The Democratic candidate for Iowa’s Fourth Congressional District finished up his campaign stops to all of the towns in Greene County Tuesday.
J.D. Scholten continued on his “Every Town Tour” with stops in Churdan, Paton, Rippey and then a “Drive-In” event in Jefferson Tuesday evening at the former Greene County Middle School parking lot. His goal is to make a campaign stop in all 374 towns in the district ahead of the November general election. Scholten describes the inspiration behind his current tour.
J.D. Scholten speaking in Churdan
“I didn’t hire pollsters to tell me what I should be talking about on the campaign trail, or a consultant, or anything like that, I showed up. If you continually show up, you learn the heartbeat, and the things that are happening in each county, and the needs. It’s not about just staying home in Sioux City, and just fundraising, fundraising, fundraising, and then try to win on television. Grassroots gets thrown around alot these days, but we personify what it means to be a grassroots campaign.”
Scholten also visited Cooper, Dana, Scranton and Grand Junction on Sunday as part of the “Every Town Tour.” Scholten is facing off against Republican challenger Randy Feenstra.
Most surprising in the Iowa Poll released by The Des Moines Register on Saturday was the revelation that Democrat JD Scholten trails Republican Randy Feenstra 49-44% in the Fourth Congressional District. Last summer, a generic Republican led a generic Democrat for that House seat by 22 points.
Scholten came within three percentage points of beating Rep. Steve King in 2018. He has worked non-stop ever since, visiting every little burg in the 39 counties of Northwest Iowa in his motorhome Sioux City Sue. Scholten has campaigned in Storm Lake countless times, most recently drawing a large crowd for one of his parking lot rallies. He had 24 people out to hear him in tiny Cooper, down near Jefferson, last weekend.
He has been making friends wherever he goes — it’s hard not to like the former semi-pro pitcher and paralegal — and that adds up. He speaks to disgruntled Republican farmers who know they’ve been getting locked out of markets and squeezed in every direction by companies with too much power and influence. He appeals to small-town folks worried about losing their grocery stores against Dollar General. He quotes the Bible. He is for universal health care and Social Security and a compassionate immigration system that works.
Feenstra is for everything Steve King and Donald Trump are for. He refuses to debate Scholten. He has not campaigned in Storm Lake. He is betting that Sioux, O’Brien and Lyon counties will do the trick. Meantime, Scholten is raising more funds and making more friends in Sioux County and Palo Alto. He is connecting in Ames, Sioux City, Fort Dodge and Mason City. Scholten should win Storm Lake, as he did last time.
Republicans thought all they had to do was get rid of Steve King and they would be rid of Scholten. Not so fast. This is a contest.
Following the release of a Des Moines Register poll, showing the congressional race for Iowa’s 4th district within 5 points and within the margin of error, J.D. Scholten reaffirmed that the people of Iowa’s 4th district deserve a publicly televised debate.
J.D. Scholten said: “We believe that how you run a campaign shows how you’ll hold public office. That’s why since Day 1, we’ve been accessible and accountable to the people and worked to bring people from across the political spectrum into our grassroots campaign. In the fall, we held town halls in towns of under 1,000 people on the Don’t Forget About Us Tour to listen to and learn from folks that live in places that are often ignored by federal candidates and federal investment. Right now, we’re going to every single incorporated town in Iowa’s 4th district — all 374 towns — and holding events from parking lot rallies to stopping into grain elevators to conversations on farms and tours of small businesses. We listen to everyone, even folks who don’t agree with me, and have an open door policy for questions. That’s what this district deserves: real representation, service, and accountability.
“Our district has already suffered from failed representation in Congress for nearly two decades; we cannot continue that trend and elect someone who hides from accountability, public debate, and scrutiny. We’ve said yes to every debate this cycle. Our opponent, on the other hand, has declined. This poll is even stronger proof that the people of Iowa’s 4th district deserve to compare and contrast the candidates who are asking to serve them in Congress. It’s really the least you can do.”
The recent news that J.D. Scholten accepted an invitation from KTIV for a debate and Randy Feenstra declined the invitation, reminded me of a guest commentary letter written three weeks ago by District 1 Sen. Zach Whiting and House District 2 Rep. Megan Jones.
The commentary makes claims that Theresa Greenfield doesn’t care about rural Iowa, since she declined to participate in the forum hosted by the Spencer Daily Reporter, Spencer Radio Group and Spencer Municipal Utilities. What’s interesting is, Sen. Whiting worked for Congressman Steve King, who was notorious for saying no to events that included his opponent.
