ICYMI: 2022 Iowa Senate Overview

Jessica Taylor | The Cook Political Report

Republican Chuck Grassley is the clear favorite as he seeks a historic eighth term as Iowa’s senator. 


Hoping to unseat the Iowa legend is former Rep. Abby Finkenauer, who ousted GOP Rep. Rod Blum in the state’s 1st District during the 2018 Democratic wave. She served just a single term, losing two years later to Republican challenger Ashley Hinson by 2.6 points.


Democrats made Iowa one of their top targets in 2020, in a much more favorable political environment, but highly-touted recruit Teresa Greenfield still lost to Republican Sen. Joni Ernst by 6.5 points nonetheless. Given how much worse the political climate is likely to be for Democrats heading into 2022, it is hard to see Democrats doing any better this cycle. 


Still, a head-to-head survey back in September 2021 gave Grassley an 18 point lead over Finkenauer before he had decided he would run for re-election.


Democrats also have far better targets to flip a GOP-held Senate seat than Iowa. While Finkenauer could continue to raise decent money, it’s hard to see how this one becomes truly competitive in any way, and we continue to rate it Solid Republican.

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