Here are the results from key races from the June 7 Iowa primary elections. Finkenauer is a former state representative who was . Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. Can the Republican hold on to the political movement he helped build? In front of a crowd of Iowans in Des Moines on October 9, 2021, a grinning Grassley, with the sleeves of his blue shirt rolled up, accepted Trumps endorsement. Smith, 33, has represented Waterloo in the Iowa House since 2017. State Sen. Liz Mathis, a Democrat, will challenge Hinson in the new 2nd District. Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Ryan O'Leary, an Auburn businessman, has filed paperwork to run in the 4th District as an independent. I work with him every day. Speaking out on it is the only thing we can do, he said, before briefly explaining the justice system and how its a separate branch of government. Dave Muhlbauer is the first Democrat to launch a campaign challenging the long-time incumbent Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley (IA) for one of Iowa's U.S. Senate seats in the 2022 midterm elections. Honestly, Chuck, youre an Iowan, for Gods sakes! 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. State Sen. Liz Mathis was first elected to the Iowa Senate in a 2011 special election, and she was re-elected to her third full term in 2020. 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. It's an election year: Look for no shortage of news from Gov. He wrote a bill to protect special counsel Robert Mueller from the then-president, but also used hardline tactics as Judiciary Committee chair to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh and stiff-arm Democrats on judicial nominees. More: Abby Finkenauer's place on the Iowa primary ballot is being challenged. The latestDes Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Pollfound a majority of Iowans 51% approve of Reynolds job performance. Democrat Mike Frankenwill challenge U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley in November. 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.. So by 1980, Iowa was suddenly a fertile ground for corn and politics, a place where no-name politicians could come to the state and grab a good headline by smiling and chomping a few hot dogs at the state fair. 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. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, IA-02, announced in November that she willmove into the 1st District and run for reelection there. Charles Ernest Grassley was going to run again. 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. Grassley has four times more cash than the next leading candidate of either party. In her campaign for the US Senate, Finkenauer has pitched herself as a generational contrast to an 88-year-old Grassley who first won elected office in 1958. Incumbent U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks originally announced plans to seek reelection to the 2nd District in September, but Iowa's redistricting process shifted the district boundaries, and she had to decide where to run in 2022. candidate Glenn Hurst, a city council member and doctor from Minden. 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. George Santos Shouldnt Be There: Republican Infighting Spills Over at Joe Bidens State of the Union. 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. More: Mike Franken wins Democratic US Senate primary; to take on Chuck Grassley in November. While Iowas senior senator has easily won reelection in the past, theres been some warning signs for him lately, including an approval rating that is now consistently falling under 50%. Heres Starting Lines quick rundown of the Democratic candidates, their backgrounds, and what policies theyre campaigning on. 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. If reelected, Grassley will be the most senior member of the Senate, and as such, is front of the line for president pro tempore if the Republicans win a majority in 2022. She announced in early November after the Iowa Legislature finished its redistricting work. 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. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Yet there may be something of a Grassley exception for the states elections. 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. Finkenauer lost in a reelection bid in 2020 but was a frequent presence on cable television and raised millions of dollars toward her Senate run. Grassley, a man who has held elected office longer than most of his constituents have been alive, has a point to makehuffing and puffing on that stage, Grassley is proving that he wont let go of power. Both Gov. Hes held public office since 1959 and served in the Senate since 1981, including two years in the presidential line of succession. Follow her on Twitter at @brianneDMR. He also talks often about mental health care services and how the medical field should tie it in more with overall physical health. Follow Iowa Capital Dispatch onFacebookandTwitter. If Grassley does seek reelection, Republicans and many Democrats concede the seat is essentially safe. