Des Moines, Iowa — The Iowa Democratic Party’s candidates for governor, U.S. Senate and congress rallied with about 600 activists at a party fundraiser this weekend.
The three Democrats vying for their party’s U.S. Senate nomination shared their biographies and their plans for defeating Republican Senator Chuck Grassley in November.
Sioux County native Mike Franken of Sioux City, a retired Navy admiral, told the crowd he’s running to dial down the political temperature in the country.
Former Iowa Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer of Ceder Rapids touted her 2018 race to defeat Republican Congressman Rod Blum of Dubuque.
Glenn Hurst, a physician from Minden, said if Democrats want to beat Grassley, they need to nominate a prairie progressive like former U.S. Senator Tom Harkin.
Candidates in all four of Iowa’s congressional districts spoke to the crowd. Congresswoman Cindy Axne of West Des Moines, who is seeking a third term in the House, was the closer for the group.
Some of the evening’s loudest applause came when speakers praised teachers — and criticized Republican Governor Kim Reynolds for proposing to send state tax dollars to parents who enroll 10-thousand children in private or religious schools. Deidre DeJear is the Democratic Party’s candidate for governor.
House Democratic Leader Jennifer Konfrst was more blunt. Konfrst used the words petty and vindictive to describe Reynolds.
A spokesman for the Republican National Committee says Iowans know who really represents their values and beliefs, and who’s pushing a far-left agenda.
