Joni Ernst Faces Challenger After Controversial Remarks and Defense of GOP Policies
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.