Iowa Dem Challenges Ernst, Citing 'We're All Going To Die' Comment on Medicaid Cuts

Iowa State Representative J.D. Scholten has announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate, challenging incumbent Republican Senator Joni Ernst. Scholten's campaign launch video directly confronts Ernst's past comments on Medicaid cuts, where she stated, "Well, we are all going to die." Scholten frames this as evidence of a disregard for the needs of Iowans. "Cutting vital services to give bigger tax breaks to billionaires isn't just bad policy, it's theft," Scholten asserts in his video. The video also emphasizes Scholten's working-class background and his record of outperforming top-of-the-ticket candidates in Republican strongholds. His campaign is likely to focus on healthcare access and economic fairness, presenting a direct challenge to Ernst's conservative platform. The race is expected to be closely watched as it could influence the balance of power in the Senate.