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Finkenauer’s Senate Bid Faces Skepticism After Ballot Woes

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Finkenauer’s Senate Bid Faces Skepticism After Ballot Woes


By THOMAS BEAUMONT, Related Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Abby Finkenauer ‘s bid to clinch the Democratic nomination for an Iowa U.S. Senate seat wasn’t alleged to be so fraught.

She’s one of many extra outstanding Democrats within the state, constructing a wunderkind fame within the Legislature earlier than toppling a Republican congressman in 2018. She was the second-youngest girl elected to Congress, serving to Democrats retake management of the U.S. Home that yr.

And although she would go on to lose the Democratic-leaning district in 2020, her stature suffered little. She raised her profile on cable tv and aggressive electronic mail assaults on incumbent GOP Sen. Chuck Grassley, all of which helped her elevate thousands and thousands of {dollars} forward of her Senate run.

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However Finkenauer’s marketing campaign confronted surprising bother final month when, no less than for a second, it appeared she would not be allowed to compete within the June 7 major. A choose discovered errors in Finkenauer’s nominating petitions after Republican activists challenged her filings.

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Although the Iowa Supreme Courtroom in the end assured her spot on the poll, the turmoil — and Finkenauer’s response — prompted some outstanding Democrats to provide one other look to her chief major rival, retired Navy admiral Mike Franken. Some Democrats blame Finkenauer, who blasted the Republican-appointed state choose’s ruling as “deeply partisan,” for shortly blaming political motivations and never acknowledging her personal marketing campaign’s organizational errors.

“It actually simply struck me the fallacious manner,” stated Bonnie Campbell, a former Iowa lawyer basic and previous Democratic nominee for governor.

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Campbell had contributed cash to Finkenauer’s marketing campaign but in addition had been eying Franken. Finkenauer’s remarks tipped the scales, she stated.

“It’s the identical factor Donald Trump says, that that is all about politics,” Campbell stated. “I believed, what are my alternate options?”

Finkenauer’s marketing campaign declined a request for an interview for this story.

There’s little dependable polling within the major and whoever survives the Democratic contest faces a frightening problem in Grassley, who raised more cash by means of March than Finkenauer and Franken mixed.

Including to the problem, Iowa has shifted sharply to the fitting over the previous decade, making the Democratic Senate major a type of take a look at case for the celebration in Iowa and different once-competitive northern rural states in regards to the path again to energy.

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Nonetheless, Finkenauer retains the backing of extra Democratic state legislators than Franken. She acquired the endorsement final month of the Iowa Federation of Labor, Iowa’s largest union group. She additionally had raised greater than $3 million to Franken’s $1.8 million, in accordance with the newest finance filings.

Finkenauer has the next nationwide profile along with the cable information appearances, partly as a daily spokeswoman on the presidential marketing campaign path for Joe Biden forward of the 2020 election.

However Franken has quietly constructed a aggressive marketing campaign, backed by senior former celebration officers similar to Campbell and former Lieutenant Gov. Sally Pederson. Franken, a distant second-place finisher in Iowa’s 2020 Senate major, additionally raised more cash within the first quarter of 2022 than Finkenauer, and had more cash readily available coming into the second quarter. Franken was additionally first to start airing TV adverts, which started in April. Finkenauer deliberate to start promoting subsequent week.

Although Finkenauer and Franken are an in depth match on coverage, they current strikingly totally different profiles.

At 33, Finkenauer is greater than 30 years youthful than the 64-year-old Franken. Her message leans closely on her working-class upbringing in blue-collar Dubuque, because it did in her two congressional campaigns and campaigns for state legislature. Typically with a large smile, she campaigns with an impassioned edge, as she did at a latest state Democratic fundraiser.

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“I’ll by no means ever neglect the place I come from and who I battle for,” Finkenauer promised 600 state celebration activists on the Iowa Occasions Middle in Des Moines.

Tall, graying and standing ramrod straight, Franken’s method is unassuming. With a dry humorousness, Franken spends most of his marketing campaign time answering viewers questions, selling an ordinary progressive platform however with a peaceful unfamiliar in a lot of politics in the present day.

“I am additionally working to dial down political rigidity to attain these items,” Franken advised the group on the Des Moines banquet.

Finkenauer has been on a political course since faculty when she volunteered as a university pupil for Joe Biden’s 2008 marketing campaign and later as a legislative web page. She received an Iowa Home seat at age 24 in 2014, incomes a fame as a vocal member within the minority celebration, and U.S. Home seat 4 years later.