One must be led to think that both Sen. Whiting and Rep. Jones now believe that Randy Feenstra doesn’t care about rural Iowans as he will not participate in a debate that reaches a large number of the rural communities in Iowa Congressional District 4.
I’ll admit I’m a little biased, as I ran against Rep. Jones in 2018 and I’m the former chair of the Clay County Democrats before a recent move to Hinton. I personally believe the only reason Sen. Joni Ernst attended the forum was because the Republican Party doesn’t trust Randy Feenstra one-on-one with J.D. Scholten. This may also explain why he declined the invitation by KTIV.
When it comes down to it, what does it mean to care about rural Iowans? If going to each county in the district a minimum of three times in 2018 means caring for rural Iowans, then vote for J.D. Scholten. If going to each of the 370-plus communities in the district means caring for rural Iowans, then vote for J.D. Scholten. If saying no to the national party in favor of your district means caring for rural Iowans, then vote for J.D. Scholten.
In closing I’d like to use the last sentence from Rep. Jones and Sen. Whiting’s commentary, but change up the political office, name and surnames.
We need a relentless fighter for rural Iowa in Congress. Feenstra’s decision to ignore rural Iowa illustrates that he’ll continue his pattern of empty rhetoric and dishonesty. Did I mention, vote for J.D. Scholten?
Says he wants more than a raised minimum wage for the 4th District
J.D. Scholten, Democratic candidate for Iowa’s 4th U.S. Congressional District, held a “drive-in” campaign rally in the Fort Frenzy parking lot on Sunday afternoon. Scholten is running against Republican candidate Randy Feenstra.
Halfway through his “Every Town Tour,” congressional candidate J.D. Scholten stopped in Fort Dodge on Sunday afternoon to talk with potential voters about revitalizing rural economies and reforming the health care industry.
Scholten, a Democrat from Sioux City, is running against Republican candidate Randy Feenstra, of Hull, for Iowa’s 4th U.S. Congressional District seat.
Scholten’s “drive-in” parking lot rally drew in about three dozen cars at Fort Frenzy on Sunday afternoon. Supporters stayed in their cars and tuned into a radio station, which carried the broadcast of Scholten’s event. Standing in the back of a pickup, the candidate gave his stump speech and answered several questions sent in by attendees via text message.
Scholten was asked how Congress can help towns like Fort Dodge grow.
“This is one of the reasons I’m running for Congress,” he answered. “I see towns like Sioux City, like Fort Dodge, like Mason City, that have so much potential. The biggest thing is we’ve got to get some of the smaller communities around thriving as well.”
Charles Clayton, Democratic candidate for Iowa House of Representatives District 9, introduces J.D. Scholten, Democratic candidate for Iowa’s 4th U.S. Congressional District, during a parking lot rally at Fort Frenzy on Sunday afternoon.
Embracing new technology, especially in the agriculture industry, is necessary for the “next wave” of Iowa’s economy, Scholten said.
“We need to make sure we have the infrastructure in place to allow that to take off the way that it can and it should,” he said. “I have a vision of this district being the epicenter of 21st century-resilient agriculture. And in doing so, that is going to start a rural revitalization that is going to influence towns like Fort Dodge, heavily.”
A key facet to the Democratic Party platform for several years has been raising the minimum wage. While that’s a “great” goal, Scholten said, he wants more for the 4th District.
“I want to create 60-, 70- and 80-thousand-dollar jobs,” he said. “Those are game changers.”
Instead of the district’s young workers having to move to the Des Moines metro or the Omaha area to find high-paying jobs, they’ll be able to stay closer to home.
Julie Geopfert, chair of the Webster County Democratic Party, listens to candidate J.D. Scholten, a Sioux City-native running for Iowa’s 4th U.S. Congressional District, during a parking lot rally outside Fort Frenzy on Sunday afternoon.
“The reality is, the majority of the economies in this district are going in the wrong direction and it’s tough to see these towns that have seen better days, where they’re at now — it’s like, what can we do?” Scholten told The Messenger. “And if we continue to elect the status quo, that’s too many career politicians who have sold out the American farmer, the American worker.”
The backbone of the 4th Congressional District is small business and agriculture, Scholten said, and “we’ve got to make sure that both entities are going in the right direction.”
One of Scholten’s priorities on the campaign trail is the promise to fix the health care system.
“We are the wealthiest nation in the world and if you look at health care in what we prioritize, you wouldn’t know it,” he said. “We pay the most per person out of any country in the world, yet we’re not getting a very good bang for our buck.”
The candidate recalled the countless gas stations he’s stopped at during his tour of the 374 incorporated towns and cities in the fourth district, and the majority that had some sort of donation box at the register, often for a community member battling some kind of health crisis. He asked voters to think about the GoFundMe campaigns and pancake breakfast benefits, raising funds for medical expenses.
