Some think theres little reason to believe 2022 would be much different. The most senior GOP senator says hell deliberate until the fall. After all, in 2018 they captured three House seats, and Scholten himself nearly captured the fourth. Do you have information you want to share with HuffPost? The June 7 primary election will be the first test of a new set of political boundaries following Iowa's decennial redistricting process. 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 . Carlin, 59, has aligned himself closely with former President Donald Trump, frequently invoking misinformation about the 2020 election. Meanwhile, there is a set of Republicans vying to topple Democrat Cindy Axne in the 3rd Congressional District. Reach her at bpfann@dmreg.com or 515-284-8244. When he needed some water, he fumbled, and spilled on his pants. 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. Gary Leffler, a Republican activistbest known for his patriotic tractor, has also filed with the Federal Election Commission to challenge Axne. Bryan Jack Holder, a Council Bluffs resident and Libertarian candidate, submitted paperwork to run in Iowa's 4th District. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images). telling reporters he found it offensive to claim white supremacy. Hometown: Sherrill (Dubuque County). Yes, the Cook Political Report and other analyses are not promising. Election Results: See Polk County election results as vote counts come in. I was impressed with all three of them, really, said Kevin Shilling, a 68-year-old Greenfield resident who attended the event. Part of HuffPost Politics. Answers provided by the candidate. He said Pat Grassley is not interested in being a senator and encouraged Chuck to run again. Hovelson has gotten a lot of mileage out of this story. 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. That might seem a long shot, but its how the indefatigable Iowan operates. 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. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images). 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. Kim Reynolds' and Sen. Chuck Grassley's reelection races to early Iowa caucus action. Redistricting made things a little trickier for Iowas House races. 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. After his first term in Congress, Grassley supported a constitutional amendment to prohibit abortion, which was a change from his softer position in 1974, when hed supported letting states decide. If he wins in 2022, he will be 95 years old at the conclusion of that term. Retorted Grassley: I tell Rick Scott the same thing I told you: Im going to make up my mind September, October, November.. OSSIAN, Iowa Chuck Grassley still gets up at 4 a.m. every day and often goes for a 2-mile run. Finkenauer is a former state representative who was . State Rep. Mary Ann Hanusa, a Council Bluffs native, was the first Republican to enter the 3rd District race. 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. Rian Johnson, Halle Berry, and More Share Their Inspiration, From the Archive: The Man Who Kept Marilyns Secrets (1991), Listen toVFsLittle Gold MenPodcast for Unrivaled Awards-Season Coverage, 2023 Cond Nast. 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. She announced her campaign in July and was recently endorsed by U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas. Finkenauer stressed limiting the number of terms a member of the Senate can serve. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa election 2022 candidates for Senate, U.S. House, Brianne Pfannenstiel, Des Moines Register, following Iowa's decennial redistricting process, in July became the first major Democrat to announce a 2022 run, announced he would seek the Democratic nomination in October, operates a private medical practice in Minden, he framed his announcement around rescuing rural Iowa. Now lives in Cedar Rapids. Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley is under pressure to save his party from defending yet another open seat as it labors to retake the majority. This is Franken's second Senate campaign. Reporter Brianne Pfannenstiel contributed reporting. He only occasionally relies on aides for an assist, such as his scheduler and adviser Jennifer Heins, who is nearly always by his side. Whos running for governor and for Congress? Im sorry., I dont consider myself a charming person, he said afterward. 6 West Burlington. For those of us tired of hearing the same story ten times we can mute and read, he railed this month. All the boys slunk down in their chairs, except Grassley, who raised his hand. Required fields are marked *. Iowans, with the sense of grievance only a flyover state can have, loved it. 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. Follow her on Twitter at @brianneDMR. No whispered questions about acuity follow him, the way they have Feinstein or the late Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.). Certainly it didnt seem to hurt Grassley. Physically and mentally. 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. He is running against long-time Iowa State Senator Chuck Grassley in the upcoming Iowa Caucuses on Feb. 7. He said he's "all over the map" in different situations. Its a difficult dance. She grew up on the South Side of Chicago, earned an academic scholarship to Drake University and works now in financial services. Former 1st District representative Abby Finkenauer, outraised Grassley in the third quarter of 2021, Dave Muhlbauer, a 37-year-old farmer and a former Crawford County supervisor, Doctor and Minden city council member Glenn Hurst, move into the 1st District and run for reelection there, she will seek reelection in the 3rd District, Pella native prepares to run Iditarod for third time, Putin can win only if Josh Hawley-esque isolationists multiply, City of Pella asks $5 million from Pella Schools for new indoor rec center, Oskaloosas VanWyk claims individual state bowling title, Marion County students learn about pork, tractor safety at Ag Day, State politicians discuss taxes, emergency services, Rockets to state, top Hudson 71-65 in three overtimes, Eagles state bound after knocking off No. 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 . In the Iowa House, she fought against legislation weakening workers rights; in Congress, she passed legislation helping small businesses, and focused on child care issues, rural health care, and the safety of packing plant workers. Thats because he feels that by offering a clearer difference between the Democratic and Republican candidate, Democrats can win back many Iowa voters. 