While the Iowa Caucuses and their selection of former president Donald Trump grabbed national headlines this week, a more taciturn group of Republicans met on Saturday—two days before Iowa—to begin its own presidential process.

Jefferson County Republicans met in five different locations—Port Townsend, Port Ludlow, Quilcene, Chimacum, and Forks. They selected delegates to appear at the county convention, slated for 9 a.m. Feb. 10 at the Tri-Area Community Center in Chimacum. Delegates will be elected to the state convention from which endorsements for state, federal, and local offices will emerge.

Fourteen people registered at the Port Townsend event, held in a Point Hudson meeting room. Some spoke in favor of Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, and Nikki Haley (plus one muted mention of Vivek Ramaswamy). Others were uncommitted, expressing support for any Republican nominee and stating that a second term for Joe Biden would be a disaster for the country. 

“I’ve been a Democrat my whole life and would now consider myself to be an independent,” said Linda Noble. “I really don't fall in line with any of the parties, I feel like I'm homeless at this point. I don't have a party that is representing me, my values, my ideologies.”

Noble, who works as a Russian language translator, said she was concerned about Trump’s willingness to embrace Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“I fear that if Donald Trump is re-elected we may never get him out of office, and he will destroy the democracy that I personally value,” Noble said. “I would like to have a more moderate candidate, one that can hopefully heal the divide in the country.”

That candidate, she said, is former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley.

Port Townsend Free Press Publisher Jim Scarantino said he supports Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, saying that he wished the whole country was more like Florida.

“That’s not just because of the weather, it’s because of what DeSantis has done,” he said. “It was a revolution. Florida was once a blue state and now it’s solidly red. It’s got all the policies we want for this country. He’s improved law enforcement and immigration, and has balanced the budget. But what’s impressive about him is that he enables other people, empowers other people to build institutions.”

Even as some expressed support for Trump’s policies, some said they perceive him as a damaged candidate.