With seven weeks to go until the June 2 primary, retired admiral Mike Franken is getting a boost from a collection of local Democratic Party leaders, activists and a county auditor. Sixteen of them endorsed Franken on Tuesday in his bid to become the Democratic nominee and take on Joni Ernst.

Among the group is Bill Brauch, an Iowa Democratic Party state central committee member; Jan Bauer, an Iowa DNC member; Joel Miller, the Linn County Auditor; and Daryl Beall, a former state senator. Also backing Franken are ten Democratic Party county chairs, including those for Linn, Cerro Gordo and Webster counties.

“He’s the right candidate for these challenging times,” Brauch said in a statement. “In my view, Mike is the most highly qualified candidate for the U.S. Senate from Iowa in a generation. He understands what it takes to get things done and he’s got the skills to do it.”

Despite being a first-time candidate, Franken has drawn significant interest from Democratic activists during the primary thanks in large part to his unique background. Franken is a retired three-star admiral who spent over three decades in military service, and he grew up in a tiny community in Sioux County, the most conservative county in the state. Now calling Sioux City home, he’s pitched himself as someone who can win back voters in rural areas of the state.

Franken also got some support late last week from a fellow Navy officer who already successfully made the jump to Congress. Rep. Elaine Luria of Virginia, who narrowly ousted a Republican incumbent in 2018, endorsed Franken in his primary.

I am honored to receive @ElaineLuriaVA's endorsement. I was embarked on Congresswoman Luria's ship in 2006, and I saw the kind of leadership that her constituents know so well. Together, we'll help restore the values of service to Congress. #IASen pic.twitter.com/UwVkx5L3Wy — Admiral Michael Franken (@FrankenforIowa) April 10, 2020

The full list of new Franken endorsers are:

Bill Brauch – State Central Committee Member

Jan Bauer – DNC Member at-Large

Joel D. Miller – Linn County Auditor

Former State Senator Daryl Beall – Fort Dodge

JoAnn Hardy – Cerro Gordo County Chair

Randy Black – North Iowa Wing Ding Chair

Julie Geopfert – Webster County Chair

Bret Nilles – Linn County Chair

Donna Duvall – Jackson Country Chair

Kathy Winter – Osceola County Chair

Ken Mertes – Monona County Chair

Twyla Peacock – Van Buren County Chair

Cheryl Jones – Davis County Chair

Kathy Eck – Humboldt County Vice Chair

Susie Drish- Jefferson County Chair

Chris Adcock – Page County

by Pat Rynard

Posted 4/14/20