Former Democratic congressional candidate J.D. Scholten announced Wednesday that he will be launching a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness around the Earned Income Tax Credit — a move he said will let him "reassess" whether to run for office again in 2020.

"I'm leaving things open," Scholten told the Des Moines Register about a possible 2020 campaign. "Finding ways to help Iowa is what I'm passionate about. I don't necessarily have to run for office to do that."

Scholten, a former minor league baseball player, challenged Republican Rep. Steve King in Iowa's 4th District in 2018. Though King has been virtually unbeatable in past elections, Scholten came closer to toppling him than any other Democrat who's tried, bringing the margin to within 3.5 percentage points.

It's a feat that's made him a local hero in Democratic circles, and he's been courted to run again in 2020 — either against King in the U.S. House or against Joni Ernst in the U.S. Senate.

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There were political undertones as Scholten announced the nonprofit, called Working Hero Iowa, at the state Capitol. Deidre DeJear, a former Democratic candidate for Iowa Secretary of State, introduced Scholten before he spoke to reporters. Scholten was later spotted in the House chamber talking to Democratic lawmakers and smiling for photos.

Scholten plans to stay in the spotlight. He will travel around the state to promote the nonprofit, and it will include appearances with current or potential 2020 presidential candidates.

Working Hero Iowa, according to Scholten, will focus on raising awareness around the tax credit, which goes to support low- and moderate-income individuals and families. The organization will work to connect families with free tax preparation services so that Iowans who are eligible get their refunds.

"The EITC is the most effective anti-poverty policy in America,” Scholten said in a statement. "But in order to receive it, you have to claim it on your tax return — and tens of thousands of Iowans don’t, simply because they don’t know it exists, don’t know they’re eligible, or don’t earn enough to have to file taxes. As a result, they never see a dime from the EITC. That’s why outreach and education are so important."

According to the Internal Revenue Service, an estimated four out of five eligible workers claim their refund through the Earned Income Tax Credit program. Among those missing out, the service says, are those living in rural areas, those who are not proficient in English or who are recently divorced, unemployed or have experienced other changes to their marital, financial or parental status.

Scholten is partnering with entrepreneur Joe Sanberg to launch Working Hero Iowa. Sanberg has run a similar organization in California called CalEITC4Me.