Father of U.S. Senate candidate Patty Judge dies at 94

DES MOINES - U.S. Senate candidate Patty Judge says she still plans to take part in Wednesday's televised debate with incumbent U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley despite the death of her father.

Lester Poole, Judge's father and a veteran who served in World War II, died Tuesday morning surrounded by family in Albia. He was 94.

Wednesday's debate takes place from 7 to 8 p.m. in Sioux City and is to be televised on NBC affiliate KWWL-TV. It also is to be streamed live on the station's website.

Democrat Judge, 72, a former Iowa lieutenant governor and state secretary of agriculture, seeks to unseat Republican Grassley, 83, currently chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee seeking his seventh term in the Senate.

Grassley and his wife Barbara released a statement Tuesday upon hearing the news of Poole's death.

'Barbara and I send our sincere condolences to Patty Judge and her family on the passing of her father,” the statement reads. 'They are in our thoughts and prayers.”

The Judge campaign released a statement saying the family is finalizing funeral arrangements.