Bernie Sanders rallies Iowa Democrats for J.D. Scholten in bid to oust U.S. Rep. Steve King

William Petroski | The Des Moines Register

AMES, Ia. — U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, the runner-up for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination, urged Iowa voters Sunday to support Democrat J.D. Scholten's bid to defeat eight-term U.S. Rep. Steve King.

Sanders, an independent who identifies as a democratic socialist, spoke at Iowa State University's Memorial Union before about 800 people who repeatedly cheered him. Behind him was a large Scholten for Congress banner that read, "Vote out Steve King."

Sanders offered an unqualified endorsement of Scholten's campaign in Iowa's 4th Congressional District, as well as to Democrat Deidre DeJear, who is opposing Secretary of State Paul Pate.

“Our job is to have the highest voter turnout, and when we do that, J.D. is going to be elected as your next congressman, and Deidre is going to be elected as your next secretary of state. Brothers and sisters, you have two weeks to do it; let's go to work," Sanders implored the crowd.

Sanders spent much of his speech blasting President Donald Trump, calling him a "pathological liar" who has no political beliefs and "an opportunist of the worst kind."

Trump carried Iowa in the 2016 election because voters felt they were ignored, Sanders said, but he warned that the Republican chief executive will support spending cuts in Medicare, Medicaid and the Social Security trust fund. Sanders also suggested that while Trump has no qualms about separating immigrant children from their parents, he hasn't been so good at standing up to Russian President Vladimir Putin. He also warned that Trump's failure to deal with climate change will have devastating consequences.

"Ordinary people have the right to determine the future of this country. That is what this election is all about," the senator said.

The crowd enthusiastically opposed King and embraced Scholten during the rally, chanting, "Hey, hey, ho, ho. Steve King has got to go," and "Standing tall for all."

Taylor Blair, president of ISU College Democrats, called King a "white supremacist" who has spent his time in Congress "spewing hatred," a reference to controversial remarks the Republican congressman from Kiron has made about immigrants, Muslims, women, LGBTQ people and others. Blair told rally attendees that Scholten would be a representative they could be proud of.

Scholten, a former professional baseball player from Sioux City who has worked as a paralegal in recent years, said in his remarks that he supports health care for all Americans, debt-free college and campaign finance reform. He said he opposes efforts by the oil industry to hamper the production of corn-based ethanol fuels.

"Who is fighting to protect the farmer? That is what we are going around talking about all the time," Scholten said. He noted that even some conservatives have criticized King for associating with right-wing foreign politicians, including King's tweet last week in support of Faith Goldy, a Canadian white nationalist who is running for mayor in Toronto.

The 4th District covers 39 counties in northwest and north-central Iowa, and includes Ames, Fort Dodge, Mason City and Sioux City.

Scholten has been running an ambitious race, barnstorming through every county in a Winnebago campaign vehicle with his name on the sides. Political analysts say King remains a favorite for re-election, but Scholten's bid has received nationwide attention.

King has refused to debate Scholten, but he sent a fundraising email to his supporters last week that read, "Liberals are so DESPERATE to defeat me they're sending in Bernie Sanders, the famed 'democratic socialist,' to hold campaign rallies for my opponent."

King added, "Liberals like Bernie's promises of free stuff, but neither they nor Bernie can pay for it — except by raising taxes, cutting the military, obliterating our economy, and lowering the American standard of healthcare."

DeJear, who owns a marketing firm in Des Moines, told the Ames crowd that Republicans "are trying to cut us out of the process" by setting up hurdles to vote. But, she said, democracy depends on participation in elections. She asked Democrats to make a list of five to 10 people who won't vote unless they are asked to and to follow through by contacting those potential voters.

"Each and every one of you has a voice and we need to hear it," DeJear said, remarking that writing comments on Facebook and attending marches and rallies simply isn't enough.

DeJear has campaigned as a champion for small businesses. She opposes a state law enacted in 2017 and backed by Pate that will require Iowans to show a state-issued identification card at the ballot box starting next year. Pate and other Republicans have cheered the legislation as providing ballot security, while Democrats contend it's designed to disenfranchise poor and minority voters.

Sanders stumped here after campaigning for Scholten on Saturday in Sioux City and earlier Sunday in Fort Dodge. He and Scholten also participated in ISU's Homecoming parade in Ames.

Sanders is in the midst of a nine-state campaign swing on behalf of Democrats before the Nov. 6 election, and his appearance here stoked speculation that he might run again for president in the 2020 presidential caucuses. But he has tried to keep the focus on 2018 Democratic campaigns, according to Iowa political activists.

Todd Prieb, Sholten's deputy campaign manager, said Sanders intentionally didn't meet with reporters in Iowa to avoid talking about the 2020 presidential campaign. In addition, former Sanders' aide Pete D'Alessandro of Des Moines told the Des Moines Register the 2020 campaign hasn't been coming up at any meetings with Iowa Democrats.

"He thinks J.D. Scholten is great and he wants to defeat Steve King," D'Alessandro said.

However, some of the Democrats who attended Sunday's rally here said they would like to see Sanders run again in 2020.

"I supported him in 2016, and I wasn't too happy when we were forced to have Hillary" as the Democratic presidential candidate, said Eric Carrington, 32, of Des Moines, a mortgage loan servicing specialist. "I think his message resonates with me and younger people."

Joel Williams, 20, of Pella, an Iowa State University music major, remarked, "If he were to run, I think he would have the best chance of winning in 2020, barring meddling by other Democrats or anybody else."

But Kristi Frohling, 59, of Rowan, Iowa, a hospital housekeeper, said it's simply too early to be making declarations about 2020 presidential candidates. "I was looking at Cory Booker, but I don't know yet," said Frohling, who supported Sanders in 2016.

Although Sanders is popular among many Iowa Democrats, his blessing to Scholten's and DeJear's campaigns is no guarantee of victory for either candidate. In February, Sanders spoke at a rally in Des Moines to endorse D'Alessandro, who was a Democratic candidate for the U.S. House in Iowa's 3rd Congressional District. D'Alessandro had directed Sanders' 2016 Iowa caucus campaign and he had hoped the senator's support would unleash a surge of fundraising and grassroots activism, but he finished a distant third in the party's primary in June.

Sanders is among a host of prominent politicians visiting Iowa to help the Democratic Party's candidates. Some of the others who either plan to be in Iowa or have already visited include U.S. Sens. Cory Booker of New Jersey, Kamala Harris of California,and Jeff Merkley of Oregon; Julian Castro, former secretary of Housing and Urban Development; Washington Gov. Jay Inslee; and U.S. Reps. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii and Eric Swalwell of California.

Sanders placed second in the 2016 Iowa Democratic Party presidential caucuses by the narrowest margin in caucus history. He lost to Clinton, the party's eventual nominee, by 49.8 to 49.6 percent.