Meet The Democrats Running To Challenge Chuck Grassley Posted May 20th, 2022 at 1:35pm by Pat Rynard Left to Right: Abby Finkenauer (AP Photo), Mike Franken, Glenn Hurst The important June 7 primary election is fast approaching in Iowa, with early voting already underway at local county auditor's offices. For those of us tired of hearing the same story ten times we can mute and read, he railed this month. Farmers were saying to me later, Did you see Culver sweat? That age will be a factor down the road, said Ardie Kuhse, a longtime supporter back home who runs the Waukon Economic Development Corporation. Melton works in a leadership role at Nationwide Insurance and lives in Nevada, Iowa. In November 2022, my colleague streiff reported on an investigation conducted by Senators Chuck Grassley and Josh Hawley, which revealed that this same Disinformation Governance Board . Mike Franken, a retired U.S. Navy Admiral, announced he would seek the Democratic nomination in October. Regardless of which of the three wins the nomination they are in for a very uphill campaign. He thought he was going to be talking to a financial seminar, to economists and people like that.) In 1977, Grassley was the only member of the Iowa House delegation to vote against a congressional resolution sanctioning Rhodesia for being an aparthied state. He is the best path we have to keep the seat in Republican hands and take it off the map., Sen. Chuck Grassley talks to law enforcement officials at an event in West Union, Iowa, on May 4, 2021. In 2018, after multiple media outlets reported on Kings racist comments, he lost the support of the National Republican Congressional Committee, corporate sponsorships, and the endorsement of his hometown paper, but he still had Grassleys support. Finkenauer is a former state representative who was . Joyce Mahl of Council Bluffs in western Iowa said she voted for Franken because she was unsure Iowans would vote for a Democratic woman in the general election, though Iowa has elected Democratic women, including Finkenauer, to Congress. She won the seat in 2020 after successfully primarying a veteran Democrat in the district. He takes dozens of questions a day on topics ranging from inflation to the Supreme Court, and handles his interlocution deftly. An Iowa judge is weighing that question and could issue an opinion in the coming days, though the losing party is expected to appeal the issue to the Iowa Supreme Court. Finkenauer stressed limiting the number of terms a member of the Senate can serve. Meanwhile, there is a set of Republicans vying to topple Democrat Cindy Axne in the 3rd Congressional District. Heres how. I know for a fact that is not true, said state Rep. Lee Hein, a Republican close to Pat Grassley. But still, his grip on the conservative movement he helped build is precarious. Hes tight-lipped about the checkered legacy of former President Donald Trump, whom he has spoken with twice since Trump left office. Frankens primary win is something of a surprise, given Finkenauer was better known throughout the state after her 2018 victory over a Republican congressman that made her the second-youngest woman elected to Congress. It stands to reason, but he wouldve been courting the most conservative elements of the party in a battle against [Republican primary candidate] Tom Stoner and the moderate elements of the party, said Yepsen. He voted to impeach Bill Clinton, but voted against impeaching Trump. She became the second-youngest woman elected to the US House in 2018 (and the youngest woman ever to flip a seat blue), defeating a multi-millionaire incumbent. The rise of the Moral Majority, the Jerry Falwellbacked political action group pushing a conservative religious agenda, had given Grassleys election heavenly stakes. Labor Organizer: Gov. Contact Editor Kathie Obradovich for questions: info@iowacapitaldispatch.com. Iowans, with the sense of grievance only a flyover state can have, loved it. During a day of 5 stops and about 300 miles of driving, he was asked just once about his reelection. If you want Grassley out, youve got to vote for the one that you think can beat him, Mahl, 66, said after voting at a downtown Council Bluffs church. The National Conservative Political Action Committee sent mailers claiming Culver had helped Senator Ted Kennedy concoct [a] fallacy-ridden story about the Chappaquiddick bridge incident. Before the second debate, he pre-poured Grassley his cup of water. And how can I say this in a way that wont get me in some kind of horrifying trouble? I reminded Conlin that these days, as one of the most powerful lawyers in the state, shes the one causing trouble. But his message on the campaign trail also emphasizes the need to bring down the temperature of political rhetoric and find ways that Iowans can unify around solutions. Ernst, Grassley vote 'no' as Judge Jackson is confirmed to the US Supreme Court, Abby Finkenauer, a former U.S. congresswoman and state legislator, 3 Democrats are vying to take on Chuck Grassley; 3 Republicans want to oust Cindy Axne, Mike Franken, a retired U.S. Navy admiral. He posited the orchestra pit theory, that if you have two guys on a stage and one guy says, I have a solution to the Middle East problem, and the other guy falls in the orchestra pit, who do you think is going to be on the evening news?. hoped Grassley would not seek reelection. I will give him a forcible retirement.. three in four Iowans had not formed an opinion on DeJear, he will run for an eighth term