Heres where the race stands currently with just four months until Iowa holds its primary election on June 7. The Republican Donor Class Seems Ready to Dump Trump. Follow her on Twitter at @brianneDMR. She is also a former television reporter and anchor at KCRG-TV in Cedar Rapids. When he got close to one constituent in the restaurant, he assured her its so I can hear you. I have voted for paid family leave. He only occasionally relies on aides for an assist, such as his scheduler and adviser Jennifer Heins, who is nearly always by his side. how universal health care can revitalize rural Iowa. | Tom Williams-Pool/Getty Images. The Base? Or will it collapse around him? Grassley defined himself as a conservative Republican in opposition to Ray. Farmers were saying to me later, Did you see Culver sweat? 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. Mike Franken, a retired U.S. Navy Admiral, announced he would seek the Democratic nomination in October. Both Gov. Its not impossible for Democrats to break through, Scholten argued. I feel that Grassley has not been especially effective in the last decade-plus and has turned more obstructionist at this point.. Still, Trumps popularity in Iowa complicated Grassleys vaunted independent streak. 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. 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. The new House map,approved in October by the Iowa Legislature, maintains three competitive districts and one GOP-leaning district. Now lives in Sioux City. Reporter Brianne Pfannenstiel contributed reporting. Hanusa ended her congressional campaign after redistricting changed the makeup of the district and instead mounted a race for state auditor. 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. Hes a senior senator from a state with a largely consolidating and contracting free press. In that vein, Grassley seems to unintentionally charm even his political opponents despite being the Senates chief curmudgeon. We rely on your financial support to keep our stories free for all to read. His biggest policy points have been creating a Medicare for All system, passing the Green New Deal, providing widespread student loan forgiveness, and ending the filibuster. Franken is a Sioux Center native. Franken returned to Iowa to run in the 2020 US Senate primary, where he came in second place. micropolitan guy, Mar 21, 2022 Seven-term Republican Chuck Grassley was re-elected in 2016 with 60.1% of the vote. In a state thats looking increasingly red, and in an election cycle where Republicans are expected to sweep, Grassley is favored to win; even though his disapproval numbers have climbed over the years, he remains slightly more popular than not. OSSIAN, Iowa Chuck Grassley still gets up at 4 a.m. every day and often goes for a 2-mile run. 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. Sun and clouds mixed. Grassley defeated Carlin. But still, his grip on the conservative movement he helped build is precarious. Doctor and Minden city council member Glenn Hurst, a 51-year-old Democrat, announced on July 29 he would run for Grassleys seat. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texasendorsed Hassoon Aug. 12. 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.. After I pulled fender rubbing on tire we continued to farm. The two-term incumbent already faces several Republican challengers. In frustration, one woman replied, Youve been in office too long, Vanity Fairs 2023 Hollywood Issue Welcomes You to the After-Party of Our Dreams, Inside the New Rights Next Frontier:The American West, The Strange, Sexually Charged Genesis of Gloria Swansons Legendary Memoir, King Charles Reportedly BeganEvicting Harry and MeghanAfterSpare, NetflixsMurdaugh Murders Team Say Theyve Uncovered New Crimes, Trumps Relationship With Jared and Ivanka Is About to Get a Lot More Awkward, The Cringey Sexcapades of a Horny Billionaire, What Is Cinema? The room was small, with vinyl tile flooring, wood paneling, and homemade curtains. I know for a fact that is not true, said state Rep. Lee Hein, a Republican close to Pat Grassley. She is a retired community engagement director at a Cedar Rapids-based child advocacy nonprofit. 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. High 53F. I have voted for the DREAM Act. Even after catching the virus he still ran most mornings, in typical Grassley fashion. Krause also ran in 2016, but finished third in the Democratic primary behind Patty Judge and Rob Hogg. 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 . That age will be a factor down the road, said Ardie Kuhse, a longtime supporter back home who runs the Waukon Economic Development Corporation. 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 Incumbent Republican Senator Chuck Grassley was first elected in 1980 and was most recently re-elected in 2016. But by last fall, Grassley put the rumors to rest, releasing a video of himself running at dawn. And many have. To revist this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories. Candidates are listed in alphabetical order. Hes held public office since 1959 and served in the Senate since 1981, including two years in the presidential line of succession. But sometime in 2009, the tables turned. State Sen. Zach Nunn, 42, entered the race in July. 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 Hes pitching a universal health care system, while also pledging to bring down prescription drug costs. 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. 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. He also talks often about mental health care services and how the medical field should tie it in more with overall physical health. Both Hinson and Mathis, 63, are former television journalists who were coworkers at a Cedar Rapids TV station. 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.. In recent months, Finkenauer has emphasized her commitment to term limits to prevent politicians from serving such long stretches of time, and has said shell limit herself to two Senate terms if successful. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Its time for the 88-year-old to call it quits if hes unable to stand up to the Big Lie. Muhlbauer ended his campaign in November following the death of his nephew. But to be honest with you, what I have been hearing is, its time to let new blood into his seat.. Example video title will go here for this video, Q&A | Iowa's Forces of Nature: A Local 5 Severe Weather Special. 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. Contact Editor Kathie Obradovich for questions: info@iowacapitaldispatch.com. 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. Grassley has four times more cash than the next leading candidate of either party. 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. And he will be fighting that war on two fronts. 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.. Hometown: Lebanon (Sioux County). If he retires, they'll have a battle on their hands. 