Grassley pushed to run as Democrats set their sights on Iowa

His. Chuck grassleyChuck Grassley’s The Hill’s Morning Report – Pelosi is considering adding GOP voices to the ex-representative of the Jan.6 panel. Abby Finkenauer Iowa Senate candidate Six takeaways: What FEC reports tell us about the midterm elections MORE (R-Iowa) is under increasing pressure to run for office as Democrats seek to reverse their recent struggles in Iowa next year.

Republicans have publicly and privately encouraged Grassley, 87, to mount one more campaign, seeing his candidacy as a surefire way to lock down the Iowa Senate seat. The party is also keen to avoid another retirement after five of its outgoing senators announced they would not stand for re-election in 2022.

Democrats, meanwhile, saw their first prominent candidate, the former Rep. Abby finkenauerAbby Lea Finkenauer The Hill’s Morning Report – Pelosi is considering adding GOP voices to the ex-rep on the Jan.6 panel. Abby Finkenauer Iowa Senate Candidate GOP Hammers Democrats Against Iowa Democrats’ Election Challenge MORE (D-Iowa), race for the Senate on Thursday.

Iowa will be a tough target for Democrats, even if Grassley decides to retire. The party suffered a series of setbacks in 2020: the former president Donald trumpDonald Trump Trump hails Arizona Senate for audit at rally in Phoenix, criticizes Arkansas governor, Arkansas governor says it is “disappointing” that vaccinations have become “political” won the state with a margin of more than 8 points; Democrats failed in their efforts to oust the senator. Joni ErnstJoni Kay Ernst Republicans focus opposition on tax hike on capital gains shift Biden signs bill to boost fund for victims of crime GOP seeks to make Biden synonymous with inflation MORE (R-Iowa); and the party lost control of two of its seats in the House – that of Finkenauer included.

But Democrats and some Republicans believe the race has the potential to become competitive without the longtime poll holder.

“In Iowa, there won’t be a competitive race if Grassley seeks re-election,” said a Republican consultant who has worked extensively on Senate races. “To that extent, the Republican field is frozen until Grassley decides whether or not to stand for re-election, in which case we’re going to rush to figure things out.”

Republicans are mostly convinced Grassley will run for an eighth term in the Senate. In an interview on the conservative “Ruthless” podcast this week, Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Chairman of the National Republican Senate Committee (NRSC), said he “still tapped” Grassley and Sen. Ron johnsonRonald (Ron) Harold JohnsonSunday shows insight: bipartisan infrastructure talks drag on; Democrats move forward with January 6 inquiry Democrats question GOP change on vaccines The Hill’s Morning Report – Pelosi plans to add GOP voices to January 6 panel MORE (R-Wis.) To announce their re-election offers.

“If you advertise that you are running, that would be very helpful to me,” Scott said. He added that he recently organized a fundraiser alongside Grassley in Naples, Florida.

“If he flies from Iowa to Naples, Florida, I think he’s going to run away,” Scott added.

A Republican familiar with the race said that “all signs are that Grassley is running for re-election,” noting that he has beefed up his campaign team and raised funds at a steady pace. He raised $ 625,000 in the second quarter of the year, leaving him over $ 2.5 million on hand for a re-election bid.

The source acknowledged that Grassley’s delay in announcing his intentions for next year was unusual for the longtime senator, but stressed that “he is certainly acting as a senator running for re-election.” Grassley himself has said he will make a decision this fall.

“The signs are that, yes, Senator Grassley appears to be running,” the source said. “I don’t want to get ahead of anything, but that’s how we operate. “

Grassley’s campaign was quick to react Thursday to Finkenauer’s announcement, presenting her as a failed candidate and noting Grassley’s substantial financial advantage over her: “$ 2,549,206 to just $ 29,814”.

“Ex-Rep. Finkenauer is too radical for Iowa, which is why Iowans fired her last year, giving her the distinction as the first congressman from Iowa to lose reelection after a single term in over fifty. years, ”Jennifer Heins, Grassley’s campaign advisor, said in a statement.

