This is an embrace of racism, and it has no place in Congress or anywhere. https://t.co/jUXsNgckPE

— Justin Amash (@justinamash) January 10, 2019

Former GOP presidential candidate Jeb Bush weighed in on Twitter as well, calling on party leaders to help defeat King.

It’s not enough to condemn @SteveKingIA's unconscionable, racist remarks. Republican leaders must actively support a worthy primary opponent to defeat King, because he won't have the decency to resign. https://t.co/MRAMnuJaym

— Jeb Bush (@JebBush) January 11, 2019

Those looking for a significant primary challenge to King may find hope in Iowa state Sen. Randy Feenstra, who announced earlier this week that he is taking steps to run against the incumbent in the GOP primary next year.

\"Today, Iowa’s 4th District doesn’t have a voice in Washington, because our current representative’s caustic nature has left us without a seat at the table,” Feenstra wrote in a statement Wednesday announcing his candidacy, \"We don’t need any more sideshows or distractions, we need to start winning for Iowa’s families.\"

King responded to the news of Feenstra's candidacy by calling it, \"misguided political opportunism, fueled by establishment puppeteers,\" in a statement released Wednesday afternoon.

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