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. In his memoir, Obama describes Grassley as toying with the administration over possibly supporting the Affordable Care Act. I will outwork Chuck Grassley. Introduction. After more than 14 years at the state capitol, Grassley ran for Congress. It was about theater, not policy, and Ailes saw that. After the leaked Supreme Court opinion on abortion rights, Finkenauer has spoken out at several pro-choice rallies about her longtime support of womens health care and noting how useful it would be to have a young woman in the Senate who can talk personally about reproductive rights. A Des Moines Register poll in March showed many Iowans dont want Grassley to run again. Labor Organizer: Gov. You can contribute to us here. Still, Trumps popularity in Iowa complicated Grassleys vaunted independent streak. OSSIAN, Iowa Chuck Grassley still gets up at 4 a.m. every day and often goes for a 2-mile run. Now, he wants someone who can stand up to the masses over false claims of stolen elections. 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. In fact, if the later popularity of Trump and nine-term congressman Steve King (whose racist comments cost him his primary in 2020) have proven anything, these far-right associations were a perk. But the accusations draw a demarcation. Retired Navy Adm. Mike Franken campaigned on his 40 years of experience in the military and in Washington D.C. After I pulled fender rubbing on tire we continued to farm. Hurst speaks extensively on the campaign trail about how universal health care can revitalize rural Iowa, and how his plan would save small-town clinics and rural hospitals, vastly bring down overall costs, and expand services covered for patients. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texasendorsed Hassoon Aug. 12. Sen. Chuck Grassley, 88, Will Run for Reelection in 2022 The Iowa senator, who first secured his senate seat in 1980, is the oldest Republican serving in the upper chamber of the U.S. Congress Primary election ballots are nearly set in Iowa, and races for Congress have begun in earnest. Hes pitching a universal health care system, while also pledging to bring down prescription drug costs. 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. 6 West Burlington. 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. Katie Akin is a politics reporter for the Register. Reach her at bpfann@dmreg.com or 515-284-8244. Senators in both parties say Grassley is sharp as a ginsu knife and his health appears impeccable. 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. If he wins in 2022, he will be 95 years old at the conclusion of that term. Still, the episode turned off a number of veteran state Democratic activists, former candidates and officeholders, prompting some to give Franken a second look. Both Hinson and Mathis, 63, are former television journalists who were coworkers at a Cedar Rapids TV station. Its a difficult dance. His campaign touts a history of independence and bipartisanship, but his new campaign ads brag about opposing vaccine mandates, blocking Bidens agenda, and building a border wall. Another story Hovelson tells is that Chuck once told him, Youre going to laugh at me, but Id really like to be president of the United States. Hovelson did laugh at the time. Finkenauer has highlighted her past support for expanded voting rights legislation and has warned about the influence of misinformation on social media and how its undermining democracy. Iowa Starting Line is part of an independent news network and focuses on how state and national decisions impact Iowans daily lives. Grassley, simply by being underestimated, has escaped much scrutiny. According to the Secretary of State's office, O'Leary did not submit the required paperwork and signatures to make it onto the ballot. More: Who's running for Iowa governor in 2022? But Grassleys future is certainly on Iowans minds. Last week, Senator Grassley announced his campaign with a short video of him on an early morning run. According to a release, he holds degrees in history and political science from Iowa State University and the University of Kansas. It's laughable. When he got close to one constituent in the restaurant, he assured her its so I can hear you. Democrat Mike Franken will challenge U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley in November. He voted to impeach Bill Clinton, but voted against impeaching Trump. He said he believes Grassley would have to debate him during a general election because of his record of service. Her father was a union pipefitter-welder, her mother a school secretary. Muhlbauer ended his campaign in November following the death of his nephew. Sign up now to get our FREE breaking news coverage delivered right to your inbox. Grassley will also face a Republican primary challenge from stateSen. Jim Carlin, R-Sioux City. Reynolds, Please Let Iowas Kids Be Kids, 6 Iowa-Made Products, From Hot Sauce to Popcorn, Foodies Have to Try, Sponsor Of Iowa GOP Bills To Ban Gay Marriage Says Thats Not What The Bills Are About, Leaked Texts Reveal: Fox News Knew They Were Spreading Lies and Conspiracies About 2020 Election, Transamerica Cuts Jobs In Cedar