If Grassley ultimately decides against another re-election bid, Republicans will likely have a bench of potential candidates to draw from, including Hinson, former Acting U.S. Attorney General Matthew Whitaker, and Iowa State House President Pat Grassley. , the senator’s grandson.

Still, Republicans are keen to avoid another retreat. Already, five GOP incumbents have said they will not seek re-election next year, sparking a string of overcrowded primaries as Republicans try to win back their Senate majority.

Finkenauer, 32, was narrowly beaten by Republican Ashley Hinson in 2020 after ousting former Rep. Rod Blum (R-Iowa) just two years earlier. The loss came amid a wider losing streak for House Democrats, who ultimately lost 11 seats last year.

In announcing his Senate campaign on Thursday, Finkenauer portrayed Grassley as a career politician who had abandoned his principles to stay in power, referring to politicians “who have been there for decades.” Grassley won his first term in the Senate more than eight years before Finkenauer’s birth.

“They are politicians like Senator Grassley and Mitch mcconnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellHouse Democrats Get Frustrated As They Feel Ignored By Senate Democrats Question GOP Change On Vaccines Did Trump Beat The System? FOLLOWING who should know better but are so obsessed with power that they oppose anything that gets us going, ”Finkenauer said in an announcement video posted to social media accounts.

While Finkenauer is the first top Democrat to enter the race, she will still face at least one main opponent, former Crawford County Supervisor Dave Muhlbauer, who announced his campaign in May.

She may not be the last leading Democrat to step into the contest, either. representing Cindy axneCindy Axne Republicans Focus Opposition On Tax Rise On Capital Gains Change Overnight Healthcare: Fauci Against Paul | New York Reaches $ 0.1 Billion Settlement With Opioid Distributors | The delta variant accounts for 83% of COVID-19 cases in the United States. (D-Iowa), who was elected in 2018 alongside Finkenauer, has not ruled out running for the Senate or governor in 2022. Retired Navy Admiral Michael Franken, who unsuccessfully asked the Democratic nomination for the Senate in 2020, also weighs another campaign.

Republicans were quick to pounce on Finkenauer on Thursday, with the NRSC issuing a statement denouncing her as “indistinguishable” from those on her party’s left flank like Sen. Bernie sandersBernie SandersPoll: 73% of Democratic voters would consider voting for Biden in 2024 primary. Night defense: US launches another airstrike in Somalia | Amendment to extend Pentagon recusal period added to NDAA | State Department No. 2 official to lead nuclear talks with Russia US launches second strike in Somalia in a week MORE (I-Vt.) And Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-CortezAlexandria Ocasio-CortezJD Vance Tackles Culture Wars and Childless Politicians Poll: 73% of Democratic Voters Would Consider Voting for Biden in 2024 Primary On the Money: Yellen in Congress: Raise Debt Ceiling or risk ‘irreparable harm’ | Frustration mounts as infrastructure talks drag MORE (DN.Y.).

“Iowa needs a real Conservative leader like Chuck Grassley in the Senate, not someone like Abby Finkenauer who will work to destroy the livelihoods of the Iowans,” said NRSC Press Secretary Katharine Cooksey .

Grassley won his last re-election bid in 2016 by a margin of nearly 25 points over the former Iowa lieutenant governor. Patty Judge, and he has maintained relatively high approval ratings throughout his 40-year Senate career. But Democrats say his support could wane.

A Des Moines Register / MediaCom Iowa poll released last month showed its approval had fallen to 45% – the lowest since 1982, according to the newspaper. The same poll found that nearly two-thirds of likely voters – 64% – think it’s time for someone else to take Grassley’s seat, compared with 27% who said they would vote to re-elect the longtime senator.

Grassley largely ignored that investigation, telling reporters on a weekly call last month that he was not focusing on what the poll says about his political outlook.

“I’m not too worried about what a poll says about my re-election or whether I should even be a candidate,” he said, according to the Des Moines Register.