Iowa Supreme Court Restores Finkenauer to Senate Ballot

April 15, 2022 by Dan McCue
Iowa Supreme Court Restores Finkenauer to Senate Ballot
Democrat Abby Finkenauer leaves the Iowa Supreme Court Building with her husband Daniel Wasta, Wednesday, April 13, 2022, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

DES MOINES, Iowa — In a unanimous ruling, the Iowa Supreme Court on Friday restored Senate candidate Abby Finkenauer’s name to the Democratic primary ballot, once again making her the presumptive frontrunner to face longtime Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley.

“This is a moment for all advocates for democracy — Democrats, Republicans and independents — to celebrate the enduring strength of our democratic process and a reminder to never take it for granted,” Finkenauer said in a statement after the decision was announced.

She went on to say the court had struck a blow for “meritless partisan attacks orchestrated by Washington Republicans and allies of Sen. Grassley seeking to silence Iowans and undermine the democratic process.”

The ruling itself affirmed an earlier decision by an election panel that Finkenauer had qualified for the ballot, and rejected a later lower court ruling that found she’d failed to meet the statutory requirement that candidates submit at least 100 signatures from at least 19 counties to qualify for the ballot. 

Polk County, Iowa, Judge Scott Beattie had ruled three signatures from two counties were invalid because they weren’t dated correctly, and thereby knocked Finkenauer from the ballot.

On review, the state Supreme Court acknowledged the Legislature had last year passed new sections of the law that identified specific circumstances when objections to petitions should be sustained.

But it went on to say, “the Legislature did not include missing or incorrect dates as one of the grounds for sustaining an objection to a petition. We conclude that the recent legislation prevails.”

The justices ordered the case remanded back to Judge Beattie along with an order that the Republican objectors’ petition be dismissed.

Alan Ostergren, the attorney for the objectors, took the ruling in stride, saying it’s up to the Legislature to detail everything it wants on a nominating petition and the consequences of failing to meet its criteria.

“The only reason these issues were litigated is that the Abby Finkenauer campaign failed to turn in enough signatures to have a comfortable margin — something every other political campaign was able to do this cycle,” he said.

Two Republican activists had brought the initial challenge and appealed the panel’s decision to the district court.

Finkenauer, a Cedar Rapids native, was the first woman ever elected to Congress from Iowa. She served as representative of Iowa’s 1st Congressional District from 2019 to 2021.

Her primary opponents are Mike Franken, a retired Navy admiral, and Glenn Hurst, a doctor and Minden City council member.

Dan can be reached at [email protected] and at https://twitter.com/DanMcCue

A+
a-
  • Abby Finkenauer
  • Iowa
  • Iowa Supreme Court
  • U.S. Senate
  • In The News

    Health

    Voting

    2022 Elections

    April 4, 2023
    by Dan McCue
    Report: Failure to Embrace Center Led to Santos Victory

    WASHINGTON — A new analysis of the 2022 electoral race that elevated admitted Republican fabricator George Santos to Congress suggests... Read More

    WASHINGTON — A new analysis of the 2022 electoral race that elevated admitted Republican fabricator George Santos to Congress suggests local Democratic leaders made a series of critical blunders heading into the contest, not the least of which was not running a more centrist candidate against... Read More

    Democrat Katie Hobbs Takes Office as Arizona Governor

    PHOENIX (AP) — Katie Hobbs took the oath of office Monday to become Arizona’s 24th governor and the first Democrat... Read More

    PHOENIX (AP) — Katie Hobbs took the oath of office Monday to become Arizona’s 24th governor and the first Democrat to hold the office since 2009. Hobbs was sworn in during a private ceremony at the state Capitol as she formally took over from Republican Doug... Read More

    Democrat Wins Arizona Attorney General Race After Recount

    PHOENIX (AP) — A recount of votes has confirmed Democrat Kris Mayes narrowly defeated Republican Abraham Hamadeh in the Arizona... Read More

    PHOENIX (AP) — A recount of votes has confirmed Democrat Kris Mayes narrowly defeated Republican Abraham Hamadeh in the Arizona attorney general’s race, one of the closest elections in state history. The highly anticipated results announced Thursday in Maricopa County Superior Court are among the last... Read More

    December 22, 2022
    by Dan McCue
    McClellan Wins Democratic Nomination in Virginia’s 4th CD

    RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia state Sen. Jennifer McClellan overwhelmingly won the Democratic nomination to succeed the late A. Donald McEachin... Read More

    RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia state Sen. Jennifer McClellan overwhelmingly won the Democratic nomination to succeed the late A. Donald McEachin in Congress, garnering 84.81% of the vote, party officials announced early Thursday morning. McClellan far outdistanced her chief rival for the party’s nod, Joseph Morrissey, receiving... Read More

    December 21, 2022
    by Dan McCue
    It’s All Over but the Vote Counting in ‘Firehouse’ Primary in Va.

    RICHMOND, Va. — More than 26,400 people turned out to vote in a “firehouse” Democratic primary held in Virginia's 4th... Read More

    RICHMOND, Va. — More than 26,400 people turned out to vote in a “firehouse” Democratic primary held in Virginia's 4th Congressional District on Tuesday — so many that the party had to reportedly print as many as 10,000 additional ballots to keep up with demand. "The... Read More

    Democratic Sen. Warnock Wins Georgia Runoff Against Walker

    ATLANTA (AP) — Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock defeated Republican challenger Herschel Walker in a Georgia runoff election Tuesday, ensuring Democrats... Read More

    ATLANTA (AP) — Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock defeated Republican challenger Herschel Walker in a Georgia runoff election Tuesday, ensuring Democrats an outright majority in the Senate for the rest of President Joe Biden's current term and capping an underwhelming midterm cycle for the GOP in the... Read More

    News From The Well
    scroll top