“My goal is universal health care and it’s going to take several steps to get there, but I will continue to fight until we have absolute universal health care,” Scholten said as a chorus of car horns honked in agreement.
He said the next step is a “robust public option,” protecting preexisting conditions and making sure prescription drugs are affordable.
Scholten also talked about his campaign promise to “secure our democracy from special interests” that flood campaigns with election funds in exchange for favor on Captiol Hill.
“We don’t get where we need to go unless we get money out of politics,” he said.
Scholten said there’s a problem with elected members of Congress having to turn around and start fundraising for the next election as soon as the previous election is over.
“That doesn’t incentivize things getting done in Washington,” he said.
Scholten has vowed to not accept any corporate political action committee contributions, nor accept any money from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
Democratic congressional candidate J.D. Scholten campaigned recently in Carroll.
Iowa Democratic congressional candidate J.D. Scholten urges all voters to “have a plan” for casting their ballots amid the COVID-19 pandemic and heated rhetoric about the integrity of the election.
“There’s just so much uncertainty,” Scholten said. “A lot of people are asking about voting and whether absentee ballots are going to be the right way to go or whatever. So what we say is, have a plan.”
Scholten said he plans to go the Woodbury County Auditor’s Office in Sioux City, his hometown, and vote a week before the Nov. 3 election.
“There are less lines when you go early, but each county is different,” Scholten said.
Scholten said voters should not follow what he says is President Trump’s illegal advice of voting absentee and then showing up to vote on Election Day.
“What the president has suggested is a felony, and nobody should be voting twice,” Scholten said. “Our campaign is actively telling our supporters to have a plan, and we will work with you on the plan, whereas what we hearing from the Trump campaign — for him to say ‘Vote twice’ is against the law.”
Scholten stopped recently in Carroll in the Hy-Vee parking lot as part of a 375-town tour of the sweeping 39-county 4th Congressional District. The tour started in mid-August and will run through early October.
Scholten said it makes sense to check with county auditors’ offices to make sure they have received absentee ballot requests and then to follow up with a phone call to make certain the ballot has been received. Auditors’ offices track such information.
“That’s where we are at right now,” Scholten said. “It’s not the best way, but this is the way we have to do it in the time of a pandemic. I’m going to be voting in person a week early because I know that’s the best way for myself. If you are healthy enough, I would consider doing something like that. If you’re going to vote by mail, I would make sure you do everything you can to make sure your ballot was counted.”
In Wilmington, North Carolina, earlier this month, Trump suggested people who vote by mail also “then go and vote” in person as well.
“They are going to have to check their vote by going to the poll and voting that way because if it tabulates, then they won’t be able to do that,” Trump said. “So let them send it in, and let them go vote. And if their system is as good as they say it is, then obviously they won’t be able to vote. If it isn’t tabulated, they will be able to vote.”
Facebook removed video shares of Trump’s comments, with the social media giant saying the comment urged illegal behavior.
Scholten faces Republican State Sen. Randy Feenstra of Hull in the November general election. Feenstra defeated sitting Congressman Steve King in the June GOP primary.
This pandemic is changing the way we do nearly everything. Political campaigns have had to adjust too.
J.D. Scholten is embracing social distancing in his campaign, holding a rally that resembled a drive-in movie.
The clapping and cheers of political allies were replaced by the honking of horns. Scholten’s stump speech was broadcasted over FM radio.
Michael Roddy, who attended the rally, said he’s a bit skeptical about this drive-in campaign.
“I’m not sure how successful it’s going to be. I think it’s very hard to communicate in this kind of a situation and I hope it will work,” said Roddy.
He’s not sure sitting in one’s car will create an electrified audience the way a rally can.
“I like rallies where the people get up and talk and you can yell and holler and cheer and I miss that,” he said.
The former minor league player turned candidate J.D. Scholten told KIMT News 3 where his inspiration for a drive-in event came from.
“I got the idea from going to church and my local church went to a parking lot ceremony and so I got the idea and if they can do that I wonder if we can do this? You know, we’ve been getting good reception everywhere we’ve been going,” said Scholten.
Supporter Carol Iverson is just fine sitting in the comfort of her car to support the man she wants to represent her in Washington D.C.
“We’re fine with it. We’re J.D. supporters from two years ago and, you know, whatever it takes to support him.”
Folks at the rally were able to send their questions to J.D. by texting a campaign phone number.
Democratic congressional candidate J.D. Scholten speaks from the back of a truck at a campaign event in the parking lot of the North Iowa Events Center in Mason City on Thursday evening.