in the U.S. Senate. Grassley has always walked a delicate balance with Trump; he did not formally endorse him in 2016, but attended at least one Trump campaign event. DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Democrat Mike Franken, a retired Navy admiral, will face Republican Chuck Grassley in the race for an Iowa U.S. Senate seat, winning his party nomination Tuesday over two competitors. His unconventional moves aside, Grassleys a political pro, toeing the line between establishment Republicans and Trump-era hardliners. And Grassley won the primary and the general. Democrats tried to beat him in 2016 as he blocked a high court appointment. (At the time, Grassleys team clarified the senator was mistaken, and that there was every indication Pence would presidethat the Iowa senator was merely explaining the Senates procedure if the vice president had to step away. State Sen. Liz Mathis, a Democrat, will challenge Hinson in the new 2nd District. Grassley has four times more cash than the next leading candidate of either party. By Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc/Getty Images. She was elected to serve in the 1st District, but she will seek reelection in 2022 in the 2nd District because of the way Iowa's redistricting process renumbered the congressional districts. Doctor and Minden city council member Glenn Hurst, a 51-year-old Democrat, announced on July 29 he would run for Grassleys seat. Nicole Hasso, a Johnston Republican, is a political newcomer. Grassley is in his seventh term as senator and will turn 89 in 2022 - the year Iowa will elect a senator for a six-year term. Election Results: See Iowa primary election results across the state. He said, "The reason I decided to run is the overall direction of things running away from freedom in our country right now. Raised in a small town that had more cows than people, as she puts it, Abby Finkenauer was brought up in a working-class family that shaped her outlook on service and politics. After Culver wiped the floor with Grassley in the first debate, Ailes allegedly took. Finkenauer is a former state representative. Trump endorsed Grassley for reelection at the event. She spoke to the Iowa Capital Dispatch on Aug. 20about her campaign priorities and the future of the Democratic party in Iowa. Hes pitching a universal health care system, while also pledging to bring down prescription drug costs. Just 10% of respondents had a favorable view of her. Then Jankowicz decided to rebrand her disinformation show and take it on the road, registering as a foreign agent in the United Kingdom to help the British government with their disinformation issues.. Mmmkay. But look how close he came, he tells me. But hes also the senator who helped block Merrick Garland, Obamas Supreme Court nomination, because it was an election year, then turned around and helped push through Trumps Supreme Court nominee in another election year. Hes a senior senator from a state with a largely consolidating and contracting free press. Asked if he finds Trump personally responsible for the Capitol riot, he refers to a statement he put out on Jan. 6. (Grassley reportedly spoke about gold to the groups Financial Survival Seminar, and his press secretary told The Des Moines Register at the time that Grassley had not intended when he accepted the invitation to jump into bed with some political group. He dismisses questions about his age or aptitude, either with a push-up challenge which makes doubters look silly or a defense of his record. Krause also ran in 2016, but finished third in the Democratic primary behind Patty Judge and Rob Hogg. And after Trump-supporting rioters stormed the Capitol, Grassley voted to certify Bidens win. James Tackett Klein, a Republican from Winnebago County, who served two terms in the Iowa House, from 1969 to 1971, told me that Grassley didnt go out after the sessionshe worked. His most recent election against former Lt. Gov. Mark Hollander, 47, a marketing professional from West Des Moines said he voted for Abby Finkenauer in part because of her background in Congress, but also because she represents a new generation. In the summer of 2021, there was chatter Grassley wouldnt run again. Slight chance of a rain shower. These are imperatives. Hes getting a lot of encouragement, said Senate Minority Whip John Thune. Democrat and former representative Abby Finkenauer was next with $559,466.82. He has criticized Grassley for his recent vote on a $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill, among other things, and has said he will primary him if necessary. Watch the video & then chip in to help build our campaign: https://t.co/DPPR2wVD19 pic.twitter.com/YWvsgwcwvo, Download the We Are Iowa app Sign up for Local 5's "5 Things to Know" email newsletter Subscribe to Local 5 News on YouTube, In a campaign video released Monday, Dave Muhlbauer says many Iowa voters just feel like Democrats are leaving rural areas high and dry., No. Hes one of three 87-year-olds in the Senate and the second-eldest overall: Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) won reelection in 2018 while Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) is retiring next year. