The radical anti-abortion group Iowa Pro-Life Action Council distributed fliers with the image of an 18-week-old thumb-sucking fetus, telling Iowans to vote for Grassley otherwise that baby might not live. Read the full Q&A with Franken here. He supported Trumps agenda in Congress about 88% of the time, but occasionally showed his frustrationsparticularly when it came to Trumps trade agenda. Grassley defined himself as a conservative Republican in opposition to Ray. 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. According to Yepsen, things began to change for Grassley under Obama. And he will be fighting that war on two fronts. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. The 87-year-old does push-ups, too. Abby Finkenauer's place on the Iowa primary ballot is being challenged. Abby Finkenauer, a former U.S. congresswoman and state legislator, took a more moderate approach to those policies, saying she supports an expanded Medicare system for those who want it in addition to employer-based private health insurance, and she said she opposed the Green New Deal while she was in Congress. 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. UNI Prof Wants to Try New Model to Curb Gun Violence in Waterloo; https://www.cookpolitical.com/ratings/senate-race-ratings. Incumbent Republican Senator Chuck Grassley was first elected in 1980 and was most recently re-elected in 2016. Still, theres some consternation in Iowa over whether its time to pass the torch. It's an election year: Look for no shortage of news from Gov. 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. 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. Former 1st District representative Abby Finkenauer,32, announced in July that she would challenge Grassley in 2022. Hurst is the more progressive candidate of the three, and he said Saturday he unequivocally supports policies like Medicare for All and the Green New Deal. It's laughable. 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. At 88 years old, Grassley is seeking an eighth term in the U.S. Senate. First Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. three in four Iowans had not formed an opinion on DeJear, he will run for an eighth term in the U.S. Senate. 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. To many, Grassley sounds like hes a candidate-in-waiting. 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. Finkenauer is a former state representative who was . he was talking to Iowans at the rally about the Biden administrations failures. Grassley, simply by being underestimated, has escaped much scrutiny. Still, most of his focus is on domestic issues. All rights reserved. Patty Judge was his closest since first taking office in 1980 and he won by 24 percentage points. Iowa Unity Coalition, a political action committee that supports progressive candidates, hosted the forum. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) has revealed the extent of potential criminal evidence against Hunter Biden that has been shared with Congress. The Democrat and fifth-generation farmer said Monday in his announcement video, Iowa is home, and the farmland is in his blood. The general feeling of probably the public, on maybe both sides, is that he should retire. Election Results: See Polk County election results as vote counts come in. The tenuous legal battle ahead poses a blow to national Democrats who have championed Mrs. Finkenauer as their preferred candidate to run against Mr. Grassley, who is seeking an eighth consecutive . Republican U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas was facing a rare potential censure Saturday by his state party over votes that included supporting new gun safety laws after the Uvalde school shooting that was in his district. I asked David Yepsen, former longtime political reporter for The Des Moines Register, why Grassley would conspicuously avoid distancing himself from associations with racism and antisemitism. Abb Mike Franken brings an extensive resume to the campaign, having spent nearly four decades in a world-spanning military career that included him rising to the rank of a three-star admiral, working in the Pentagon and serving as a senior military official in Africa. It was Barack Obama who described Grassley as having a hangdog face and throaty midwestern drawl. Grassley himself leans into this image with his cranky, barely readable tweets about the History Channel, or u kno what at Dairy Queen. Yet Another Republican Seems to Want to Join the 2024 Presidential Race: Tim Scott. Vanity Fair may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. No Democrats have challenged first-term Rep. Randy Feenstra, 52. 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. Example video title will go here for this video, Q&A | Iowa's Forces of Nature: A Local 5 Severe Weather Special. Retired Navy Adm. Mike Franken campaigned on his 40 years of experience in the military and in Washington D.C. Franken is a Sioux Center native. She announced in November she would run for reelection in Iowa's 1st District. I also need Steve King in Congress. In 2019, after The New York Times published an article documenting Kings racism, King was stripped of his committee assignments. It speaks to this growling in America, something changing, again. After all, it was the wave of conservative sentiment in the 1980s that brought Grassley to power. State Rep. Mary Ann Hanusa, a Council Bluffs native, was the first Republican to enter the 3rd District race. In 2022, according to Iowa pollster Ann Selzer, Grassley is now polling at the lowest since the earliest days of his career when he had no name recognition. During a day of 5 stops and about 300 miles of driving, he was asked just once about his reelection. If fundraising is any indication, Carlin doesn't pose a significant challenge to Grassley, and the incumbent is expected to easily win the primary. Before the second debate, he pre-poured Grassley his cup of water. The challenge sounds like something out of the classic Seinfeld episode in which the elderly Mandelbaum family taunts Jerry to prove his physical prowess. The very right-wing political movement, the New Right, that helped give him his rise is now having a renaissance. