Florida Governor Ron DeSantis met one-on-one with Iowa voters on Saturday during a stop in Sioux Center where he gave a lengthy speech about the road ahead for conservatives ahead of his expected presidential announcement.

The governor’s trip to the Hawkeye State comes after he locked up endorsements from 37 state-level Iowa lawmakers this week, including Senate President Amy Sinclair, Senate Majority Whip Waylon Brown, House Majority Leader Matt W. Windschitl, and House Speaker Pro Tempore John H. Wills.

Speaking in a packed venue in front of approximately 650 people, DeSantis touted his record as Florida’s governor and the recent string of major legislative victories that he had this spring.

The governor warned that the political Left is “playing for keeps” and that if Republicans do not win big in 2024, it could spell serious trouble for the country moving forward in light of how poorly Biden has performed and the radical agenda he has pursued.

“If the Democrats are able to sweep in 24, if they keep the White House, gain in the Senate, and take back the House, they will try to pack the U.S. Supreme Court,” DeSantis said. “They will try to eliminate the Electoral College, they will try to make Washington, D.C., a state, and they will eliminate voter ID in every jurisdiction in this country and make ballot harvesting mandatory.”

“We got to demonstrate the courage to lead and the strength to win. If we do that, if we make 2024 election a referendum on Joe Biden and his failures, and if we provide a positive alternative for the future of this country, Republicans will win across the board,” he said. “If we do not do that, if we get distracted, if we focus the election on the past or on other side issues, then I think the Democrats are going to beat us again.”

“And I think it’ll be very difficult to recover from that defeat. And here’s the thing — I used to think our country was locked and loaded. Nothing can go wrong in terms of a free society. But freedom is fragile,” he continued. “And if you’ve lived through the last four or five years, you know that there were states in this country that forcibly shuttered churches, while allowing liquor stores and strip clubs to operate. We saw incursions on freedom that I would not have thought possible even six or seven years ago, but you know, our Founding Fathers understood the fragility of freedom very well.”

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Governor DeSantis: “If we make [the] 2024 election a referendum on Joe Biden and his failures and if we provide a positive alternative for the future of this country, Republicans will win across the board.”

We cannot “get distracted” and “focus the election on the past.” pic.twitter.com/BljseHuzwK

— DeSantis War Room 🐊 (@DeSantisWarRoom) May 13, 2023

After delivering the speech, DeSantis spoke one-on-one with supporters and took photos. The Associated Press falsely claimed that he “made little effort to connect with voters one-on-one” and was later forced to remove the claim from their report.

.@RonDeSantisFL swarmed by supporters and chatting with Iowans after the Feenstra Family Picnic pic.twitter.com/J9zWAOMmiD

— Erin Perrine (@ErinMPerrine) May 13, 2023

Standing room only for @RonDeSantisFL in Iowa pic.twitter.com/krZcc6FthB

— Erin Perrine (@ErinMPerrine) May 13, 2023

DeSantis is working the crowd now after wrapping up his speech: pic.twitter.com/FnzPMSEzhU

— Shelby Talcott (@ShelbyTalcott) May 13, 2023

DeSantis worked his way through the room for a bit after the event, shaking hands & taking pictures with some of the Iowans in attendance: pic.twitter.com/MvhoDiGZBe

— Shelby Talcott (@ShelbyTalcott) May 13, 2023

DeSantis ended the event flipping burgers with Feenstra and Reynolds and chatting with some of the volunteers — he didn’t gaggle with press (though he later answered one question on his way back to his car about the border): pic.twitter.com/QjyFohIsbk

— Shelby Talcott (@ShelbyTalcott) May 13, 2023

pic.twitter.com/bSPwAtVRVr

— Natasha Korecki (@natashakorecki) May 13, 2023

A legal defense fundraiser for Marine veteran Daniel Penny continues to skyrocket, hitting the million-dollar mark on Saturday.

Penny, 24, was charged Friday with manslaughter in the death of 30-year-old Jordan Neely by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. Video footage showed the marine veteran put Jordan Neely in a fatal chokehold after witnesses say Neely was threatening passengers on a New York City subway. Penny’s attorneys started a GiveSendGo fundraiser to help him with his legal defense and has nearly 25,000 donations totaling over $1 million as of Saturday afternoon.

“Daniel Penny is a twenty-four-year-old college student and decorated Marine veteran, facing a criminal investigation stemming from him protecting individuals on [an] NYC subway train from an assailant who later died,” the fundraiser says. “Funds are being raised to pay Mr. Penny’s legal fees incurred from any criminal charges filed and any future civil lawsuits that may arise, as well as expenses related to his defense.”

Many of the donations come from anonymous donors giving small amounts. Comments praising the Marine for his actions on the subway and expressing disbelief that he was charged with a crime flooded the fundraising platform.

“I am a 76 year old male a wounded combat veteran of the Vietnam War also a retired sgt from the NYPD I just can’t believe how 😳 this country has become,” a comment from Johnny V read.

“When somebody steps up in defense against a terrifying, ranting bully, that somebody should be applauded and not persecuted. We need more Daniel Perrys in this world!” donor Alfredo Rodriguez said.

The fundraiser benefited from a Friday night tweet by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who referred to Penny as a “Good Samaritan” and directed people to the campaign.

“We must defeat the Soros-Funded DAs, stop the Left’s pro-criminal agenda, and take back the streets for law abiding citizens,” DeSantis said.

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We must defeat the Soros-Funded DAs, stop the Left's pro-criminal agenda, and take back the streets for law abiding citizens. We stand with Good Samaritans like Daniel Penny. Let’s show this Marine… America’s got his back.
https://t.co/uQXZuT19Mo

— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantisFL) May 13, 2023

Penny took down Neely, who passengers said was threatening people on the subway and saying that he didn’t care if he went to jail. The Marine veteran put Neely in a chokehold, which the New York City medical examiner said killed him, ruling the incident a homicide, but criminal proceedings must determine Penny’s intent or culpability.

Neely had over 40 prior arrests, including for violent crimes, and struggled with mental health issues. Two years ago, he was arrested for punching a 67-year-old female in the face and knocking her to the ground as she exited a subway station. Neely was also arrested for attempting to kidnap a 7-year-old girl he was seen dragging down a street, according to the New York Daily News.