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. Franken's secured the nomination Tuesday, Abby Finkenauer entered the race as the perceived frontrunner, racking up significant endorsements and fundraising. The . Part of HuffPost Politics. Hurst also chairs the Iowa Democratic Party's Rural Caucus and the party's 3rd District Central Committee, and he was involved in founding a branch of Indivisble, a progressive activist organization, in western Iowa. The room was filled with older white Iowans in sweatshirts and sneakers. Hes rarely profiled, and there is only one biography of him, written by a reporter who later went on to become his campaign flack. He told the Carroll Times Herald he doesn't believe either party is doing enough to support the American middle class and rural Iowa in particular. Reach her at bpfann@dmreg.com or 515-284-8244. He was part of the wave of conservative election upsets in 1980. Heres where the race stands currently with just four months until Iowa holds its primary election on June 7. After I pulled fender rubbing on tire we continued to farm. 4 min read. Yepsen recalls that the divide in the Iowa Republican Party at the time was between moderate, urban Republicans and the hard-edged conservatives of the rural areas. State Sen. Zach Nunn, 42, entered the race in July. He knows more about Iowa than, I would guarantee, anybody in Iowa, said his junior Hawkeye State GOP senator, Joni Ernst. A well-known state lawmaker before she served a single term in the U.S. House, Finkenauer is one of the most prominent Democrats in Iowa. He questioned Reagans military spending and pushed for hearings on unfettered defense budgets. He said he believes Grassley would have to debate him during a general election because of his record of service. Whos running for governor and for Congress? But still, a new poll suggests Republican voters are mostly in favor of Trump. In a campaign video released Monday, Dave Muhlbauer of Manilla says many Iowa voters "just feel like Democrats are leaving rural areas high and dry." Do you have information you want to share with HuffPost. And it has to be big. According to the Secretary of State's office, O'Leary did not submit the required paperwork and signatures to make it onto the ballot. Both Gov. When you outlive the past, its easier to mold it into myth.The biography of Grassley written by Eric Woolson claims that the Grassley family avoided government assistance. The Democrat and fifth-generation farmer said Monday in his announcement video, Iowa is home, and the farmland is in his blood. No Democrats have challenged first-term Rep. Randy Feenstra, 52. And after five GOP retirements this cycle, Grassley is under pressure to save his party from defending yet another open seat as it labors to retake the majority. Thats because he feels that by offering a clearer difference between the Democratic and Republican candidate, Democrats can win back many Iowa voters. Candidates are listed in alphabetical order. Despite the fact that only 27% of Iowans wanted him to do it. Gary Leffler, a Republican activist from West Des Moines, has filed a statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission, but he has not yet filed financial reports. Grassleys hearings seemed to connect with the cash-poor Republican farmers and the Democrats who were sick of war. All three candidates have initially qualified to appear on the primary ballot, though Republicans are challenging Finkenauers petition. how universal health care can revitalize rural Iowa. Her father was a union pipefitter-welder, her mother a school secretary. He published a campaign video in May that touted his familys history in politics: both his father and grandfather served as Democrats in the Iowa House. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images). Reach her at kakin@registermedia.com or at 410-340-3440. I have voted for rural infrastructure. Abby Finkenauer in July became the first major Democrat to announce a 2022 run for the U.S. Senate seat long held by Republican Chuck Grassley. Franken has framed himself as a candidate who can appeal to Republicans and Independents, but he took issue with the term "moderate" in an Iowa PBS debate. Answers provided by the candidate. She launched her congressional campaign in July. When pressed by a CNN reporter about why he accepted the endorsement, given the former presidents comments calling Bidens election an insurrection, Grassley got defensive, saying that he didnt think the question was appropriate and telling the reporter that he was talking to Iowans at the rally about the Biden administrations failures. More: Chuck Grassley sails past Jim Carlin in Republican US Senate primary; moves on to run for 8th term. WASHINGTON Former Iowa Democratic Rep. Abby Finkenauer is running for Senate, looking to win the seat currently held by longtime Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley in next year's midterms.. And at least a few Democratic state legislators are running unopposed, so if thats what I have to focus on to feel a small amount of hope in November, so be it. For a moment, there were stories about how close the Iowa U.S. Senate race had reportedly become, with Democrat Michael Franken within three points of incumbent Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley. Primary election ballots are nearly set in Iowa, and races for Congress have begun in earnest. Grassleys push-ups are precarioushis arms barely bend, his movements are small and slow. Abby Finkenauer in July became the first major Democrat to announce a 2022 run for the U.S. Senate seat long held by Republican Chuck Grassley. By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. So there he was one moment, onstage, eagerly grinning, accepting Trumps endorsement, then later scowling