Rapids, Buys Back $200M In Stocks, Business Owner: Reynolds Unemployment Cuts Hurt Concrete Workers, 20 House Republicans Sign Bill To Ban Nearly All Abortion In Iowa, The Stories Behind 6 of Iowas Coolest Bridges, Trans Iowan To Republican Lawmakers: You Truly Hate Us, Key Moments From Iowa Democrats US Senate Debate. That age will be a factor down the road, said Ardie Kuhse, a longtime supporter back home who runs the Waukon Economic Development Corporation. Heres where the race stands currently with just four months until Iowa holds its primary election on June 7. He portrays himself as vested in the future of struggling rural America as a fifth-generation farmer. but attended at least one Trump campaign event. But plenty of senators misspeak, and hes one of few willing to face questions extemporaneously for hours on end. Muhlbauers candidacy marks a shift in strategy for Democrats, who havent won a statewide race in Iowa in almost two decades. 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. 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. All three candidates have initially qualified to appear on the primary ballot, though Republicans are challenging Finkenauers petition. has been credited with conservatives big wins in the 1980s. 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. I will condemn it., Former President Donald Trump smiles as Sen. Chuck Grassley speaks during a rally at the Iowa State Fairgrounds on October 09, 2021 in Des Moines, Iowa. 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 . After Culver wiped the floor with Grassley in the first debate, Ailes allegedly took. 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. Franken supports eliminating the filibuster and codifying abortion protections into federal law, and he wants to expand Medicaid. 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 . But by last fall, Grassley put the rumors to rest, releasing a video of himself running at dawn. He spends his recesses schlepping around the state with a handful of aides in tow, traveling the 99 County tour he invented. Hometown: Minden, Iowa (Pottawattamie County). 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. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, is seen in the U.S. Capitol after the senate luncheons on Tuesday, March 29, 2022. and instead mounted a race for state auditor. Iowans, with the sense of grievance only a flyover state can have, loved it. And it has to be big. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. DeJear also trails Reynolds in name recognition: A September Iowa poll found thatthree in four Iowans had not formed an opinion on DeJear. 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 hasnt announced, but I think hes going to run, advised National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Rick Scott (R-Fla.). What you said is accurate, he said to the man. 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). This is Franken's second Senate campaign. If he wins reelection in November, Iowas longest-serving senator would be 95 years old by the end of another term. Hurst pitches himself as a Tom Harkin-like prairie progressive, one who can best harness the anger and frustration of Iowans who feel left behind in a broken economy. Conlin recalls that even though she and Grassley were at odds, he still allowed her bills to come out of the committee. Now lives in Sioux City. Her campaign also reported a deep war chest coming into 2022, with$4.8 million cash on hand at the beginning of the year. 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. But she disagrees: As long as he can and will, I think he is able. Follow her on Twitter at @brianneDMR. Reach her at bpfann@dmreg.com or 515-284-8244. 1:49. Retired Navy Adm. Mike Franken campaigned on his 40 years ofexperience in the military and in Washington D.C. She is a teacher and currently works for a nonprofit in Council Bluffs that provides care for children with mental and behavioral health needs. He said, "The reason I decided to run is the overall direction of things running away from freedom in our country right now. The room was filled with older white Iowans in sweatshirts and sneakers. To many, Grassley sounds like hes a candidate-in-waiting. In 2021, a Selzer poll showed that the majority of Iowans, including a third of Republicans, hoped Grassley would not seek reelection. You have permission to edit this article. But a Grassley spokesperson noted, Like most small- and medium-size family farmers who must contend with mother nature and fluctuating input and commodity prices, the Grassley farm has from time to time utilized government-supported programs when necessary.. Bidens 39% approval rating imary winner might be more of a sacrificial lamb considering Bidens 39% approval ratings. 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. Just 10% of respondents had a favorable view of her. Hanusa, 58,suspended her congressional campaignand will instead run against Democrat Rob Sand for State Auditor. Chuck Grassley. Finkenauer first ran for the Iowa House at age 24, serving two terms as she represented part of Dubuque. Example video title will go here for this video, Q&A | Iowa's Forces of Nature: A Local 5 Severe Weather Special. Im a tough target for the GOP, he said. Hes a senior senator from a state with a largely consolidating and contracting free press. Also follow us on Facebook and Twitter. 