Iowa GOP women’s group president steps down over Trump

The president of the Iowa Federation of Republican Women is stepping down, saying she is unable to support GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump.

{mosads}Melissa Gesing said that she remains committed to helping elect down-ballot Republicans but believes she can’t fulfill all of her responsibilities because she doesn’t support Trump.

“Since I cannot support Donald J. Trump for President, nor can I advocate for his election, I feel that I cannot adequately fulfill the duties of my position,” Gesing said in her resignation letter published on Twitter Tuesday night.

“While I am still a Republican and plan to work hard for our down ballot GOP candidates, I cannot fulfill our mission ‘To elect Republicans at all levels of government’ with Trump as our party’s nominee.”

Gesing said while it was an “incredibly painful” decision, she cannot continue to lead the organization while condemning Trump’s “racism” and “sexism.”

“I cannot in good conscience lead this organization or look at myself in the mirror each morning if I do not take a stand against the racism, sexism, and hate that Donald J. Trump continues to promote.”

Her resignation comes almost a week after a 2005 recording surfaced that revealed Trump making sexually explicit comments about women. Droves of Republicans have either rescinded their support or called on him to withdraw from the race since Friday.

Gesing isn’t the only Republican in a leadership position to resign in protest of Trump. Alaska Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan voluntarily stepped down over the weekend as honorary members of their party’s state central committee. Both senators denounced Trump over his lewd comments about women.