when asked questions about it. And though he never seriously contemplated challenging Bidens win, he says his colleagues had every right to do so. He is running against long-time Iowa State Senator Chuck Grassley in the upcoming Iowa Caucuses on Feb. 7. Following changes in the congressional maps as a result of redistricting, Iowa's 1st District now cover's the state's southeastern corner, rather than it's northeastern one. Retired Navy Adm. Mike Franken campaigned on his 40 years of experience in the military and in Washington D.C. Her campaign also reported a deep war chest coming into 2022, with$4.8 million cash on hand at the beginning of the year. | Tom Williams-Pool/Getty Images. The constitution [and] bill of rights guarantee a just and speedy trial.. It was then that the meetings became raucous, with not liberal, but conservative constituents challenging him. He opposed a national health care system and food stamps for strikers, and criticized the Democrats for believing that somehow government [could] replace Christ., Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) (L) talks with ranking member Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) before the committee is set to vote on health care reform legislation on Capitol Hill October 13, 2009 in Washington, DC. If Iowa's incumbent senator runs for reelection in 2022, the seat is safe for Republicans. She is a teacher and currently works for a nonprofit in Council Bluffs that provides care for children with mental and behavioral health needs. Republican activists claimed she hadnt gathered enough signatures from enough counties. City of Pella asks $5 million from Pella School, New York company will administer Iowa school sc, College basketball: Statesmen claim fourth-stra, approved in October by the Iowa Legislature. Grassley defeated Carlin. Abby Finkenauer in July became the first major Democrat to announce a 2022 run for the U.S. Senate seat long held by Republican Chuck Grassley. Grassleys victory was part of the ascendant New Right, a phrase that had become popular during Barry Goldwaters 1964 presidential run and encompassed a backlash to the social liberalism of the civil rights era and the growing feminist movement. Trumps Relationship With Jared and Ivanka. Kim Reynolds and Sen. Chuck Grassley are up for reelection in 2022, although Reynolds has not officially announced her bid. Carlin served in the Iowa House for one year and for four years as an Iowa Senator. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles. If youre a Democrat in this state, you really need to create a movement.. Chuck Grassley is doing push-ups onstage with Tom Cotton while Joni Ernst counts into the microphone. Both men have previously sought a Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate. Required fields are marked *. Those early days created a rough draft of who hed become as a senatorgruff, hard-working, relentless, frugal. But this isnt necessarily anything new. ), Roxanne Conlin, a lawyer who ran against Grassley in 2009, worked with him when he was the head of Iowas judiciary committee. The general feeling of probably the public, on maybe both sides, is that he should retire. Mike Franken celebrates US Senate primary win, to face Chuck Grassley, Mike Franken, retired Navy admiral from Sioux City, speaks to Des Moines crowd after winning the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, on Tuesday, June 7, 2022, Iowa 2022 primary election race results from June 7. Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Iowa Capital Dispatchis part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) has not tipped her hand about which way she will vote on the groundbreaking legislation but some believe she may be the only Republican to vote for the bill. If Grassley was toying with supporting the legislation, that idea met an early death, due to, as Yepsen argues, the backlash Grassley received from critics back home. That might seem a long shot, but its how the indefatigable Iowan operates. He only occasionally relies on aides for an assist, such as his scheduler and adviser Jennifer Heins, who is nearly always by his side. candidate Glenn Hurst, a city council member and doctor from Minden. Im a tough target for the GOP, he said. A district judge ruled Finkenauer hadnt qualified for the ballot, a ruling she called deeply partisan. The Iowa Supreme Court overruled that decision and allowed her to run. Listen, theres nothing I see thats going to keep me from serving another six years if I decide to do it, he says during a swing through northeast Iowa as part of his annual 99 County Tour. two typical cognitive shortcuts we use when evaluating others; how to close off a room with an arched doorway; yuma mayor political party; ochsner employee compliance line number State Auditor Rob Sand has expressed interest in the Senate race, but backed out of an interview in Des Moines the day before. Also follow us on Facebook and Twitter. His legacy in Iowa and the nation has become a palimpsest for a certain cultural political anxietyif you are a Democrat, Grassley is a symbol of all that has been lost by politics, a grand tradition of stately bipartisanship tossed aside for toxic extremist politics. But Ill vote and hope for the best. About 30 people were in attendance. He would be 95 at the end of an eighth term. A Des Moines Register poll in March showed many Iowans dont want Grassley to run again. Franken has presented himself as someone who can bring a lot of rural