Hes a conservative who can work with Democrats on a handful of issues, like criminal justice reform and drug prices, while executing brutal partisan power plays to fill the federal bench with conservatives. A state that Democrat Barack Obama won in two presidential elections has steadily shifted to the right in recent years, part of a broader transformation that has spread through the Northern Plains that has made it increasingly difficult for Democrats to compete statewide. 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. And Grassley won the primary and the general. I steal from them their entire narrative. He has. Both Gov. Dave Muhlbauer, an Iowa farmer and a former county supervisor, was the first Democrat to announce a campaign. It doesn't exist. In his memoir, Obama describes Grassley as toying with the administration over possibly supporting the Affordable Care Act. Hovelson has gotten a lot of mileage out of this story. I operate my family farm here in Iowa. Assume deer dead, Grassley always looks the part: Rimless glasses, elephant ties and sometimes his signature sweater vests. About 30 people were in attendance. Just the opposite. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles. March 3, 2023. Trump has changed the Republican Party in one important way, very significant: Hes brought energy to the partyand we want somebody with energy out there, we want somebody thats going to go out there, and thats just not Grassley, Richard Viguerie, a longtime conservative activist whose direct-mailing agency has been credited with conservatives big wins in the 1980s, tells me. Answers provided by the candidate. For those of us tired of hearing the same story ten times we can mute and read, he railed this month. Two more Democrats joined the race in October:Former Iowa Rep. Bob Krause, 71,andretired U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Franken, 64. 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. Also follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Your email address will not be published. Franken returned to Iowa to run in the 2020 US Senate primary, where he came in second place. Hanusa, 58,suspended her congressional campaignand will instead run against Democrat Rob Sand for State Auditor. The John Birch Society attacked Culver, and John Birchers donated to Grassleys campaign. Candidates are listed in alphabetical order. 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. 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. 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. If Grassley does seek reelection, Republicans and many Democrats concede the seat is essentially safe. Nunn is a combat aviator and Intelligence Squadron Commander in the United States Air Force, and he has served on the White Houses National Security Council as Director of Cybersecurity. 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. He ran as a Libertarian in Iowa's 3rd District in 2020, finishing with 3.4% of the vote against Democratic U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne and Republican David Young. Asked if he finds Trump personally responsible for the Capitol riot, he refers to a statement he put out on Jan. 6. Election Results: See Polk County election results as vote counts come in. At 88 years old, Grassley is seeking an eighth term in the U.S. Senate. The 87-year-old does push-ups, too. Hurst cast himself as the prairie progressive who could reverse the losing streak, arguing Democrats should lean into their values and emphasize their differences with Republicans. Retired Navy Adm. Mike Franken campaigned on his 40 years of experience in the military and in Washington D.C. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images). 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. Franken announced his candidacymonths later, but heoutspent Finkenauer on advertising and quickly gained support among Democrats. After all, it was the wave of conservative sentiment in the 1980s that brought Grassley to power. Republican Nicole Hassoalso announced her candidacy in July. 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. Hes held public office since 1959 and served in the Senate since 1981, including two years in the presidential line of succession. You can look at my record all day long. Burgess Everett/POLITICO. 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. Incumbent U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra is running for reelection. If he wins in 2022, he will be 95 years old at the conclusion of that term. Reach her at bpfann@dmreg.com or 515-284-8244. Example video title will go here for this video, Q&A | Iowa's Forces of Nature: A Local 5 Severe Weather Special. She served in the Iowa House for ten years and served as chair of the Economic Growth Committee. State Sen. Jim Carlin, a 58-year-old trial lawyer and Army veteran, was the first candidate of either party to officially jump into the race in February. Grassleys primary challenger, Carlin, has repeated these claims and accused Grassley of not doing enough to overturn the election results. 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. Her father was a union pipefitter-welder, her mother a school secretary. Those early days created a rough draft of who hed become as a senatorgruff, hard-working, relentless, frugal. J. D. Scholten, who nearly defeated former Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) in 2018, is also contemplating a Senate run. 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. I feel that Grassley has not been especially effective in the last decade-plus and has turned more obstructionist at this point.. The challenge sounds like something out of the classic Seinfeld episode in which the elderly Mandelbaum family taunts Jerry to prove his physical prowess. 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 . Hurst has positioned himself as the most progressive in the Democratic primary, and as such, he argues, the most electable of the group. 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. but attended at least one Trump campaign event. But Grassleys future is certainly on Iowans minds. Despite the fact that the majority of Iowans thought maybe it was time for him to step aside. 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. These are imperatives. Mike Franken, a retired U.S. Navy Admiral, announced he would seek the Democratic nomination in October. 