(Des Moines, IA) -- Faith and political leaders from across the state and around the county came to the Family Leadership Summit at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center on Friday. Speakers included Dr. Michael Youssef, former Pennsylvania U.S. Senator Rick Santorum, Dr. Yichiel Lieter, and author Joel C. Rosenberg. The event concluded with a roundtable discussion regarding education policy hosted by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Family Leader President and CEO Bob Vander Plaats, and former U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.
"Our priorities align with God's word," Vander Plaats said. "We have choices in this country, God gave us choices in this country, and one of those choices is elections. And we believe elections matter."
The summit comes just days before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where Donald Trump is expected to accept the nomination, according to NBC News.
Last year's summit hosted several contenders for the Republican nomination, all interviewed on stage by former Fox News host Tucker Carlson.
"We'll be spurning our base to have a high impact in the elections. We believe there is one candidate, one administration, that aligns way closer to our values and principles, and that one (of the candidates) clearly does night," Vander Plaats said.
Hundreds were attendance in the audience at this year's event.