When U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack announced his retirement, The Cook Political Report added his name to the list of Iowa "Democratic Toss Ups" along with fellow Iowa House members Abby Finkenauer and Cindy Axne. But on his way through the Johnson County Wednesday, State Democratic Party Chairman Troy Price said he remains confident in the party's ability to not just hold these seats but flip others.

"I'm sure Republicans are getting all starry eyed looking at this, but we are absolutely going to hold this," Price said referring to Loebsack's 2nd Congressional District seat.

"Congressman Loebsack has done a tremendous job," Price added. "Being our lone Democratic Representative there in Washington for as long as he was, you know he's done yeoman's work being one of the more sensible voices in Congress, raising the flag for our party when we didn't have a lot of people out there."

One seat that the Cook Report has rated much safer is Rep. Steve King's 4th Congressional District seat. Price said the party is waiting for J.D. Scholten to announce whether he plans to take another run at King. In 2018, Scholten came within 3 percentage points of taking the seat King has held since 2003.

"Obviously, folks are waiting to see what J.D. Scholten is going to do," Price said. "He had a tremendous campaign last time and defied a lot of expectations for that race. I think folks are waiting to see what happens there."

Since losing in 2018, Scholten launched Working Hero Iowa, a nonprofit to raise awareness around the Earned income Tax Credit.

Incumbent Sen. Joni Ernst announced her reelection campaign to Iowa reporters in December 2018.

"I am running again. So to anyone who would like to step up and enter into that race, I say: 'Bring it on,'" Ernst said.

Sen. Chuck Grassley has not announced a campaign but is expected to follow suit.

Price pointed to the successful elections of Finkenauer, Axne and Loebsack in 2018 and said the chances of Democrats doing well in U.S. Senate races seem promising.

"People are looking for change in Washington. They are looking for good leadership. They are looking for someone who is going to go up and represent them and not represent just their party," Price said. "I think that's why you saw the support you did for Democrats on the federal level in 2018. I think it is why you are going to see even more in 2020."

With Iowa's 2nd seat now open, Price said the whoever plans to fill it will have to put in serious leg work to cinch the primary and win the general.

"I think the candidate who wins here is going to have to be able to talk to folks here in Johnson County just as well as folks in Appanoose County. They will have to be able to walk into Prairie Lights (in Iowa City) and have a conversation and then go down to a grain elevator in Albia and strike up a conversation. This is a very diverse district," Price said. "There are a lot of towns that have been through some hard times and suffered because of trade deals and the modernization of plants. They just don't employ as many people as they once did."

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Zachary Oren Smith writes about government, growth and development for the Press-Citizen. Reach him at zsmith@press-citizen.com or 319-339-7354, and follow him on Twitter @zacharyos.