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. And he will be fighting that war on two fronts. But Ill vote and hope for the best. 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. I have voted for the DREAM Act. And Democrats choice for their top-of-ticket nominee will signal where the party is headed in Iowa and what issues they think will resonate with Iowans. I will outwork Chuck Grassley. By Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc/Getty Images. According to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission, Grassley's war chest held $4,320,715.95 as of May 18. Franken would go on to be the first commanding officer on the USS Winston S. Churchill, command a destroyer squadron, serve in Sen. Ted Kennedys office and the Pentagon, and was the deputy director of military operations for US Africa Command, among other roles. Momentum and reaction are always simultaneous events in American politics. 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. 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. Reach her at bpfann@dmreg.com or 515-284-8244. ), who led Democrats campaign arm in 2016. In his biography, Woolson quotes Grassley as saying, I ate their pork loin with dressing. 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. Katie Akin is a politics reporter for the Register. Introduction. 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. Mike Franken beat former congresswoman Abby Finkenauer, who was widely expected to win the Democratic nomination. long island real estate market predictions 2022; aylesbury registry office wedding; uncle blue beyond scared straight dead; Financial Planning. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. 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. In the summer of 2021, there was chatter Grassley wouldnt run again. telling reporters he found it offensive to claim white supremacy. He said he's "all over the map" in different situations. In many ways Grassleys 1980 election was the perfect prologue for the current political climate. 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. Chuck really had him sweating.. You name it I am proud of what I've done, because this is my home., More: 3 Democrats are vying to take on Chuck Grassley; 3 Republicans want to oust Cindy Axne. He posted stronger first-quarter fundraising figures than Finkenauer and earned endorsements from some well-known former Finkenauer supporters bothered by her declining to accept responsibility for the filing mistakes. Until the incumbent makes his decision, the states Democrats are frozen and not particularly chatty. three in four Iowans had not formed an opinion on DeJear, he will run for an eighth term in the U.S. Senate. 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. After he listened to a constituent talk about limiting paper waste on Medicare forms, Grassley said hes never thought of it but will take it back as a Grassley suggestion.. State Auditor Rob Sand has expressed interest in the Senate race, but backed out of an interview in Des Moines the day before. Follow her on Twitter at @brianneDMR. Thats because he feels that by offering a clearer difference between the Democratic and Republican candidate, Democrats can win back many Iowa voters. Its too depressing. Yet he never deletes a tweet, no matter the misspellings or reading comprehension challenges. Former 1st District representative Abby Finkenauer,32, announced in July that she would challenge Grassley in 2022. 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. You have permission to edit this article. 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. I dont think he wanted to be considered blatantly sexist, though I believe that he was. 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. Hes a senior senator from a state with a largely consolidating and contracting free press. Hes tight-lipped about the checkered legacy of former President Donald Trump, whom he has spoken with twice since Trump left office. 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. and instead mounted a race for state auditor. Abby Finkenauer's place on the Iowa primary ballot is being challenged. Kim Reynolds and Sen. Chuck Grassley are up for reelection in 2022, although Reynolds has not officially announced her bid. Grassley was running against the incumbent Democrat John Culvera big, blond, Harvard-grad Iowa boy. In 2022, he was reelected to his eighth Senate term, having first been elected in 1980. 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. I have voted for rural infrastructure. Sun and clouds mixed. Yet Another Republican Seems to Want to Join the 2024 Presidential Race: Tim Scott. hoped Grassley would not seek reelection. 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. More: Republican state Sen. Jim Carlin launches U.S. Senate bid, will run in a primary against Chuck Grassley if HuffPost's top politics stories, straight to your inbox. Grassley, who will be 89 years old in 2022, has filed a statement of candidacy for the 2022 election, making him eligible to run for an eighth term. His unconventional moves aside, Grassleys a political pro, toeing the line between establishment Republicans and Trump-era hardliners. Senators in both parties say Grassley is sharp as a ginsu knife and his health appears impeccable. But still, a new poll suggests Republican voters are mostly in favor of Trump. Incumbent Reynolds, 62, has not officially announced her reelection plans, but she has a strong standing in the state. The house had no electricity and no indoor plumbing. 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. 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. Iowans can register with a party or change their party affiliation through the Secretary of States website. Finkenauer is a former state representative who was elected to Iowa's 1st District in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2018 but lost her 2020 re-election bid. Rep. Cindy Axne, 56, announced in November thatshe will seek reelection in the 3rd District. 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 . 