Brianne Pfannenstiel

bpfannenst@dmreg.com

President Barack Obama has endorsed Patty Judge in her effort to unseat longtime Republican incumbent, U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley.

"I'm excited to support Patty Judge in her race for United States Senate," Obama said in a statement. "I know she will provide the kind of leadership, focus and hard work that the people of Iowa expect. Patty has never backed down from a challenge. I have no doubt that she will carry this spirit with her to the United States Senate. Working families may never have a better advocate than Patty Judge in the U.S. Senate."

The president has occasionally waded into state and local elections. On Tuesday, he endorsed in a U.S. Senate race in California that pits two Democrats against each other, announcing his support for state Attorney General Kamala Harris. Earlier this year, he made an endorsement in a state legislative race in an Illinois primary, going against the Democratic incumbent.

Patty Judge glides to nomination. Next up: Chuck Grassley

Grassley, who is chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has refused to hold a confirmation hearing for Judge Merrick Garland, who Obama nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court following the unexpected death of Justice Antonin Scalia. Judge, a former lieutenant governor from Albia, was recruited by national Democratic leaders to run against Grassley amid speculation that the issue has made him more vulnerable this election cycle.

However, the six-term senator is still widely popular in the state, according to the most recent Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll conducted in March.

Judge said in a statement she is "honored" to have Obama's support.

“President Obama has witnessed first-hand the unprecedented obstruction that has gripped the U.S. Senate," she said. "Chuck Grassley has become part of the problem. Instead of doing his job, he’s playing cynical political games that have stalled progress for working families in Iowa. I’m in this race to fight for Iowa families. All Iowans deserve a fair shot, we have to break the gridlock and give them a voice in the U.S. Senate again.”

According to the most recent fundraising numbers available through the Federal Election Commission, Judge has $228,292 in cash on hand, compared to Grassley's more than $5 million. Obama's endorsement could signal to Democratic donors and others the importance of the race to the party.