Statewide Iowa — Republican Chuck Grassley has formally declared his bid for reelection to the U.S. Senate, submitting more than nine-thousand petition signatures to qualify for the June Primary ballot.
Surrounded by campaign staff and volunteers, Grassley gave a speech in the Iowa Secretary of State’s office, emphasizing his 40 year tenure in the Senate.
The most senior member of the U.S. Senate today is a Vermont Democrat who’s not seeking reelection. That means Grassley who’s been a Senator since 1981 would gain that top seniority spot next January if he’s reelected in November.
Grassley, who is 88 years old, is seeking an eighth six-year term. Grassley says the political environment is leaning in Republicans’ favor.
The key issues for the 2022 election aren’t going away, according to Grassley.
Abby Finkenauer of Cedar Rapids, one of the Democrats running for the U.S. Senate, has been criticizing Grassley’s long tenure in office and has pledged to exit the Senate after 12 years if she is elected in 2022 and reelected in 2028. Retired Admiral Mike Franken, western Iowa physician Glenn Hurst and veterans advocate Bob Krause have also announced they’re running for the Iowa Democratic Party’s U.S. Senate nomination.
