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Iowa
Senate
| IOWA |
Nov. 8,
2022 U.S.
Senate
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Plurality: 148,171 votes (12.18 percentage points). Iowa
Secretary of State
Notes: Sen. Chuck Grassley (R), won a eighth term, defeating retired Navy Admiral Mike Franken (D). Grassley, who celebrated his 89th birthday on Sept. 17, 2022, has become something of an Iowa institution, known for his annual tour of all 99 counties. On Aug. 30, 2022 he completed his 42nd annual tour with a town hall meeting in Bedford (Taylor Co.). Prior to his election to the U.S. Senate in 1980, Grassley served three terms in the U.S. House and eight terms in the Iowa House. Franken, a resident of Sioux City, was the upset winner in the June 7 Democratic primary. He was known to Iowans from his 2020 run for U.S. Senate, where he finished second to Theresa Greenfield in the Democratic primary. Before retiring in 2017, Franken served 36 years in the Navy. Emulating Grassley, Franken did a 99-county tour of his own, concluding in Grassley's hometown of New Hartford (Butler Co.) on Aug. 27. On Sept. 19, Franken drew negative coverage when Iowa Field Report reported that his former campaign manager had accused him of unwanted advances (>); Franken denied the charges. Grassley and Franken debated on Iowa PBS's Iowa Press on Oct. 6 (1, 2). The Grassley campaign reported $10.6 million raised, $11.0 million spent and $646,269 million in cash on hand compared to $11.4 million raised, $11.2 million spent and cash on hand of $177,622 for the Franken campaign (>). June 7 Primaries Grassley announced he would seek re-election in a Sept. 24, 2021 tweet (>). Former President Trump endorsed the Senator at a rally at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines on Oct. 9. In the June 7 primary, Grassley garnered 73.3% of the vote, easily defeating state Sen. Jim Carlin (District 3-Sioux City), an attorney. Three candidates competed in the June 7 Democratic primary: Franken, former U.S. Rep. Abby Finkenauer, and Dr. Glenn Hurst. Additionally, two candidates exited the race before the primary. Dave Muhlbauer, a farmer and former Crawford County Supervisor, was first in, announcing in May 2021 (>), but he pulled out on Nov. 23. Former state Rep. Bob Krause from Burlington, who also ran for U.S. Senate in 2016 and for governor in 2014, announced his candidacy on Oct. 6, 2021, but ended his bid on Mar. 13, 2022 after failing to gather enough signatures. Finkenauer, from Cedar Rapids, was seen as the frontrunner. She announced her candidacy on July 22, 2021 (>). Finkenauer was elected to Congress in 2018, but lost her re-election bid in 2020. Previously she served two terms in the Iowa House. Finkenauer almost failed to make the June 7 ballot after a dispute over her campaign's qualifying signatures; a lower court ruled against her and it took an April 15, 2022 ruling by the Iowa Supreme Court to ensure her a place on the ballot. The episode certainly hurt her candidacy. Finkenauer raised $4.0 million and spent $3.8 million in her campaign. Hurst, a Minden City Councilman ran as a progressive, including advocating for Medicare for All; entered the race on July 29 (>). He spent less than $100,000. Franken announced his candidacy on Oct. 14, 2021. He emphasized his experience and ability to win against Grassley, The three candidates debated at KCCI studios in Des Moines on May 7 (>) and on "Iowa Press" at Iowa PBS on May 19 (>). When the votes were tallied, Franken was the upset winner, garnering 55.1% of the vote to 40.1% for Finkenauer and 4.8% for Hurst. Campaign Managers Chuck Grassley: Matt Dailer (Mar. 2022) Political advisor at Numinar Analytics from Apr. 2021. Deputy political director (from Jan. 2019), political strategy director (from Dec. 2017), national field director (from Mar. 2017) and deputy director of political training (Sept. 2015-Mar. 2017) at the RNC. Executive director of the West Virginia Republican Party, Jan.-Oct. 2015; state director at the West Virginia Republican Party, July 2013-Dec. 2014. Analyst in the West Virginia Legislature, Jan.-Apr.. 2013. West Virginia field coordinator for Victory 2012, July-Nov. 2012. Analyst in the West Virginia Legislature, Jan.-Mar. 2012. B.A. in political science from Marshall University, 2011. twitter Mike Franken: Julie Stauch (Mar. 2022, succeeding initial campaign manager Kim Strope-Boggus, who was fired in Feb. 2022) Founding partner (Mar. 2021) and CEO at Democracy Defenders of America; president and CEO of Julie Stauch & Associates since June 2011. Political director on Pete Buttigieg's Iowa caucus campaign, June 2019-Feb. 2020. Campaign manager for Angela Connolly for Polk County Supervisor. Candidate for chair of the Iowa Democratic Party, withdrawing shortly before Jan. 2017 vote. Chief public affairs officer at Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, Dec. 2006-Mar. 2011. President and CEO of Stauch & Associates, Sept. 1998-Dec. 2006. Political director on Bob Graham for President, 2003. Has managed three congressional races including U.S. Rep. Leonard Boswell’s 2002 re-election campaign. Publicity manager for Pioneer Hi-Bred International, 1997-98. Event planner at 1996 DNC Convention in Chicago. Advance staff for Vice President Al Gore. Worked for Secretary of State Elaine Baxter and Attorneys General Bonnie Jean Campbell and Tom Miller in state government. Ran a volunteer phone bank for Dukakis for 12 weeks, six nights a week in 1987–88. B.S. in education from Iowa State University. twitter See also: Brianne Pfannenstiel. "Franken wins Democratic U.S. Senate primary; to take on Chuck Grassley in November." Des Moines Register, June 8, 2022. Kate Payne. "Grassley Hits The Campaign Trail In Effort To Win An 8th Term In The U.S. Senate." Iowa Public Radio, Sept. 24, 2021. |
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