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. He would be 95 at the end of an eighth term. He questioned Reagans military spending and pushed for hearings on unfettered defense budgets. Any Republican could retire and be proud of that kind of career. 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. The rise of the Moral Majority, the Jerry Falwellbacked political action group pushing a conservative religious agenda, had given Grassleys election heavenly stakes. 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. He takes dozens of questions a day on topics ranging from inflation to the Supreme Court, and handles his interlocution deftly. See Iowa primary election results across the state, Mike Franken wins Democratic US Senate primary; to take on Chuck Grassley in November, Chuck Grassley sails past Jim Carlin in Republican US Senate primary; moves on to run for 8th term, See Polk County election results as vote counts come in, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy, Education: Morningside University, Biochemistry; University of Nebraska-Lincoln, College of Engineering, Civil Engineer and Finance; U.S. 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. Your email address will not be published. Check online at sos.iowa.gov. Its not impossible for Democrats to break through, Scholten argued. The important June 7 primary election is fast approaching in Iowa, with early voting already underway at local county auditors offices. Feenstra got a high-profile boost from former Vice President Mike Pence in July, when he headlined a fundraiser for Feenstra in Sioux Center. She is also a former television reporter and anchor at KCRG-TV in Cedar Rapids. Sheoutraised Grassley in the third quarter of 2021 but political analysts noted that Grassley announced late in the fundraising period and that he maintains impressive voter approval and recognition in the state. I operate my family farm here in Iowa. If he retires, they'll have a battle on their hands. 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. State Sen. Zach Nunn, an Altoona native and Bondurant resident, was first elected to the Iowa House in 2014, and he won his Senate seat in 2018. I'm running for U.S. Senate to fight for working people.We can defeat Chuck Grassley - but I need your help. Yet Another Republican Seems to Want to Join the 2024 Presidential Race: Tim Scott. 1:49. Miller-Meeks, 66, faces two challengers in the 1st District. Rep. Cindy Axne, another potential Democratic Senate candidate, declined an interview request. With just four months until the primary election, Iowas congressional and governor races are starting to solidify. 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 . DES MOINES, Iowa Bob Krause, a Democrat from Burlington, announced Thursday he is running for the U.S. Senate seat Chuck Grassley has held since 1981. She is a retired community engagement director at a Cedar Rapids-based child advocacy nonprofit. 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. No whispered questions about acuity follow him, the way they have Feinstein or the late Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.). 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. 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 Hurst also took on leadership roles in the Iowa Democratic Partys Rural Caucus and the 3rd Congressional District committee, and he spoke out locally when a militia group gathered in Council Bluffs in response to baseless rumors of racial justice riots.. Contact Editor Kathie Obradovich for questions: info@iowacapitaldispatch.com. Incumbent U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson formally announced her re-election plans Aug. 28 at her first annual "Ashley's BBQ Bash" fundraiser at the Linn County Fairgrounds. He said that Trumps presidency started off difficult for him, but seeing his success later on, I think that Id have to say that I misjudged.. On January 26, 2022, Grassley stood before a small group of constituents at the VFW in Clarion, Iowa. Rep. Cindy Axne, 56, announced in November thatshe will seek reelection in the 3rd District. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) was one of 19 Republicans who rebuked Donald Trump and voted for the bipartisan infrastructure deal, but just one day earlier was on the floor of the Senate defending. On June 1, at a town hall in Columbus Junction, Grassley was questioned by constituents who wanted to know what he was going to do about guns and the filibuster. But still, his grip on the conservative movement he helped build is precarious. Do you have information you want to share with HuffPost. Before the second debate, he pre-poured Grassley his cup of water. And as the second-oldest senator, Grassley has become an avatar of American politicsthe old world clinging so hard to the new one, holding tight, refusing to let go. Shaken and trying to recover, Culver lost his edge.