Dave Muhlbauer, a former Crawford County Supervisor and farmer from Manning/Manilla is also running as a Democrat for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Senator Chuck Grassley. Maulbauer was in Sioux City this week and stopped by the Siouxland Public Media studios for an interview with Sheila Brummer.
Last week former Iowa Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer announced plans to run for Republican Chuck Grassley’s U.S. Senate seat in 2022.
The 32-year-old Democrat released a campaign video where she showcased her blue-collar roots.
Senator Grassley has not officially announced if he plans to seek reelection. One of his advisor’s issued a statement to the Des Moines Register saying Finkenauer is “out of touch and out of office.”
Finkenauer lost reelection to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2020.
Meanwhile, Republican State Senator Jim Carlinof Sioux City says he will challenge Grassley in a primary if he runs.
Other potential Democratic challengers include Mike Franken of Sioux City. Franken is a retired Navy Admiral who ran for the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate last year and U.S. Representative Cindy Axne. State Auditor Rob Sand says he will either seek reelection or run for governor, not the Senate.
If Grassley does not seek re-election some of the potential Republican candidates could be former acting U.S. Attorney General Matt Whitaker, U.S. Representative Ashley Hinson, and state Representative Pat Grassley, who is the speaker of the Iowa House and grandson of Chuck Grassley.