DES MOINES, Iowa — Sen. Joni Ernst’s second annual Roast and Ride brought out more voters and bikers to the Iowa State Fairgrounds on Saturday than her inaugural event last June, which she held in Boone, Iowa.
DES MOINES, IA – AUGUST 27: <> on August 27, 2016 in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
More than 1,800 people bought $20 tickets to attend Saturday’s BBQ and hear from Republican nominee Donald Trump.
DES MOINES, IA – AUGUST 27: Kim Reynolds, Lieutenant Governor (R-IA), Left, Terry Branstad, Governor (R-IA), Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), Jeff Kaufmann, Republican Party of Iowa Chairman, and Rep. Steve King (R-IA) on stage at the 2nd annual Joni Ernst Roast and Ride event on August 27, 2016 in Des Moines, Iowa. Trump joined a number of Iowa Republicans speaking to a crowd of supporters. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
The event started at Big Barn Harley Davidson where more than 400 bikers took a 42-mile ride before ending at the Iowa State Fairgrounds for the BBQ and Trump’s speech.
“I also want to take a moment to thank the Bikers who have been so good to me throughout this campaign,” Trump stated during his speech. “I can’t tell you how much it means to me. They are fantastic people who truly love our country.”
According to the Des Moines Register, 300 bikers took part in the ride and roughly 1,500 people attended the BBQ last year with seven GOP presidential candidates, not including the 2016 GOP nominee, as Trump wasn’t in attendance last year.