Let’s Start Some Rumors
Democrats had high hopes for Abby Finkenauer, especially when she knocked off a two-term Republican incumbent for Congress in 2018. Their plan was for her to serve a couple of terms in the U.S. House, then be primed to take a U.S. Senate seat when Chuck Grassley retired.
They didn’t plan on her losing her seat despite the district being rather blue last year. Undaunted, however, labor unions and party bigwigs in Iowa and nationally have pushed her candidacy for U.S. Senate…and while other Democrats have announced they are running, it’s clear who the party hierarchy prefers.
But Grassley is not retiring, and a poll last week showed Finkenauer trailing badly. Which leads me to start a rumor today, not based on any fact, but sort of a “what if” idea.
Given the redistricting map current on the table, virtually all of what was the 1st district…the one Finkenauer did represent for one term…is now part of the 2nd district. If the map holds, it’s truly a northeast Iowa district with an incumbent in Ottumwa, at the far southern end of the district.
Finkenauer’s home base was Dubuque; she moved to Cedar Rapids during her term. What if she were to move back? She’d be a clear favorite for the party’s nomination, since no one else in the party has indicated any interest. And the incumbent only won by six votes last time…with virtually none of those counties in the new district.
Of course, Finkenauer moving would put a crimp in the possible plans of Waterloo Mayor Quentin Hart, who changed his Twitter handle to include the letters IA not long ago…he’s obviously focused on getting re-elected as mayor in six weeks, but Democrats have also long pointed to him as someone they’d like to see run for higher office.
Again, no facts here, just starting some rumors. But they’re more logical than a lot of the rumors I’ve heard.
