Unknown Outsider Ryan Binkley Shines Brighter Than Seasoned Governors In Iowa GOP Caucus Upset

Ryan Binkley, a name unfamiliar to most Americans and even to those in New Hampshire where he is headed next, is neither a former nor a current politician. Yet, on Monday night, he secured the votes of at least 774 Iowans. Although he did not win any delegates, he outperformed former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, both of whom have since withdrawn from the race.

Asa Hutchinson, the former Governor of Arkansas, secured a 6th place finish in Iowa with less than 200 votes. His vote count was quadrupled by Ryan Binkley, a relatively unknown figure in the presidential race.

In the world of politics, there are no "moral victories", but Binkley certainly took his 5th place finish as a win. He expressed his gratitude to the state of Iowa, saying, "Thank you to the great state of Iowa. I enjoyed visiting all 99 counties and getting to know you well. After finishing 5th (but with about 4 times the votes of two former governors and with the suspension of Vivek Ramaswamy’s campaign) I am excited and motivated to press on with a vigorous schedule for New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina in the coming days."

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Binkley further explained his motivation to continue in the race, stating, "I have a Republican answer to socialism that works and a road map to a balanced budget that grows the economy. I also want to UNITE the country."

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January 17, 2024

Despite the fact that Christie spent minimal time in Iowa, choosing to focus on New Hampshire where his campaign has been appealing to Democratic voters, it must be a bitter pill to swallow that his national name recognition among Republicans did not translate into a significant number of votes in Iowa. He finished far behind Binkley, a candidate with little prior recognition.

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So, who is Ryan Binkley? USA Today profiled him recently, revealing that he is the president, CEO, and co-founder of Generational Equity Group, a Texas-based mergers & acquisitions and business advisory group. He previously worked for Procter & Gamble and Boston Scientific Corporation before founding Generational in 2006. Binkley is also the co-founder and lead pastor of the Create Church in Richardson, Texas.

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Binkley stated that in recent years he had "heard calls from the Lord about what's needed in our country," which led him to launch his presidential campaign. His campaign is driven by his business acumen and faith, and he aims to prioritize "solutions for the country." His key priorities include balancing the federal budget, reducing healthcare costs, bipartisan immigration reform, and revitalizing education.

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While the future of the 2024 GOP presidential nomination race for Binkley remains uncertain, one thing is clear: he will be remembered in Republican political history as the candidate who may have delivered the decisive blow to any future presidential aspirations Christie might have had beyond 2024. After all, Christie finished below "other" in the Iowa caucus.

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As we look ahead to the 2024 elections, the political landscape continues to shift, with unexpected contenders like Binkley making their mark. As the saying goes, "In politics, a week is a long time." And with the current state of affairs, it's anyone's guess what the next week will bring.