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. micropolitan guy, Mar 21, 2022 Seven-term Republican Chuck Grassley was re-elected in 2016 with 60.1% of the vote. Mike Franken, a retired U.S. Navy admiral, highlighted his military record throughout the forum and said his background neutralizes many Republican talking points about Democrats. In response to some of the questions, Grassley explained the legislative process and the history of partisan fights. His shoulders slumped forward, his head leaned in, as he listened and answered questions. Yet Another Republican Seems to Want to Join the 2024 Presidential Race: Tim Scott. The room was filled with older white Iowans in sweatshirts and sneakers. More: Chuck Grassley sails past Jim Carlin in Republican US Senate primary; moves on to run for 8th term. Hes weighed in often about the Russian invasion of Ukraine and how the US can better combat Vladimir Putin. Today the Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee demonstrated that they will actively fight back against Republicans' false narratives. He portrays himself as vested in the future of struggling rural America as a fifth-generation farmer. Incumbent Reynolds, 62, has not officially announced her reelection plans, but she has a strong standing in the state. Grassleys win was an early tremor preceding the earthquake of the 1980 election. Smith, 33, has represented Waterloo in the Iowa House since 2017. The first Democrat to join the race wasDave Muhlbauer, a 37-year-old farmer and a former Crawford County supervisor. 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." Ryan O'Leary, an Auburn businessman, has filed paperwork to run in the 4th District as an independent. And the people didnt seem to care about the KKK or any of that. 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. In 1980, Roger Ailes, then a political consultant, came to Iowa to test out a theory on Grassleys campaign for Senate. LeBron at one point. The constitution [and] bill of rights guarantee a just and speedy trial.. From 2022 races to caucus action, what to watch for in Iowa politics. Its not impossible for Democrats to break through, Scholten argued. 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. 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. 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. Grassley is fighting the forces that put him in power all those many years ago. My searches for primary sources on Grassleys early years often ended in obituaries. Multiple Democrats have filed to run against Grassley, including former 1st District Rep. Abby Finkenauer, who lost her race for a second term in 2020 after flipping a GOP-held district in 2018. Ryan Melton announced his campaign Jan. 31, citing a need to protect the nation's democracy. Trump endorsed Grassley for reelection at the event. He supported Trumps agenda in Congress about 88% of the time, but occasionally showed his frustrationsparticularly when it came to Trumps trade agenda. Incumbent U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, 88, announced in September he will seek an eighth term in office a decision Republicans believe will give them their best chance to hold onto the coveted Senate seat. She is a law professor at the University of Iowa teaching constitutional law, torts and intellectual property. Finkenauer first ran for the Iowa House at age 24, serving two terms as she represented part of Dubuque. In that vein, Grassley seems to unintentionally charm even his political opponents despite being the Senates chief curmudgeon. 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. Retired Navy Adm. Mike Franken campaigned on his 40 years of experience in the military and in Washington D.C. She announced her campaign in August. Former 1st District representative Abby Finkenauer,32, announced in July that she would challenge Grassley in 2022. State Sen. Zach Nunn, 42, entered the race in July. Iowa suddenly had political power. 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. 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. 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. 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. It was then that the meetings became raucous, with not liberal, but conservative constituents challenging him. And Grassley won the primary and the general. His perceived independent streak began to backfire. Bills, Bills, Bills: What Legislation Survived Funnel Week In Iowa? During a day of 5 stops and about 300 miles of driving, he was asked just once about his reelection. Katie Akin is a politics reporter for the Register. You can look at my record all day long. 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. (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. The senator disclosed to Attorney General Merrick Garland that lawfully protected whistleblower disclosures to his office indicate that the Justice Department and FBI had over a dozen sources who provided potentially criminal information relating 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. She is a teacher and currently works for a nonprofit in Council Bluffs that provides care for children with mental and behavioral health needs. Bush, and Trump. 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.. Melton works in a leadership role at Nationwide Insurance and lives in Nevada, Iowa. She is also a former television reporter and anchor at KCRG-TV in Cedar Rapids. He told reporters earlier this month that a decision about whether. After more than 14 years at the state capitol, Grassley ran for Congress. Also follow us on Facebook and Twitter. He has also held a variety of roles in Washington, including as the first military officer on U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedys staff, at the U.S. Department of Defense and as chief of legislative affairs for the Navy. I will condemn it. God, I hate to give you an on-the-record comment on this, sighed Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont. ), who led Democrats campaign arm in 2016. he was talking to Iowans at the rally about the Biden administrations failures. Here are the results from key races from the June 7 Iowa primary elections. To many, Grassley sounds like hes a candidate-in-waiting. He fires off typo-riddled tweets that take on a life of their own, from the Beltway-famous assume deer dead to If u lost ur pet pidgin / its dead in front yard., Sometimes hell tell staff that I feel a tweet coming on..