Scholten, a Democratic Iowa state representative and professional baseball player, has entered the race to take on Republican Sen. Joni Ernst in 2026 — prompted in part by her comments to constituents last week about potential cuts to Medicaid.
Ernst faced a number of agitated constituents at a town hall on Friday who expressed concerns that Republican cuts to Medicaid in the bill that would fund Trump’s legislative agenda.
Ernst responded, “Well, we’re all going to die.”
He is currently a pitcher for the Sioux City Explorers of the American Association of Baseball, an independent Major League Baseball partner league.
While some of Iowa’s House seats are considered competitive in 2026, Democrats have not won a Senate race in the state since 2008.
The J. D. A professional baseball player and Democrat from Iowa, Scholten has entered the race to challenge Republican Sen. In 2026, Joni Ernst was elected, partly due to remarks she made to voters last week regarding possible Medicaid cuts.
At a town hall on Friday, Ernst was confronted by a number of irate constituents who spoke out against Republican cuts to Medicaid in the bill that would finance Trump’s legislative agenda. After one audience member yelled. When Ernst said, “People are going to die!” he replied, “Well, we’re all going to die. “.”.
In a quick interview with ABC News, Scholten said the incident “really hit home with me.”. “That leadership is insufficient for us. “.”.
Ernst wrote, “I made an incorrect assumption that everyone in the auditorium understood that, yes, we are all going to perish from this earth,” in a sarcastic “apology” she posted on Saturday for her remarks in what looked like a cemetery. Therefore, I sincerely apologize and am extremely happy that I was spared from having to bring up the tooth fairy as well. “”.
Scholten previously ran for higher office and narrowly lost to a far-right representative. In 2018, Steve King. In 2020, he was defeated by Rep. Randy Feenstra, who currently represents the Sioux City region in the state house, by a larger margin.
At the moment, he is a pitcher for the American Association of Baseball’s Sioux City Explorers, a separate Major League Baseball partner league.
Scholten noted that Iowa soybean farmers have been enmeshed in the trade war with China and stated that he also intends to use the Democratic primary as a referendum on President Donald Trump’s trade policies should he win.
Although some Iowa House seats are anticipated to be competitive in 2026, the state has not seen a Democratic Senate victory since 2008.
-Allison Pecorin of ABC News helped with this story.
