{"id":2424239,"date":"2025-04-16T13:41:01","date_gmt":"2025-04-16T17:41:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/first-democrat-enters-iowa-senate-race-against-joni-ernst-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-04-16T13:41:39","modified_gmt":"2025-04-16T17:41:39","slug":"first-democrat-enters-iowa-senate-race-against-joni-ernst-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/first-democrat-enters-iowa-senate-race-against-joni-ernst-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"First Democrat enters Iowa Senate race against Joni Ernst &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ffirst-democrat-enters-iowa-senate-race-against-joni-ernst-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2424239&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Nathan Sage, a Marine and Army veteran, has officially entered the race as the first Democrat to challenge incumbent Republican Senator Joni Ernst in Iowa for the 2026 midterm elections. Sage, who currently serves as the executive director of the Knoxville Chamber of Commerce, expressed his determination to represent a Democratic Party that <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">resonates wiht people<\/a> from diverse backgrounds, including those like himself who grew up in challenging circumstances. While Ernst has announced her intention to seek a third term, she has not yet launched her reelection campaign. Other <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-hampshire-voters-pick-pete-buttigieg-over-joe-biden-in-2024-poll\/\" title=\"New Hampshire Voters Pick Pete Buttigieg Over Joe Biden In 2024: Poll\">potential democratic candidates<\/a>, including State Rep. J.D. Scholten,are also considering entering the race. Iowa has been leaning more Republican in recent years, but there remain opportunities for Democrats, as evidenced by recent successes in local elections.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">First Democrat enters Iowa Senate race against Joni Ernst<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2087288\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The first Democrat filed to run against Sen. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/joni-ernst\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Joni Ernst<\/a> (D-IA) in her reelection campaign for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/iowa\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Iowa<\/a> Senate in the 2026 midterm election.<\/p>\n<p>Nathan Sage, a Marine and Army veteran, announced his candidacy Wednesday. He is currently the executive director of the Chamber of Commerce in Knoxville, Iowa.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3382059\/chuck-schumer-blocks-trump-top-prosecutor-picks-new-york\/\">Schumer blocks Trump&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/schumer-blocks-trumps-top-prosecutor-picks-for-new-york-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Schumer blocks ...\u2019s top prosecutor picks for New York - Washington Examiner\">top prosecutor picks<\/a> for New York<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3381461\/mcconnell-trump-should-quit-picking-fights-allies-tariffs\/\">McConnell says Trump should &lsquo;quit picking fights with our allies&rsquo; over tariffs<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3381456\/chuck-grassley-jeered-at-town-hall-over-deportation-of-kilmar-abrego-garcia-to-el-salvador\/\">Chuck Grassley jeered at town hall over deportation of Maryland man to El Salvador<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;I never thought someone like me could run for Senate,&rdquo; Sage said in his announcement <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=wOYyZYSn_vg&amp;embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fiframe.nbcnews.com%2F&amp;source_ve_path=MzY4NDIsMjg2NjQsMjg2NjQsMjg2NjMsMjM4NTE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">video<\/a>. &ldquo;When I was 5, my dad got arrested for a bounced check &mdash; $50. He was trying to pay for new school clothes for my sister and I. We grew up poor, but I still believed in this country.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m fighting for a Democratic Party that people like me will actually want to be a part of,&rdquo; he added.<\/p>\n<p>Last year, Ernst<a href=\"https:\/\/www.desmoinesregister.com\/story\/news\/politics\/2024\/06\/01\/iowa-republicans-rally-behind-donald-trump-at-joni-ernst-roast-and-ride\/73922576007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"> said <\/a><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">she planned to seek a third term <\/span>but had not launched a reelection campaign.<\/p>\n<p>Other Democrats are expected to enter the race in the once-purple state. Democratic State Rep. J.D. Scholten, who unsuccessfully ran for Congress twice in a deeply red district, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.desmoinesregister.com\/story\/news\/politics\/2025\/04\/01\/iowa-democrats-zach-wahls-jd-scholten-josh-turek-considering-running-us-senate-joni-ernst\/82746797007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">said<\/a> he is considering a run.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3224765\/senate-democrats-hope-midterms-2024-downballot\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><strong>SENATE DEMOCRATS SEE HOPE FOR MIDTERMS WITH 2024 DOWNBALLOT RESULTS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Iowa has been trending more Republican over the last decade. Former President Barack Obama won the state in 2008 and 2012. However, in the 2024 election, President Donald Trump won the state by 13 points.<\/p>\n<p>There is some hope for Iowa Democrats, though. Democratic State Sen. Mike Zimmer<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3303802\/iowa-democrat-pulls-off-upset-state-special-election-contest\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"> flipped a seat in the state Senate<\/a>, beating his Republican opponent by four points. Trump won that same district by 25 points last year.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2087288\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2087288\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>First Democrat joins Iowa Senate race against Joni Ernst<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2910,"featured_media":2424240,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Ernst.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[33399,34691,53570,33027,32603],"class_list":["post-2424239","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-2024-elections","tag-democrat-candidate","tag-iowa-senate-race","tag-joni-ernst","tag-political-news"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Ernst.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2424239","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2910"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2424239"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2424239\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2424243,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2424239\/revisions\/2424243"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2424240"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2424239"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2424239"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2424239"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}