Jason Noble

jnoble2@dmreg.com

Al Gore is endorsing Patty Judge in her challenge to incumbent U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley.

In a message the campaign sent to supporters on Thursday, Gore, the former Democratic vice president and 2000 presidential nominee, lauds Judge, a former lieutenant governor and state secretary of agriculture, as an “environmental champion” who is “committed to taking action on climate change.”

Since leaving politics, Gore is best known as a prominent climate change activist.

“Patty Judge firmly believes that protecting our environment and natural resources for future generations must be a priority,” Gore says in the endorsement message. “During her years of public service she has worked to secure funding for programs to protect natural resources and has played a key role in Iowa's expansion of renewable energy. I know that she will continue to support moving our country away from fossil fuels and toward 21st century renewable fuel sources in the U.S. Senate.”

Gore’s endorsement – and its strong emphasis on environmental matters – is notable because Judge’s record on agriculture and the environment is among the most controversial aspects of her political background.

She’s been criticized by some Democrats as too cozy with agricultural interests and out-of-step with the party on addressing the state’s problems with water pollution.