Typically when a candidate is giving a speech they have applause lines. They’ll finish a sentence, one that’s been honed for awhile, and then wait for the audience to clap and cheer.
Because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Democratic candidate in Iowa’s 4th Congressional District had to get creative and hold a campaign event in a parking lot of Mason City’s North Iowa Events Center. For nearly 30 minutes, Scholten spoke through a PA system, from the flatbed of a Ford F-150, to at least 30 cars worth of people about the myriad issues currently plaguing not just the area but the state and the country as well.
To organize the speech, the former pitcher and paralegal offered up the five principles of his campaign: putting Iowa over Congress, showing up for each and every county in the district, trying to fix healthcare, working for a more equitable economy and bolstering democracy.
On the first point, Scholten said that one of the things he was proudest of when he ran against outgoing Congressman Steve King, R-Kiron, in 2018 was that his campaign garnered 25,000 more votes than there were registered Democrats in the district which means that there was meaningful crossover in that election.
As for showing up, Scholten pointed out that in that 2018 cycle he went to every county at least three times. “This is about showing up … It’s about listening,” he said.
The final three points that Scholten hit are a common refrain at his events in 2020.
Though Scholten is in favor of universal healthcare he acknowledged that an important next step is an expanded public option, which would allow middle-income and working-age Americans to choose a public insurance plan (such as Medicare or Medicaid) instead of a private insurance plan.
Cars line up in the North Iowa Events Center in Mason City on Thursday evening to hear Democratic congressional candidate J.D. Scholten speak.
“(We) must make sure rural hospitals are taken care of … (we must) make sure that prescription drug prices are reasonable,” Scholten said.
On the economic front, Scholten told the crowd that one reason the system looks the way it does for so many Americans is that there aren’t nearly enough working class politicians in D.C. The policies being written don’t reflect realities. “People are struggling to do everything and get ahead,” is how Scholten phrased it.
To “secure” democracy, Scholten said its crucial to make it harder for politicians to become lobbyists once they’re out of office. On top of that, he also suggested corporate PAC shouldn’t have any place in campaigns.
In July, Scholten declined to take money from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee because, as he said in a statement, “We won’t be beholden to special interests or the DCCC; instead, we’re reaching out to folks across the political spectrum to earn votes.” When he reflected on that decision at the parking lot event, Scholten added that a campaign should be run out of the district and not out of Washington.
Scholten will need funding as the race heads down the homestretch.
Based on available polling data, which is limited, Scholten trails Republican challenger and State Sen. Randy Feenstra.
4th District Congressional candidate J.D. Scholten held a parking lot campaign rally at Frank Starr Park in Storm Lake this (Thur) evening.
Scholten, a Democrat, said his biggest goal in Congress would be to fight to enforce anti-trust laws.
“The USDA says that only one in 30 dairy farmers are still going to be in existence by 2036, and that’s all policy-driven out of D.C. All farms matter, whether big or small. We have to find a way to keep people on their land and make a dime.”
Scholten stressed protecting coverage of pre-existing conditions, and expanding social security and medicare. He said accessibility to prescription drugs is shrinking in the 4th district, and costs are going up.
Scholten said another goal is to fight for an economy that works for everybody.
“What we’ve seen with career-politicians in the past few decades is they’ve sold out the American worker, farmer, and consumer. That’s never been more clear than what’s happened in the pandemic, when CEO’s and billionaires continue to have record profits while the majority of Americans are suffering. If we continue to elect politicians who accept the status quo and don’t want reform, we can’t expect change.”
Scholten said a program is needed to help relieve student loan debt.
After being asked about possible voter suppression, Scholten encouraged residents to have a plan, vote early, and those that want to vote by absentee ballot should put in their request soon, and to submit ballots right away.
Scholten will face Republican Randy Feenstra in the November 3rd general election.
Randy Feenstra has been my Iowa state senator since 2009. During this time, I wrote him three letters. He did not respond to any of the three, not even with a form letter. Sen. Feenstra is now running for Congress in Iowa’s 4th District. If Sen. Feenstra does not take the time to respond to his constituents in less than three counties, how can we expect him to respond to his constituents in the 39 counties of Iowa’s Fourth Congressional District?
J.D. Scholten has lots of good ideas and is a good listener. He cares about small towns as well as cities and made a tour of towns with under 1,000 people. When Scholten ran for Congress in 2018, he visited each of the 39 counties at least three times.
I want a congressional representative who is hard working and will listen to me. J.D. Scholten has my vote. Ruth Kocisko, Sioux Center, Iowa
