Campaign Almanac: Former Iowa Senate leader endorses Finkenauer for U.S. Senate

Also, the state teachers union endorses Democrat Deidre DeJear for governor

May. 11, 2022 2:54 pm

Rep. Abby Finkenauer addresses members of the press following the Finkenauer Fish Fry at the Hawkeye Downs Expo Center in Cedar Rapids on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)

A former leader of the Democrats in the Iowa Senate endorsed Abby Finkenauer’s U.S. Senate campaign.

Janet Petersen, a Democrat from Des Moines and former leader of the minority Iowa Senate Democrats, endorsed Finkenauer ahead of the Democratic primary in Iowa’s 2022 U.S. Senate campaign.

Finkenauer is a former state legislator and congresswoman from Cedar Rapids.

“(Finkenauer) is smart, driven and has the energy we need in the U.S. Senate,” Petersen said in a news release from the Finkenauer campaign. “I know she’ll push for economic and workplace policies that help uplift Iowa families, she’ll make sure new energy and environmental policies create jobs and opportunities for Iowans, and she’ll stand up for our democracy.”

The other Democrats running are Mike Franken, a retired U.S. Navy admiral from Sioux City, and Glenn Hurst, a physician from Minden.

Iowa’s primary elections are June 7. Early voting begins May 18.

TEACHERS UNION ENDORSES DEJEAR: The political arm of the Iowa State Education Association, the statewide teachers union that represents more than 50,000 Iowa educators, has endorsed Democratic candidate Deidre DeJear for governor.

DeJear, a businesswoman from Des Moines, is the only Democrat in the race. She will face Republican incumbent Gov. Kim Reynolds in this fall’s general election.

“(DeJear) has a strong vision of how to provide for Iowa’s rural, suburban and urban public schools, knows that Iowa’s students need access to the best we can offer regardless of ZIP code, and understands education professionals need supports and resources to do their jobs well,” union president Mike Beranek said in an ISEA news release.