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley explained at a House hearing how high-profile Democrats, the FBI and the media portrayed legitimate Congressional oversight of Hunter Biden's business dealings as . It was Culver who had lost touch with Iowans, while Chuck Grassley was a man of the people. The cultural shift that had begun after the 1973 ruling on Roe v. Wade seemed to help Grassley in the heavily Catholic areas of the state. He announced his run in July. As the former head of the judiciary during the first two years of the Trump administration, hes one of the reasons Roe is poised to be overturned. I know for a fact that is not true, said state Rep. Lee Hein, a Republican close to Pat Grassley. 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. More: Mike Franken wins Democratic US Senate primary; to take on Chuck Grassley in November. Grassley was running against the incumbent Democrat John Culvera big, blond, Harvard-grad Iowa boy. If youre a Democrat in this state, you really need to create a movement.. Follow her on Twitter at @katie_akin. A total of 15 senators - including 76-year-old Ed Markey, 89-year-olds Chuck Grassley and Dianne Feinstein, 81-year-old Bernie Sanders, 80-year-old Mitch McConnell, 78-year-old Angus King of . 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. All the boys slunk down in their chairs, except Grassley, who raised his hand. Its too depressing. Yet he never deletes a tweet, no matter the misspellings or reading comprehension challenges. (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. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. And the people didnt seem to care about the KKK or any of that. he remains slightly more popular than not, would be really wrong for me to say I have my mind made up, have repeatedly said they had no knowledge of a plan to overturn the election, will be the most senior member of the Senate, King tweeted a video of the senator saying. J. D. Scholten, who nearly defeated former Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) in 2018, is also contemplating a Senate run. Incumbent U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra is running for reelection. Hes also in favor of expanding the Supreme Court. Throughout her service, Finkenauer made a point of having her fathers old sweatshirt, which had burn holes in it from his welding work, at her desk. Chuck really had him sweating.. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texasendorsed Hassoon Aug. 12. Sen. Joni Ernst, 51, will not be up for reelection until 2026. Reach her at kakin@registermedia.com or at 410-340-3440. Back when Hovelson and Grassley were in high school, local ministers would often visit the classroom to give the children moral lessons, girls in one room, boys in the other. She grew up on the South Side of Chicago, earned an academic scholarship to Drake University and works now in financial services. Just the opposite. And many have. The house had no electricity and no indoor plumbing. When Ernst reaches 17, theres a hesitant cheer, one that feels forced. About 30 people were in attendance. Slight chance of a rain shower. Figure 2 If you shift the vaccination curve by 6 months, it seems to align well with the death spikes. LOCAL 5 FORECAST: Enjoy a relatively mild weekend before Sign up for Local 5's "5 Things to Know" email newsletter, Republican 2024 contenders plan trips to early nominating states, DOJ: Iowa has a pattern of endangering Glenwood Resource Center residents, Iowans dismiss partisan politics, back Vilsack as next USDA leader. Its a difficult dance. Assume deer dead, Grassley always looks the part: Rimless glasses, elephant ties and sometimes his signature sweater vests. In 1985, the Chicago Tribune noted that other senators had compared him to Jimmy Stewarts character in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington: naive maybe, but direct, stubbornand honest. No one could beat him. This is Franken's second Senate campaign. I do agree with her on term limits, Hollander said. The governor, Robert Ray, was a Republican, but he was against the death penalty, and his legacy in the state would eventually be his role in opening Iowas borders to refugees. 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." Democrat and former representative Abby Finkenauer was next with $559,466.82. 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. 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. Hanusa, 58,suspended her congressional campaignand will instead run against Democrat Rob Sand for State Auditor. Hes the difference between whether this is a competitive race, or whether Chuck Grassley just wins again., Poll: Majority of Iowans do not want Grassley to seek reelection. Grassley will also face a Republican primary challenge from stateSen. Jim Carlin, R-Sioux City. He also called for adding a public insurance option to the Affordable Care Act. A rural family practice doctor, Glenn Hurst is the only doctor in his small town and has seen up-close how the health care system and costs have made life difficult for rural Iowans. He needed the endorsement. Two more Democrats joined the race in October:Former Iowa Rep. Bob Krause, 71,andretired U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Franken, 64. Ernst, Grassley vote 'no' as Judge Jackson is confirmed to the US Supreme Court. On November 5, 2018, King tweeted a video of the senator saying, Iowa needs Steve King in Congress. Certainly it didnt seem to hurt Grassley. In the Senate, Grassleys career initially became defined by a certain individualism. U.S. Reps. Ashley Hinson, Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Randy Feenstra all Republicans are seeking reelection. While he wants Iowas famous first-in-the-nation presidential caucus to be wide open in 2024, he doesnt say his party should move on from Trump: If he runs in 2024, nobody can do anything about that.. Feenstra got a high-profile boost from former Vice President Mike Pence in July, when he headlined a fundraiser for Feenstra in Sioux Center. Regardless of which of the three wins the nomination they are in for a very uphill campaign. Also, The Des Moines Register reported that in 1979, as a member of Congress, Grassley had given a speech to the Liberty Lobby, whose founder asserted antisemitic conspiracy theories and campaigned to persuade Black Americans to go to Africa. Grassleys win was an early tremor preceding the earthquake of the 1980 election. Miller-Meeks, 66, faces two challengers in the 1st District. Grassley faces a Republican primary challenge from state Sen. Jim Carlin, of Sioux City, who is running to his right and framing Grassley as an establishment moderate. He questioned Reagans military spending and pushed for hearings on unfettered defense budgets. Whos running for governor and for Congress? Bidens 39% approval rating imary winner might be more of a sacrificial lamb considering Bidens 39% approval ratings. 