(Radio Iowa) – Former President Donald Trump’s status as the central figure in the 2024 presidential race was on full display at the Iowa Republican Party’s fundraiser that kicked off the weekend. Trump was the last of 13 candidates to speak to a crowd of over a thousand Republicans.

Trump mentioned only one G-O-P competitor by name, using the nickname he has for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

Former Vice President Mike Pence acknowledged Trump’s hold on the party.

And Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, at this point Trump’s top challenger, said the G-O-P is not getting a mulligan this time around. “We’re doing all 99 counties in Iowa because this Caucus demands that you earn it,” DeSantis said, to cheers. “Let’s win in 2024.” Only two candidates, both lagging behind in polls on the race, directly mentioned the indictments Trump faces.

Former Texas Congressman Will Hurd was booed by Trump fans in the crowd when he said Trump was running for president to stay out of prison. “Listen, I know the truth is hard, but if we elect Donald Trump, we are willingly giving Joe Biden four more years in the White House,” Hurd said, “and America can’t handle that.” Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson said the G-O-P must not abandon its support for the rule of law.

During an appearance Sunday on “Face the Nation” on C-B-S, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley suggested having Trump as the party’s 2024 nominee would be “handing over the election” to Democrats given the legal woes Trump faces. This is how she put it when speaking to Iowa Republicans Friday night.

Doug Burgum, the current governor of North Dakota, said the country needs a 180 degree change in direction.

Candidates Tim Scott, Vivek Ramaswamy, Francis Suarez, Larry Elder, Ryan Binkley and Perry Johnson also addressed the crowd. LeAnn Willis of Cedar Rapids says she’s still evaluating which candidate she’ll Caucus for in January.

Jim Handsaker of Story City is a Trump supporter. Handsaker says the speech he delivered for Trump at his local Caucus in 2016 still rings true today.

Gwen Eklund of Denison, past president of the Iowa Federation of Republican Women, has been hosting candidates at events in western Iowa for several presidential campaign cycles. Ecklund says it’s too soon to say what will happen in the 2024 Iowa Caucuses.

Iowa Republican Party chairman Jeff Kaufmann acknowledges the race for the G-O-P’s next presidential nomination may get tense as the Caucus date draws closer.

Eleven of the 13 candidates hosted receptions after the speech part of the night was over. The lines were longest for Trump and DeSantis. The 2024 Iowa Caucuses are scheduled for January 15th.