Dem IA State Rep Launches Challenge To Joni Ernst, Cites Her “We’re All Gonna Die” Medicaid Comments

The Iowa Gazette reports:

State Rep. J.D. Scholten, D-Sioux City, announced Monday a run for the seat held by Republican Sen. Joni Ernst since 2015. Other state lawmakers, Sen. Zach Wahls from Coralville and Rep. Josh Turek of Council Bluffs, have been talked about as possible challengers for Ernst but so far Nathan Sage, an Iowa Army and Marine Corps veteran, and Scholten are the only ones to make it official.

Scholten’s announcement comes just days after Ernst received national backlash over comments made about Medicaid. On Saturday, Ernst leaned into her comments by posting a sarcastic apology video that appeared to have been recorded in a graveyard. “After her comments over the weekend, I’ve been thinking about it for a while, but that’s when I just said: This is unacceptable and you’ve gotta jump in,” Scholten said.

Read the full article. Scholten is a pro baseball pitcher when the Iowa House is out of session.

After Sen. Joni Ernst stark “we’re all going to die” comment on Medicaid, Democrat J.D. Scholten announces campaign. Scholten, experienced in tough races, claims Ernst’s “disrespectful” remarks reveal a broader disregard for the people of Iowa.

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— Flingjore (@flingjore.bsky.social) June 2, 2025 at 3:39 PM