Former Rep. Abby Finkenauer to challenge Sen. Chuck Grassley in 2022

Former U.S. Rep. Abby Finkenauer is running for Senate, she announced Thursday. 

“I’m running for the United States Senate because this democracy is ours, and truth matters,” Finkenauer said in a video announcing her run.

Finkenauer, a one-term representative for Iowa’s 1st congressional district, will run for U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley’s Senate seat in the 2022 election. Grassley has not yet announced if he will seek re-election for what would be his eighth term.

Finkenauer began her political career at the Iowa Statehouse. She was elected to the Iowa House in 2014 to represent Dubuque, a position she held for two terms. In 2018, she ran against incumbent U.S. Rep. Rod Blum, a Republican. As red seats flipped nationwide in a “blue wave,” Finkenauer secured the seat by a nearly 5% margin.

During her tenure, Finkenauer served on the Committee on Small Business and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. 

I’m Abby Finkenauer, and I’m running for U.S. Senate because Iowa—and our Democracy—are worth fighting for.

After 46 years in DC, @ChuckGrassley has lost touch with both.

I’m from a proud union family. We don’t back down. I’m in this to win.

Join us: https://t.co/28EVInMyva pic.twitter.com/NKvrJruAjW

— Abby Finkenauer (@Abby4Iowa) July 22, 2021

Republican Ashley Hinson defeated Finkenauer in 2020 as Republicans swept Iowa. Former president Donald Trump won the state by 8%, and Republicans secured three of four House seats.  

Finkenauer is the second Democrat to enter the race. Former Crawford County Supervisor Dave Muhlbauer announced his candidacy in May. On the other side of the aisle, Iowa Sen. Jim Carlin, R-Sioux City, announced in February that he would seek the GOP nomination for the seat.