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. 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. Mike Franken beat former congresswoman Abby Finkenauer, who was widely expected to win the Democratic nomination. The rise of the Moral Majority, the Jerry Falwellbacked political action group pushing a conservative religious agenda, had given Grassleys election heavenly stakes. Those early days created a rough draft of who hed become as a senatorgruff, hard-working, relentless, frugal. State Sen. Zach Nunn, 42, entered the race in July. Today the Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee demonstrated that they will actively fight back against Republicans' false narratives. to officially jump into the race in February, his recent vote on a $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill, announced plans to seek reelection to the 2nd District, She announced in November she would run for reelection in Iowa's 1st District, She launched her congressional campaign in July, formally announced her re-election plans Aug. 28, Axne was considering a run for governor in 2022, was the first Republican to enter the 3rd District race. Ailes would go on to run Fox News and have an outsize influence on conservative politics as an operative and media executive, helping elect the likes of Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Right now, Rep. Ashley Hinson represents Iowas 1st District, but she will reside in and run for the 2nd District in 2022. Shilling said he had voted for Grassley until the early 2000s when he became disillusioned with him, particularly over what Shilling said was a lack of support for veterans. Congress is fast approaching the need to take action on the nation's statutory debt limit, often referred to as the debt ceiling. 7 Iowa outlasts Purdue 69-58 in B10 quarterfinal, Madison County Strong: Survivors recount their experiences during Winterset tornado. 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. Thats all I can tell you., Fred and I hit a deer on hiway 136 south of Dyersville. | A Des Moines Register poll in March showed many Iowans dont want Grassley to run again. He has worked on the staff of U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy, and at the U.S. Department of Defense, and he has served as the chief of legislative affairs for the Navy. A censure by the Republican Party of Texas would underline how the two-term congressman's willingness to break with conservatives on key issues during his short time in . She is a retired community engagement director at a Cedar Rapids-based child advocacy nonprofit. The first Democrat to join the race wasDave Muhlbauer, a 37-year-old farmer and a former Crawford County supervisor. 6 West Burlington. Doctor and Minden city council member Glenn Hurst, a 51-year-old Democrat, announced on July 29 he would run for Grassleys seat. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. Mike Franken, a retired U.S. Navy Admiral, announced he would seek the Democratic nomination in October. He worked in his fathers workshop and spent three years on a job in a slaughterhouse in Sioux City before embarking on his military service. She is also a former television reporter and anchor at KCRG-TV in Cedar Rapids. (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. 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. After more than 14 years at the state capitol, Grassley ran for Congress. Reach her at bpfann@dmreg.com or 515-284-8244. Dave Muhlbauer, an Iowa farmer and a former county supervisor, was the first Democrat to announce a campaign. I will give him a forcible retirement.. He says there were some irregularities in the 2020 election but Biden is the legitimate president. According to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission, Grassley's war chest held $4,320,715.95 as of May 18. His unconventional moves aside, Grassleys a political pro, toeing the line between establishment Republicans and Trump-era hardliners. As of February, Democrats have just one challenger to Reynolds:Deidre DeJear, a 35-year-old Democratic activist and former candidate for secretary of state. Melton works in a leadership role at Nationwide Insurance and lives in Nevada, Iowa. 1:49. Three Democrats are facing off for the partys nomination, hoping to stop Grassley from securing an eight term in the Senate. Incumbent U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne will seek reelection in the 3rd District, which includes Des Moines and Council Bluffs in the state's southwest corner. According to the Quad City Times, he owns and operates FSBO Homes Quad Cities and launched Code Ninjas Quad Cities. Due to a planned power outage on Friday, 1/14, between 8am-1pm PST, some services may be impacted. After all, in 2018 they captured three House seats, and Scholten himself nearly captured the fourth. I'm running for U.S. Senate to fight for working people.We can defeat Chuck Grassley - but I need your help. She is a teacher and currently works for a nonprofit in Council Bluffs that provides care for children with mental and behavioral health needs. Multiple Democrats have lined up to challenge Grassley. She leaned on her record in Congress and said it demonstrates the kind of policies and resolve that will help Democrats defeat Grassley. https://www.cookpolitical.com/ratings/senate-race-ratings