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. LeBron at one point. If he doesnt, the GOPs road to the majority gets that much harder. 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. The room was filled with older white Iowans in sweatshirts and sneakers. Finkenauer is a former state representative. 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. I dont think he wanted to be considered blatantly sexist, though I believe that he was. And that that is a huge game-changer for me.. In 1980, Roger Ailes, then a political consultant, came to Iowa to test out a theory on Grassleys campaign for Senate. Hometown: Minden, Iowa (Pottawattamie County). Retired Navy Adm. Mike Franken campaigned on his 40 years ofexperience in the military and in Washington D.C. Still, the episode turned off a number of veteran state Democratic activists, former candidates and officeholders, prompting some to give Franken a second look. 4 min read. 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. Those early days created a rough draft of who hed become as a senatorgruff, hard-working, relentless, frugal. Primary elections for 2022 will be held on June 7, 2022. 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. In his campaign, Franken emphasized a need to dial down the political tension in Washington. Ryan O'Leary, an Auburn businessman, has filed paperwork to run in the 4th District as an independent. God will take care of tomorrow.. Democrat and former representative Abby Finkenauer was next with $559,466.82. Grassley was running against the incumbent Democrat John Culvera big, blond, Harvard-grad Iowa boy. From 2022 races to caucus action, what to watch for in Iowa politics. Former Iowa Rep. Mary Ann Hanusaannounced in April that she would seek Axnes seat, but her home in Pottawattamie County was drawn into the new 4th District. Iowans can register with a party or change their party affiliation through the Secretary of States website. No whispered questions about acuity follow him, the way they have Feinstein or the late Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.). Gary Leffler, a Republican activistbest known for his patriotic tractor, has also filed with the Federal Election Commission to challenge Axne. candidate Glenn Hurst, a city council member and doctor from Minden. 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. 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. 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.. After all, it was the wave of conservative sentiment in the 1980s that brought Grassley to power. I didnt eat the Chinese stuff; Im an American. (The restaurant is now the site of Fongs Pizza, a regionally famous Chinese-American fusion pizza parlor, renowned for its crab rangoon pizza. Up until then, Grassleys meetings had been more like lectures. She is a teacher and currently works for a nonprofit in Council Bluffs that provides care for children with mental and behavioral health needs. She won the seat in 2020 after successfully primarying a veteran Democrat in the district. With just four months until the primary election, Iowas congressional and governor races are starting to solidify. When I ask Jim Hovelson, 89, Grassleys childhood friend and one of the few people around who remembers him as a boy, who Chuck Grassley is, he laughs and tells me a parable. Im a tough target for the GOP, he said. Grassley will also face a Republican primary challenge from stateSen. Jim Carlin, R-Sioux City. 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, with the sense of grievance only a flyover state can have, loved it. 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. 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. He was capable. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. 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. Vanity Fair may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. Burgess Everett/POLITICO. 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. Today the Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee demonstrated that they will actively fight back against Republicans' false narratives. Yet there may be something of a Grassley exception for the states elections. DeJearofficially kicked off her gubernatorial campaign on Aug. 14. 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. Democrat Mike Frankenwill challenge U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley in November. The challenge sounds like something out of the classic Seinfeld episode in which the elderly Mandelbaum family taunts Jerry to prove his physical prowess. Do you have information you want to share with HuffPost? I think there was an inherent sense of fairness, she said to me in a phone interview. Ryan Melton announced his campaign Jan. 31, citing a need to protect the nation's democracy. With just four months until the primary election, Iowa's congressional and governor races are starting to solidify. 6 West Burlington. But the insurrection was just water under the bridge for Grassley as he smiled and turned to the microphone. Franken announced his candidacymonths later, but heoutspent Finkenauer on advertising and quickly gained support among Democrats. Shes the most prominent Democrat to announce so far. Here are the results from key races from the June 7 Iowa primary elections. He could be your grandfatheror maybe more accurately, great-grandfathera respectable relic of another time. 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. The most senior GOP senator says hell deliberate until the fall. Also follow us on Facebook and Twitter. 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. Axne was considering a run for governor in 2022. 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.. Democrat Mike Franken will challenge U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley in November. Do you have information you want to share with HuffPost. He says there were some irregularities in the 2020 election but Biden is the legitimate president. He announced his run in July. Hes getting a lot of encouragement, said Senate Minority Whip John Thune. It was then that the meetings became raucous, with not liberal, but conservative constituents challenging him. 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. Trump endorsed Grassley for reelection at the event. The 87-year-old does push-ups, too. Heres how. Franken supports eliminating the filibuster and codifying abortion protections into federal law, and he wants to expand Medicaid. So there he was one moment, onstage, eagerly grinning, accepting Trumps endorsement, then later scowling when asked questions about it. 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.. 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.. The South Carolina senator is reportedly making moves to launch a White House bid, joining an already crowded list of potential candidatesa scenario Donald Trumps team is likely very giddy about. I will outwork Chuck Grassley. 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. Follow her on Twitter at @katie_akin. 