Des Moines, Iowa — State Auditor Rob Sand, a Democrat, says U.S. Senate candidate Abby Finkenauer’s criticism of a district court judge who ruled against her bid to stay on the June Primary ballot was inappropriate.
Finkenauer is one of three Democrats competing to run against Republican Senator Chuck Grassley in November.
Finkenauer called the judge a Republican who made a partisan decision that made a mockery of our democracy. A few days later, the Iowa Supreme Court overruled the decision that had invalidated three signatures on Finkenauer’s nominating petitions and Finkenauer’s name will be on the June Primary ballot. Sand, who is an attorney, says the district court judge Finkenauer criticized is well-respected.
Sand discussed the matter during taping of “Iowa Press” which airs Friday nights on Iowa PBS. Sand indicated he called Finkenauer to say he found her criticism of Judge Scott Beattie to be inappropriate.
A spokesman for Finkenauer’s campaign has not responded to requests for comment on Sand’s statements.
