Sharp elbows have been deployed in Iowa Democrats’ Senate race

The Democratic primary for U.S. Senate makes perfect sense, so long as you know your SCCs.

State Sen. Zach Wahls is critical of his top rival, state Rep. Josh Turek, for getting help from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, DSCC. National Democrats have a history of meddling in Iowa. And Iowa Democrats who want to pick their own nominee don’t like it.

Wahls is also getting outside help, but from the Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee, RSCC, which seems to want the Coralville Democrat to win the Democratic primary. Last week, the NRSCC released a poll showing Wahls leading Turek 30% to 23%, with 42% undecided, according to a memo reported by Politico.

This is unusual. Republicans have run stealthy efforts to mess with Democratic primaries, but doing it out in the open is bonkers.

So, Democrats, who is it going to be? Turek, who appears to be the pick of the DSCC, or Wahls, who appears to be the candidate Republicans want to face in the fall?

On Friday, the Des Moines Register reported a DSCC deputy finance director sent out an invitation for a “virtual meet and greet” with Turek, a Council Bluffs Democrat. They also included a “prospectus” with more info about Turek.

The RSCC also made news. It polled Democrats on whether they support “Josh Turek, who is backed by Schumer,” or Wahls, “who is aligned with Bernie Sanders.”

Republicans, including likely Republican nominee Ashley Hinson, have been portraying Wahls like he’s already the Democratic nominee.

“I’m not going to stand by as far-left Democrats like Zach Wahls masquerade like a moderate hoping to fool Iowans into believing that we share their values. We know better, they don’t,” Hinson said as she announced her campaign in September.

Hinson targets Wahls on social media and in fundraising appeals. Republicans are painting Wahls as the next Zoran Mamdani, the socialist New York mayor. “Republican operatives believe Wahls has a stronger chance of clearing the primary,” the conservative National Review reported.

Wahls also caught friendly fire from former Democratic Senate candidate Nathan Sage, who dropped out an endorsed Turek.

“Josh is a real person. We had a real conversation. … It was very easy to connect with Josh. It was very easy to understand Josh,” said Sage who met with Turek and Wahls.

“On the flip side of it, Zach was the artificial person he is. It was very not real. He had his staff there. He didn’t give me the courtesy that Josh did where (their conversation was) man-to-man. … It was more of another transactional moment for Zach,” Sage said at a campaign event in Mason City.

Maybe it was bad form to go on the attack. Or maybe it reflected what some Democrats are thinking. Were you expecting a polite pillow fight?

Wahls, making lemons into lemonade, sent out a fundraising appeal touting the RSCC polling results. “This is a massive sign of momentum in our people-powered campaign,” Wahls argues in the appeal.

But Wahls does appear to be the Democratic Senate hopeful who Hinson is eager to face. For all Wahls’ many attributes, he is a more typical Democratic candidate — a young liberal from Johnson County with a lengthy state Senate record to mischaracterize. His electability has been a worry for some Democrats.

Turek won two terms in a state House district that voted for Donald Trump. So, he checks a box for Democrats who recognize the need for a candidate with broader appeal beyond Democratic voters.

He’s also lived with a lifelong disability and won two Paralympic gold medals in wheelchair basketball. Turek’s announcement video showed him crawling up steps toting his wheelchair to meet a voter at the door. If his campaign was going for “tenacious,” mission accomplished.

Hinson should be concerned. Although the GOP has never let facts get in the way of a good attack strategy.

But even with national interference, Iowa Democrats will decide who wins.

Don’t sweat it. It’s only about defending democracy against a reckless president shoving us toward authoritarian rule. No biggie.

(319) 398-8262; todd.dorman@thegazette.com