Photo: Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Former Rep. Abby Finkenauer (D) announced Thursday that she'll run in 2022 for the U.S. Senate in Iowa, a seat currently held by seven-term incumbent Sen. Chuck Grassley (R).
Why it matters: Finkenauer is the first major Democrat to announce a Senate run in Iowa, which is expected to be a critical swing state next fall as the party looks to retain or add to its slim majority in the Senate.
- The 87-year-old Grassley has not yet said whether he will run for re-election, but Republicans are hoping he does. He has won more than 60% of the vote in each of his last six Senate races.
- Finkenauer, 32, served one term in the House after beating out incumbent Rep. Rod Blum (R) in 2018, but she lost her bid for re-election in 2020.
What she's saying: "He was somebody I used to look up to and believed would actually move things forward. I wouldn't agree with him on everything and Democrats didn't.” Finkenauer told Politico about her potential opponent Grassley. "Unfortunately, with his votes lately he's really left us behind."