Franken has skippered ships around the globe, but in addition labored on Capitol Hill longer than Finkenauer, as a legislative aide to the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts and the Division of the Navy’s legislative liaison throughout the Obama administration.

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It is Finkenauer’s stylistic distinction with the 88-year-old, gravelly-voiced Grassley that make her the higher selection for Andrea Phillips, a former deputy state Democratic Get together chairwoman.

“The contrasts with Abby — you realize, youthful, contemporary concepts, newer era — it presents voters with a clearer selection,” stated Phillips.

Phillips, although, wish to have heard Finkenauer take duty for her marketing campaign’s administrative mistake. When requested repeatedly by reporters, Finkenauer has not stated she was at fault for errors the Iowa Supreme Courtroom discovered not important sufficient to maintain her off the poll.

Finkenauer’s marketing campaign provided the naked minimal of signatures wanted from totally different counties, leaving herself nearly no margin for error. However the choose discovered a small handful of signatures out of the 5,000 obtained by Finkenauer’s marketing campaign weren’t correctly dated, as required by state legislation.

“As a supporter I in all probability would have favored her to return out and apologize,” Phillips stated. “As a supporter I’d have favored to have seen an electronic mail from her saying that.”

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On the celebration fundraiser, Des Moines Democrats Suzanne and Tom Fross had been cut up on the influence of the episode. Suzanne Fross, a retired state worker, stated, “She dealt with it advantageous. It was a Republican ambush.” Her husband, a producing supervisor, stated, “It was embarrassing. She ought to have owned as much as it.”

But, neither have determined who they’re going to help with lower than a month to go.

Veteran Dubuque Democratic celebration volunteer Diane Gibson stated she “did not want a lot of a nudge” to think about Franken after the episode.

“Abby hasn’t taken duty for her personal marketing campaign’s failure to do the job,” stated Gibson. “That is the mark of a rookie.”

Copyright 2022 The Related Press. All rights reserved. This materials might not be printed, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Iowa women’s wrestling adds Isabella Marie Gonzalez, No. 1 overall recruit in 2025 class

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Iowa women’s wrestling adds Isabella Marie Gonzalez, No. 1 overall recruit in 2025 class


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The rich continue to get richer.

The Iowa women’s wrestling program added to an already loaded roster late Friday night with the commitment of Isabella Marie Gonzalez. She is the No. 3 pound-for-pound recruit in girls high school wrestling regardless of age and the No. 1 recruit in the class of 2025.

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Gonzalez, who is ranked No. 1 nationally at 120 pounds at the high school level by USAWrestling, has the makings of a star. She was the U17 World Team representative (finishing fifth) for the United States at 53 kilograms this summer. She was also a U17 Pan-American Games champion in 2023, fitting the mold of what coach Clarissa Chun looks for in international success.

From the state of California, she is a two-time state champion, a multi-time Fargo medalist and a Super 32 champion.

“I am excited to announce my official commitment to the University of Iowa,” Gonzalez wrote in an Instagram post. “Thank you to everyone who has continued to support me through my journey. Go Hawkeyes!”

This is the first commit of the 2025 class for the Hawkeyes, who brought in seven freshmen and 11 total new faces in 2024. Given the proposed roster limits of 30 coming next season, the number of newcomers isn’t likely to match or exceed the 2024 number.

Regardless, this is a high-profile addition for the Hawkeyes in a weight that needed some additional talent. The lone question is whether that will be at 117 or 124 pounds for the Hawkeyes. Her addition to depth behind Brianna Gonzalez at 117 or potentially competing for a spot right away at 124 pounds will be a welcome addition either way.

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Eli McKown covers high school sports and wrestling for the Des Moines Register. Contact him at Emckown@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @EMcKown23.





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What channel is Iowa vs. Maryland football on today? Time, TV for Hawkeyes’ Week 13 game

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What channel is Iowa vs. Maryland football on today? Time, TV for Hawkeyes’ Week 13 game


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Hoping to end a chaotic buildup with a strong performance, Iowa football plays its final road game of the regular season Saturday at Maryland. Big Ten Network will televise the 11 a.m. CT contest.

The Hawkeyes (6-4, 4-3 Big Ten Conference) have had all kinds of drama at quarterback this week despite coming off a bye week. Brendan Sullivan is out this week with an ankle injury, while Cade McNamara (concussion) has been medically cleared but isn’t ready to start. That means walk-on Jackson Stratton, who made a second-half cameo last time out at UCLA, will likely be Iowa’s starting quarterback Saturday. Who will be his backup remains undetermined.

