Inside Iowa Politics: Why this former pro baseball player is thinking about Sen. Joni Ernst

DES MOINES, Iowa (Gray Media Iowa State Capitol Bureau) – J.D. Scholten took on U.S. Representative Steve King, a longtime Republican member from Iowa’s Republican-rich 4th Congressional District. He campaigned across the region in his R.V., nicknamed “Sioux City Sue,” got actor Kevin Costner to narrate a campaign video, raised money from across the country, and made the race competitive before ultimately losing the race. That was 2018. Two years later, he ran again for the district, this time against Republican Randy Feenstra, who defeated King in a primary.

Scholten, a former professional player, lost that race. In 2022, he won his first of two campaigns for the state house of representatives. He is now considering a run for the U.S. senate. That could pit him against two-term Republican, Joni Ernst.

Scholten is one of three Statehouse Democrats who have confirmed interest in Ernst’s seat for 2026.

State Senator Zach Wahls of Coralville said on “Inside Iowa Politics” that he will make a final decision on a possible run after the current legislation session ends, which should either be this month or next.

State Representative Josh Turek of Council Bluffs is also looking at a U.S. senate run.

Ernst, who was elected to the U.S. senate after serving in the state senate, said last year that she plans to run again.

About the author: Midwest native Dave Price is Gray Television’s Iowa Political Director for nine stations that broadcast in the state and has been covering local, state and national politics from Iowa since 2001.

Dave produces and hosts “Inside Iowa Politics,” a weekly, in-depth show focused on interviews with top leaders on politics, issues, challenges and solutions that impact the state.

He has written two books about the Iowa Caucuses (“Caucus Chaos” and “Caucus Chaos Trump”). Email him at dave.price@gray.tv. Follow him on X (Twitter): @idaveprice Meta/Facebook: DavePriceNews Instagram: idaveprice and LinkedIn: Dave Price.

Dave welcomes your thoughts on what answers to seek from politicians and decisionmakers and what issues challenge our communities.

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