Iowa Democratic Senate nominee?
$97.7K
JUN 9, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleState Representative
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyProgressive Democrat
GenderMale
LocationIowa
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BackgroundIowa state representative
EducationB.A., History, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Notable personal detailsJ.D. Scholten is a Democratic member of the Iowa House of Representatives (District 1), first elected in 2022 and serving since January 2023. He has worked as a paralegal and as an investigator/analyst, and previously led or advised advocacy organizations focused on economic policy and rural political engagement. Scholten also played professional baseball, including with the Sioux City Explorers, and has run for federal office in Iowa's 4th congressional district.
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Positions
Economy & Taxes
Supports federal policy changes to reduce consolidation and increase competition in agriculture, overhaul federal farm subsidy distribution, expand funding for conservation and local food programs, and increase oversight of large corporations; favors targeted federal support rather than broad tax cuts.
Healthcare
Supports expanding access to affordable care through a public option and protecting/strengthening the Affordable Care Act, and views universal coverage/Medicare-for-All as a long-term goal while pursuing stepwise reforms to lower costs and include dental and mental health. Opposes Medicaid privatization and advocates protecting marketplace subsidies and tax credits that make coverage affordable for Iowans.
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Immigration & Border
Supports secure borders while advocating improved visa programs for agricultural and guest workers and reforms to the naturalization process; frames immigration as needing bipartisan, comprehensive reform that balances enforcement with legal pathways and workforce needs.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
The candidate supports women’s control over their reproductive health and opposes federal government intrusion into abortion decisions, arguing the choice should be between a woman and her doctor. He has said he would evaluate specific restrictions case-by-case and endorsed medical exceptions for late-term procedures. He also expressed concern about the impact of removing abortion rights on low-income and rural people.
Climate & Energy
Supports growth of clean energy and renewable fuels (particularly ethanol), backs conservation and programs to improve soil and water quality, and favors policies to reduce carbon pollution such as a low-carbon fuel standard while supporting transitional uses of agricultural biofuels.
Public Safety & Guns
The candidate opposes proposals to expand guns on K–12 and college campuses and has spoken publicly against such measures. He voted against legislation authorizing school employees to be issued permits to carry weapons. He has been endorsed by gun-safety advocacy groups for running on a gun-safety platform.
News
Retiring Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, endorsed Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, on Saturday in the race to succeed her, a move Republicans are treating as a step toward locking down a high-profile open-seat contest as Democrats try to broaden the 2026 map.
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 20262026
LatestCycle 2026
Source: FEC
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls
- Endorsements