voters back to the Democratic Party with his demeanor and military background. Some think theres little reason to believe 2022 would be much different. The crowd at the Sioux Center rally on June 29, 2021, is silent. Gary Leffler, a Republican activistbest known for his patriotic tractor, has also filed with the Federal Election Commission to challenge Axne. The Base? and instead mounted a race for state auditor. What you said is accurate, he said to the man. Democrat Mike Frankenwill challenge U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley in November. In that vein, Grassley seems to unintentionally charm even his political opponents despite being the Senates chief curmudgeon. The 42 Best Romantic Comedies of All Time, The 25 Best Shows on Netflix to Watch Right Now, King Charles Reportedly Began Evicting Meghan and Harry the Day After, Ron DeSantis Shouldnt Be Covered Like Just Another Republican. But to be honest with you, what I have been hearing is, its time to let new blood into his seat.. Its time for the 88-year-old to call it quits if hes unable to stand up to the Big Lie. But that isnt happening, according to the senator and his allies. Its nominating process had jumped to the front of the line in 1972, and in 1976, Jimmy Carter won the caucuses and catapulted to the presidency. Democratic candidates have lined up to challenge Reynolds, who was elected governor in 2018, and Grassley, who was first elected to the Senate in 1980. Up until then, Grassleys meetings had been more like lectures. I have voted for paid family leave. However,Trump endorsed Grassleyduring an October visit to Des Moines. 1:49. I'm proud of it, she said. I have voted for lower prescription drug prices already. Follow Iowa Capital Dispatch onFacebookandTwitter. Culvers pitcher was somehow settled precariously on his podium shelf. She grew up on the South Side of Chicago, earned an academic scholarship to Drake University and works now in financial services. Incumbent Republican Senator Chuck Grassley was first elected in 1980 and was most recently re-elected in 2016. The projected overall excess mortality in Australia for 2022 is extraordinarily high (30,449 deaths which is around a 20% increase over the normal baseline). Asked about that recent viral tweet about Fox News Channels news ticker, Grassley replied: Im disgusted! Hes now watching CNN but hopes Fox notices his demand. Honestly, Chuck, youre an Iowan, for Gods sakes! That was the message: He was fit. We rely on your financial support to keep our stories free for all to read. MANILLA, Iowa An Iowa farmer and former Crawford County supervisor has become the first Democrat to announce he is running for Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley's seat. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. In response to some of the questions, Grassley explained the legislative process and the history of partisan fights. Any Republican could retire and be proud of that kind of career. Three Democrats running for the U.S. Senate took aim at Republican Chuck Grassley during a forum Saturday in Des Moines, challenging the audience to weigh which candidate is best suited to take him on in November. And he will be fighting that war on two fronts. Right now, Rep. Ashley Hinson represents Iowas 1st District, but she will reside in and run for the 2nd District in 2022. If fundraising is any indication, Carlin doesn't pose a significant challenge to Grassley, and the incumbent is expected to easily win the primary. The sunny spring day he went for a Bambinos burger was a typical one for Grassley, whose renowned 27-year-long streak of 8,927 votes was derailed only by the coronavirus. She announced her campaign in August. Primary elections for 2022 will be held on June 7, 2022. Follow her on Twitter at @brianneDMR. Having dealt with folks out in D.C. the past couple cycles, I dont think they understand fully whats going on here in Iowa, Scholten said. Senate's Chuck Grassley, 88, to Run Again, Buoying GOP's Hopes in 2022 Decision by 88-year-old could aid GOP bid to retake majority Battle for Senate has huge stakes for Biden given 50-50 split Grassley became a politician in 1958; he beat his cousin, Travis C. Moffitt, a Democrat from Shell Rock, by nearly 75% of the vote, to be a state legislator from Butler County. The senator, who is the second oldest in the Senate, had already endured COVID; by the end of another term hed be 95 years old. Here's what to know. He is the former vice chair of the Crawford County Board of Supervisors, and he framed his announcement around rescuing rural Iowa. As more Iowans tune into the campaigns in the final weeks, the biggest contest is the race to take on Sen. Chuck Grassley. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, IA-02, announced in November that she willmove into the 1st District and run for reelection there. There are rumors that Grassley wants to elevate his grandson, statehouse Speaker Pat Grassley, into the Senate. Ernst tweeted a condemnation of Kings comments, and Grassley, more tepid, did as well, telling reporters he found it offensive to claim white supremacy. Kim Reynolds and Sen. Chuck Grassley are up for reelection in 2022, although Reynolds has not officially announced her bid. Iowans can register with a party or change their party affiliation through the Secretary of States website. Chuck really had him sweating.. She also opened up about her personal diagnosis with endometriosis and pushed for increased research funding on it.