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. Two more Democrats joined the race in October:Former Iowa Rep. Bob Krause, 71,andretired U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Franken, 64. 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. 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. 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. Iowa has closed primaries, which means that only registered Democrats or Republicans can participate in their partys primary. 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. More: Abby Finkenauer's place on the Iowa primary ballot is being challenged. It was about theater, not policy, and Ailes saw that. Just 10% of respondents had a favorable view of her. Hovelson has gotten a lot of mileage out of this story. ), Roxanne Conlin, a lawyer who ran against Grassley in 2009, worked with him when he was the head of Iowas judiciary committee. In September, Democrat Joseph Kerner quietly entered the race and registered his campaign with the Federal Election Commission. She leaned on her record in Congress and said it demonstrates the kind of policies and resolve that will help Democrats defeat Grassley. The June 7 primary election will be the first test of a new set of political boundaries following Iowa's decennial redistricting process. 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. God, I hate to give you an on-the-record comment on this, sighed Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont. Im sorry., I dont consider myself a charming person, he said afterward. 7 Iowa outlasts Purdue 69-58 in B10 quarterfinal, Madison County Strong: Survivors recount their experiences during Winterset tornado. 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. Grassley, who had previously condemned the actions of the January 6 insurrection, stumbled through an answer. If Iowa's incumbent senator runs for reelection in 2022, the seat is safe for Republicans. Iowa Sens. Before the second debate, he pre-poured Grassley his cup of water. 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. Required fields are marked *. 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. Register to vote online, or download a form to print and return to your county auditor. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. 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. Hes also in favor of expanding the Supreme Court. His shoulders slumped forward, his head leaned in, as he listened and answered questions. 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. 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. Not sure if youre registered to vote? Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), whos sparred with Grassley for years, deemed him extraordinary. When he needed some water, he fumbled, and spilled on his pants. 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. If youre a Democrat in this state, you really need to create a movement.. All the boys slunk down in their chairs, except Grassley, who raised his hand. Born on a military base in Germany, his family later moved to the Midwest and Hurst would attend medical school at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. I'm a 5th generation, farming, labor Democrat. Floridas wannabe autocrat and possible 2024 contender isnt Trump, but hes as dangerous to democracy. 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. Hurst has positioned himself as the most progressive in the Democratic primary, and as such, he argues, the most electable of the group. Muhlbauers candidacy marks a shift in strategy for Democrats, who havent won a statewide race in Iowa in almost two decades. Low around 30F. House Republicans, led by Judiciary Committee chair Jim Jordan (R-OH), have insisted they had evidence of the "weaponization" of the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of . Grassley, from New Hartford in northern Iowa, was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1980 after serving three terms in the U.S. House. 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. Conlin recalls that even though she and Grassley were at odds, he still allowed her bills to come out of the committee. According to Yepsen, things began to change for Grassley under Obama. She launched her congressional campaign in July. 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. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. 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. In 2021, a Selzer poll showed that the majority of Iowans, including a third of Republicans, hoped Grassley would not seek reelection. They say some of her signatures are invalid and should disqualify her from competing. Grassleys push-ups are precarioushis arms barely bend, his movements are small and slow. Thats because he feels that by offering a clearer difference between the Democratic and Republican candidate, Democrats can win back many Iowa voters. Miller-Meeks, 66, faces two challengers in the 1st District. Brianne Pfannenstiel is the chief politics reporter for the Register. Smith, 33, has represented Waterloo in the Iowa House since 2017. Part of HuffPost Politics. His most recent election against former Lt. Gov. The latestDes Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Pollfound a majority of Iowans 51% approve of Reynolds job performance. 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. I will give him a forcible retirement.. Kuehl ended his campaign in March, as a state panel upheld a challenge alleging he failed to qualify for the ballot. More: Mike Franken wins Democratic US Senate primary; to take on Chuck Grassley in November. A Des Moines Register poll in March showed many Iowans dont want Grassley to run again. 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. Three Democrats are facing off for the partys nomination, hoping to stop Grassley from securing an eight term in the Senate. Its not to intimidate you. Speaking to a high school class in the nearby town of Elkader, he got worked up about rising tuition: Am I yelling? You have permission to edit this article. I have voted for rural infrastructure. Even facing a candidate named Judge, Grassley won by 24 points. Grassleys primary challenger, Carlin, has repeated these claims and accused Grassley of not doing enough to overturn the election results. 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. 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. The crowd at the Sioux Center rally on June 29, 2021, is silent. He is running against long-time Iowa State Senator Chuck Grassley in the upcoming Iowa Caucuses on Feb. 7. 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. Reach her at bpfann@dmreg.com or 515-284-8244. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) has revealed the extent of potential criminal evidence against Hunter Biden that has been shared with Congress. About 30 people were in attendance. 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. 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.