Eric Branstad (born 1975) is an American political consultant, lobbyist, and public relations professional. He is the son of Terry Branstad, the former Governor of Iowa and US Ambassador to China. In 2023, it was announced that he would serve as a senior advisor to Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign in Iowa.[1]

Early and personal life

Branstad is the son of Terry and Christine Branstad. He has two younger siblings, Allison and Marcus.[2][3]

In 1991, Branstad was involved in a car crash that killed two people. He paid $34.50 in fines and court costs for improper passing. The relatively light penalty was seen by many Iowans as an example of his father's political influence.[4] In 1992, Branstad was convicted of public intoxication at an after-school party.[5] In January 1993, Branstad pleaded guilty to using a fake ID in an attempt to purchase alcohol.[5] In June 1993, Branstad, then 17 years old, was a passenger of a crashed vehicle that was registered to his father and was charged with illegal possessions of alcohol.[5] After this series of run-ins with the law, Branstad was sent to Wentworth Military Academy and College.[4][6]

Branstad is a graduate of Rockhurst University. He is married to Adrianna and has four daughters.[6][7]

Political activities

George W. Bush 2004 presidential campaign

Branstad was named field director for the George W. Bush 2004 presidential campaign.[8]

Lobbying activities

Following the Bush 2004 campaign, Branstad was named Deputy Finance Director of the Republican Party of Iowa. He subsequently spent two years as an Account Manager with the Lincoln Strategies Group (a firm co-founded by Charles W. Larson Jr., the son of a political appointee by Branstad's father) and the Development Director for Iowans for Tax Relief.[9][4] In 2011, he co-founded the Des Moines-based consulting firm, Matchpoint Strategies.[10][4]

Branstad is a longtime lobbyist for the ethanol and biofuels industries.[11] He was state director for America's Renewable Future, a pro-ethanol group opposed to the candidacy of Ted Cruz in the 2016 Republican Party presidential primaries due to Cruz's position on the Renewable Fuel Standard, a mandate that "requires corn-based ethanol and other biofuels be blended with gasoline."[12] On January 9, 2016, Branstad's father Governor Terry Branstad called for Ted Cruz's defeat due to Cruz's rejection of ethanol subsidies.[13] On the night of the 2016 Iowa Republican presidential caucuses, Branstad publicly spoke on Donald Trump's behalf at a middle school in Des Moines.[14] After Cruz won the 2016 Iowa Republican presidential caucuses, the elder Branstad accused Cruz of underhanded tactics.[15]

In February 2018, Branstad was announced as the head of Mercury Public Affairs LLC (a subsidiary of the Omnicom Group) new office in Des Moines, Iowa.[10][16][17]

Donald Trump 2016 presidential campaign

In March 2016, Branstad tweeted in defense of Donald Trump for mocking the appearance of Ted Cruz's wife, Heidi.[18][14]

In June 2016, Branstad was named Iowa state director for Trump 2016.[19][14] After Trump won the 2016 presidential election, Branstad served as a liaison to governors in Trump's inaugural committee. After Trump took office, Branstad was appointed senior White House adviser to the Commerce Department.[20][4]

Donald Trump 2020 presidential campaign

Branstad was a senior advisor to Trump Victory 2020, the joint fundraising committee between the Trump 2020 campaign and the Republican National Committee.[21]

Donald Trump 2024 presidential campaign

In August 2021, Branstad was hired by Trump's Save America PAC, fueling speculations that Trump may run again in 2024.[22][23][24]

In January 2023, Branstad was hired by Trump 2024 presidential campaign.[25]

Controversies

Proposed nuclear technology sharing with Saudi Arabia

While working at the Department of Commerce, Branstad became entangled in a controversy involving Rick Gates and Tom Barrack.[4] Barrack was pitching a proposal to share nuclear technology with Saudi Arabia and asked Gates to ask Branstad to facilitate a meeting about this proposal with Commerce Secretary, Wilbur Ross. The House Oversight Committee later found that Barrack stood to profit from this proposal.[4]

Defense contract with Romania

In 2017, Republican fundraiser Elliot Broidy entered into a defense contract with Romania, but needed the endorsement of the Commerce Department.[26] Rick Gates asked Branstad to pass along the request to Commerce Department staff and an endorsement was granted.[4]

