Joni Ernst Faces Challenger After Controversial Remarks and Defense of GOP Policies
TL;DR
Democrat J.D. Scholten has announced his candidacy to challenge Republican Senator Joni Ernst in 2026, motivated by her controversial 'We're all going to die' comment about Medicaid cuts during a town hall. Scholten, a former baseball player and current state representative, aims to make the race a referendum on issues like trade policies affecting Iowa farmers. The race is part of broader Democratic efforts in Iowa, where they haven't won a Senate seat since 2008.
Topics:nationpolitics#2026-elections#iowa-senate-race#jd-scholten#joni-ernst#medicaid-comments#politics
- Democrat announces run against Ernst after her 'We're all going to die' comments ABC News
- J.D. Scholten Will Challenge Joni Ernst in Iowa Senate Race The New York Times
- Joni Ernst’s mock apology over proposed Medicaid cuts shows just how clueless the GOP is MSNBC News
- Ernst draws challenger after defending GOP megabill Politico
- Sen. Joni Ernst defends her "we all are going to die" comments: "I'm very compassionate" CBS News
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