mental health care accessible to Iowans so that police with little or no training in dealing with mental health crises have to respond to these crises fewer times, Young wrote.

The movement to "Defund the Police" gained traction after Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin killed George Floyd during a 2022 arrest. A Hennepin County jury convicted Chauvin of murdering Floyd.

A Kim Reynolds campaign commercial accuses gubernatorial opponent Deidre DeJear of failing to stand for police while showing DeJear sitting during a standing ovation for Reynolds’ January Condition of the State comments on supporting law enforcement.

That DeJear didn’t stand during the speech is indisputable; a photo exists and she admitted it. But saying that instance means DeJear would not support police as the governor takes DeJear’s actions at the Condition of the State address out of context. 

DeJear consistently has said her refusal to stand during the speech was about Reynolds and not police. On her actual policy positions, DeJear has said consistently that she supports programs that can help police.

We rate the statement Half True.