Patty Judge officially joins Iowa’s 2016 U.S. Senate race

DES MOINES - Albia Democrat Patty Judge officially has entered the 2016 race for Iowa's U.S. Senate seat.

Judge, a former Iowa lieutenant governor, agriculture secretary and state senator, filed her nominating papers to appear on the primary ballot in a three-way Democratic contest that also features Cedar Rapids state Sen. Rob Hogg and former state Sen. Tom Fiegen of Clarence. The seat currently is held by U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, a Cedar Falls Republican who is seeking re-election for a seventh term.

Today is the deadline for candidates seeking statewide or legislative officials to filed petitions with the appropriate number of signatures with the Iowa Secretary of State's office to have their names appear on the ballot for the June 7 primary election.

'I'm excited to be on the ballot again,” said Judge, who collected more than 4,500 signatures for her nominating petitions in less than two weeks. 'We're going to run a strong campaign and keep this momentum going.”