Business ties to China

Eric's business activities in China came under scrutiny while his father was US Ambassador to China, particularly his effort to overturn the Trump administration's ban on Chinese technology company, ZTE.[4][27][16] His father, Terry, denied the allegation that Branstad profited from his father's role as US Ambassador to China.[28]

References

  1. ↑ "Former President Donald Trump announces Iowa campaign staff". KCCI. 2023-02-20. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  2. ↑ "Gov. Terry Branstad and his wife, Chris, have announced..." UPI. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
  3. ↑ "31 photos: Gov. Branstad and his family though the years". www.desmoinesregister.com. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Hvistendahl, Mara; Fang, Lee (October 15, 2020). "The China Ambassador's Son Who Got Rich in Trump's Swamp". The Intercept. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
  5. 1 2 3 "Iowa Governor's Son Facing Illegal Possession of Alcohol Charges". The Associated Press. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
  6. 1 2 "Welcome New Member Eric Branstad!". Rotary Club of Des Moines. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
  7. ↑ "Eric Branstad". Twitter. Retrieved 2023-01-18.
  8. ↑ Noble, Jason. "Governor's son to lead Trump campaign in Iowa". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
  9. ↑ "Iowans for Tax Relief Announces New Leadership Team :: Iowans for Tax Relief". 2008-12-06. Archived from the original on 2008-12-06. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
  10. 1 2 "Mercury Welcomes Eric Branstad". Mercury. 2018-02-28. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
  11. ↑ Gabriel, Trip (2015-04-03). "Son of Iowa Governor Is Trailing Candidates, on Behalf of Ethanol". First Draft. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
  12. ↑ "Eric Branstad: Cruz oil stains ethanol". Citiview. 2015-12-09. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
  13. ↑ Lee, M. J. (2016-01-19). "Iowa governor wants Ted Cruz defeated | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
  14. 1 2 3 "Gov. Branstad's Son to Lead Trump's Iowa Campaign". National Review. 2016-06-15. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
  15. ↑ Collins, Eliza (4 February 2016). "Iowa governor slams Ted Cruz for 'unethical and unfair' tactics". Politico. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
  16. 1 2 Areddy, James T. (29 June 2018). "Eric Branstad, Son of U.S. Envoy to China, Used Trump Ties to Lure Business". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
  17. ↑ "Revolving Door: Eric Branstad Employment Summary". 10.33.1.124. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
  18. ↑ Eric Branstad [@ebranstad] (March 24, 2016). "@shanevanderhart Everyone knows its a group with oil/Cruz ties" (Tweet). Retrieved 2023-01-17 – via Twitter.
  19. ↑ Noble, Jason. "Eric Branstad to lead Trump's presidential campaign in Iowa". The Des Moines Register. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
  20. ↑ Noble, Jason. "Eric Branstad takes job in Trump administration". The Des Moines Register. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
  21. ↑ Culver, David; Westcott, Ben; Atwood, Kylie; Collins, Kaitlan (2020-09-14). "US Ambassador to China Terry Branstad stepping down following Trump campaign ask | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
  22. ↑ Ward, Myah (12 August 2021). "Trump PAC hires Iowa staff as war chest builds ahead of 2024". Politico. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
  23. ↑ "Trump Hires Iowa Political Veterans, Signaling Interest in Running 2024". Bloomberg.com. 2021-08-12. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
  24. ↑ "Trump, talked out of announcing a 2024 bid for now, settles on a wink-and-nod unofficial candidacy". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
  25. ↑ Isenstadt, Alex (12 January 2023). "Trump prepares to open next phase of 2024 campaign in South Carolina". Politico. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
  26. ↑ Vogel, Kenneth P.; Mazzetti, Mark; Haberman, Maggie; Kirkpatrick, David D. (2018-07-24). "Two Trump Allies, Seeing Unlimited Opportunity, Instead Drew Scrutiny". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
  27. ↑ Petroski, William. "Report: Branstad's son, Eric, used Trump ties seeking business in China". The Des Moines Register. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
  28. ↑ Smith, Zachary Oren. "'My son has done nothing to profit from China,' former ambassador to China Terry Branstad of Eric Branstad". Iowa City Press-Citizen. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
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