Tag: Abby Finkenauer

A long-running tradition in Iowa politics, the Soapbox this year will feature candidates running for Congress, governor, secretary of state, secretary of agriculture, auditor and treasurer. Saturday, August 11 11:00 a.m.: Democrat Rob Sand, running for state auditor. Swalwell serves as California's 15th District representative and chaired the Martin O'Malley PAC's Young Professionals Leader Circle in 2014. Gannon currently works as a farmer on his family’s 900-acre century farm near Mingo, worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture under Secretary Tom Vilsack, a former Iowa governor, and served with former President Barack Obama's Iowa campaign. Sunday, August 12 None scheduled. Monday, August 13 10:30 a.m.: Libertarian Jake Porter, running for governor. 4:00 p.m.: Republican Paul Pate, running for state secretary of state. Wednesday, August 15 10:30 a.m.: Republican David Young, running for Congress in the 3rd District. 4:00 p.m.: Republican Christopher Peters, running for Congress in the 2nd District. Scholten, running for Congress in the 4th District.

President Donald Trump on Thursday claimed a trade breakthrough with European allies, hailing it as a benefit to farmers as he defended his trade policies in a visit to Iowa. From southern Minnesota, where Republicans are hoping to claim an open House seat long held by Democrats, to an Illinois district where Democrats are angling to pick off a Republican incumbent, soybean farmers have watched prices plummet amid an escalating trade war between the U.S. and China. “It could definitely be an interesting midterm election.” Responding to mounting criticism from farm-state Republicans, Trump toured Iowa and Illinois on Thursday, arguing that his trade policies helped industries such as steel. "We just opened up Europe for you farmers," Trump said in Iowa. “We are already seeing progress.” On the other side of the state, in a House district that includes Des Moines, Democrat Cindy Axne has criticized incumbent Republican Rep. David Young for not doing more to stand up to the White House on trade. Tariffs have also played as an issue in Senate races this year, including the marquee contest in Missouri between incumbent Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill and Republican Attorney General Josh Hawley, who is favored to win that state’s primary next month. “We’re suffering some pain, but people don’t like the way China acts.” The political calculation could change if there isn't a resolution by this fall, when farmers begin to harvest soybeans. Hurst predicted that “farmers and Hawley will start to lose patience as we get closer to harvest if there’s no progress made." While traveling in the Midwest on Thursday, Trump visited a recently revived steel mill to drive home the point. “There’s anxiety, and that’s going to get some people to vote a different way,” said Lawrence Sukalski, a Trump supporter who along with his family farms 3,600 acres of soybeans and corn in southern Minnesota.