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. Still, the episode turned off a number of veteran state Democratic activists, former candidates and officeholders, prompting some to give Franken a second look. But she disagrees: As long as he can and will, I think he is able. Heran for the Democratic nomination to challenge U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst in 2020, but he lost the primary to competitor Theresa Greenfield. He would be 95 at the end of an eighth term. It comes as the primary election season begins to heat up. Smith, 33, has represented Waterloo in the Iowa House since 2017. According to Yepsen, things began to change for Grassley under Obama. he was talking to Iowans at the rally about the Biden administrations failures. how universal health care can revitalize rural Iowa. Grassley and his campaign have repeatedly said they had no knowledge of a plan to overturn the election.) DeJear also trails Reynolds in name recognition: A September Iowa poll found thatthree in four Iowans had not formed an opinion on DeJear. Krause, who is president of the Veterans National Recovery Center, unsuccessfully sought the Democratic Party's nomination for the U.S. Senate in 2010 and 2016. (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. At 37, Muhlbauer is also a half-century younger than the 87-year-old Grassley, who has said he will announce his reelection plans in the fall. But Grassleys longevity is no joke. 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. Grassley, simply by being underestimated, has escaped much scrutiny. https://www.cookpolitical.com/ratings/senate-race-ratings But by last fall, Grassley put the rumors to rest, releasing a video of himself running at dawn. 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.. His perceived independent streak began to backfire. Right now, Rep. Ashley Hinson represents Iowas 1st District, but she will reside in and run for the 2nd District in 2022. There are rumors that Grassley wants to elevate his grandson, statehouse Speaker Pat Grassley, into the Senate. Senator. Due to a planned power outage on Friday, 1/14, between 8am-1pm PST, some services may be impacted. Certainly it didnt seem to hurt Grassley. 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%. If he retires, they'll have a battle on their hands. He got a masters in political science, then went to the University of Iowa for his PhD, but dropped out when he decided to run for the Iowa House, and because he was married and had a growing family of four to feed. And after Trump-supporting rioters stormed the Capitol, Grassley voted to certify Bidens win. Its a difficult dance. On June 7, he won his Republican primary for another term, beating out Iowa state senator Jim Carlin, and positioning him to face off against Democrat Michael Franken, a retired Navy admiral, in November. Heres Starting Lines quick rundown of the Democratic candidates, their backgrounds, and what policies theyre campaigning on. 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. Following changes in the congressional maps as a result of redistricting, Iowa's 2nd District now cover's the state's northeastern corner, rather than it's southeastern one. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph.. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), whos sparred with Grassley for years, deemed him extraordinary. Glenn Hurst operates a private medical practice in Minden, where he sits on the city council. The first Democrat to join the race wasDave Muhlbauer, a 37-year-old farmer and a former Crawford County supervisor. Hes pitching a universal health care system, while also pledging to bring down prescription drug costs. Bush, and Trump. Now lives in Sioux City. The Base? He has. He will hold on to it with every frail and wobbly ounce of his strength. Melton works in a leadership role at Nationwide Insurance and lives in Nevada, Iowa. He hasnt announced, but I think hes going to run, advised National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Rick Scott (R-Fla.). And asking him why he was playing footsie with liberals. High 53F. As more Iowans tune into the campaigns in the final weeks, the biggest contest is the race to take on Sen. Chuck Grassley. Can the Republican hold on to the political movement he helped build? Reporter Brianne Pfannenstiel contributed reporting. 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. 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. 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. So there he was one moment, onstage, eagerly grinning, accepting Trumps endorsement, then later scowling when asked questions about it. 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. 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. I know for a fact that is not true, said state Rep. Lee Hein, a Republican close to Pat Grassley. Just 10% of respondents had a favorable view of her. Democrats tried to beat him in 2016 as he blocked a high court appointment. Yes, the Cook Political Report and other analyses are not promising. You can contribute to us here. I'm proud of it, she said. 7 Iowa outlasts Purdue 69-58 in B10 quarterfinal, Madison County Strong: Survivors recount their experiences during Winterset tornado. Naval Academy, Postgraduate School- MS of Physics, Major civic activities: Special Olympics coach - 2017 - 2019, U.S. Navy 40 years, Defense department Wide Energy Efficiency Award. Something must be causing this. U.S. House incumbents also face fierce challengers in 2022, as Iowas redistricted map shakes up the races. 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. Finkenauer is a former state representative. 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. Hometown: Minden, Iowa (Pottawattamie County). He said Iowa Democrats have work to do regardless of Grassleys future. OSSIAN, Iowa Chuck Grassley still gets up at 4 a.m. every day and often goes for a 2-mile run. With just four months until the primary election, Iowa's congressional and governor races are starting to solidify. Ernst, Grassley vote 'no' as Judge Jackson is confirmed to the US Supreme Court. 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. The two-term incumbent already faces several Republican challengers. Krause ended his campaign after he was unable to gather the necessary number of signatures to make the ballot. More: Chuck Grassley sails past Jim Carlin in Republican US Senate primary; moves on to run for 8th term. He knows more about Iowa than, I would guarantee, anybody in Iowa, said his junior Hawkeye State GOP senator, Joni Ernst.