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On the other side, Maryland (4-6, 1-6) is trying to claw its way to a bowl game after dropping five of its last six. Its most recent stumble came last week in a 31-17 home loss to Rutgers.

Here’s how to watch the Iowa vs. Maryland game today, including time, TV schedule and streaming information:

Watch Iowa vs. Maryland football live on FUBO (free trial)

What channel is Iowa vs. Maryland on today?

TV channel: BTN

Livestream: Fubo (free trial) and Fox Sports Live

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Iowa vs. Maryland will broadcast nationally on BTN in Week 13 of the 2024 college football season. Guy Haberman and Yogi Roth will call the game from the booth at SECU Stadium, with Rhett Lewis reporting from the sidelines. Streaming options for the game include FUBO, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.

Iowa vs. Maryland time today

Date: Saturday, November 23

Start time: 11 a.m. (CT)

The Iowa vs. Maryland game starts at 11 a.m. CT from SECU Stadium in College Park, Maryland.

Iowa vs. Maryland predictions, picks, odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Friday, Nov. 22

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Moneyline: Iowa -200, Maryland +165

Spread: Iowa -4.5

O/U: 44.5

Iowa football schedule 2024

  • Aug. 31: vs. Illinois State, (W, 40-0)
  • Sept. 7: vs. Iowa State, (L, 20-19)
  • Sept. 14: vs. Troy, (W, 38-21)
  • Sept. 21: at Minnesota, (W, 31-14)
  • Oct. 5: at Ohio State (L, 35-7)
  • Oct. 12: vs. Washington (W, 40-16)
  • Oct. 19: at Michigan State, (L, 32-20)
  • Oct. 26: vs. Northwestern, (W, 40-14)
  • Nov. 2: vs. Wisconsin, (W, 42-10)
  • Nov. 8: at UCLA, (L, 20-17)
  • Nov. 23: at Maryland, 11 a.m.
  • Nov. 29: vs. Nebraska, 6:30 p.m.
  • Record: 6-4

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

Dargan Southard is a sports trending reporter and covers Iowa athletics for the Des Moines Register and HawkCentral.com. Email him at msouthard@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @Dargan_Southard.



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Iowa QB McNamara clarifies rumors about status

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Iowa QB McNamara clarifies rumors about status


Iowa quarterback Cade McNamara said he didn’t travel to Saturday’s game at Maryland after not being fully cleared from a concussion sustained last month.

McNamara on Friday went to X to respond to what he called “ridiculous accusations” about his status with the team. The senior said he remains “a proud member of this football team.”

McNamara last played Oct. 26 against Northwestern, when he sustained the concussion. Brendan Sullivan stepped in and started Iowa’s next few games, but an ankle injury has sidelined him for the Maryland matchup. Sources told ESPN that Sullivan likely will not return until Iowa’s bowl game. Jackson Stratton, a walk-on who transferred to Iowa from Colorado State, will start against Maryland.

Iowa listed McNamara as the starter on its Monday depth chart, and he said he had been cleared to practice Sunday but “had an adverse reaction, which is common for someone coming out of [concussion] protocol.” He said he did not participate in practice Monday and for the rest of the week, and continues to work with team doctors and a concussion specialist.

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Hawkeyes coach Kirk Ferentz said Tuesday that McNamara’s status was “cloudy,” but that the quarterback had been cleared to play.

“Whether or not he can play effectively or not, we’ll see,” Ferentz said.

Ferentz said on his radio show Wednesday that Stratton was in line to make his first start.

“He’ll get the start,” Ferentz said. “Confident that he’ll do a great job. He stepped in, did a really nice job in our last ballgame, and he’s got a good ability to throw the football, and he’s learning every day.”

Stratton completed 3 of 6 passes for 28 yards in Iowa’s loss against UCLA on Nov. 8. He appeared in four games for Colorado State in 2022 and none last season.

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McNamara, a transfer from Michigan who helped the Wolverines to the 2021 Big Ten title, has opened the past two seasons as Iowa’s starter. He sustained an ACL tear in September 2023 that cost him the rest of the season. McNamara has 1,022 passing yards with 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions at Iowa.

He wrote on X that he intends to play in Iowa’s regular-season finale Nov. 29 at home against Nebraska.



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