Patty Judge, former Democratic Iowa lieutenant governor and agriculture secretary, confirmed on Friday that she is launching a Senate campaign against Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA).

“I’m excited to be joining this race,” Judge told the Des Moines Register.

“I know this state, I know people here, and I’ve worked hard here for a long time for people,” she continued in the interview with the Des Moines Register. “I decided a few years ago maybe that it was time to take a little easier path, but this one’s got me fired up.”

Judge pitched herself as the alternative to a Senate Republican towing the party line regarding President Obama’s nominee to the Supreme Court. Grassley, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has refused to consider a nominee this year, along with other top Republican senators.

Judge told the Des Moines Register that Grassley is “obstructing justice” by refusing to hold a hearing on a Supreme Court nominee.

“I really believe that in recent years and particularly right now he’s kind of forgotten he’s from Iowa,” she said. “He waited 36 years to become the chairman of the Judiciary Committee and now he’s refusing to do his job. That is not the Chuck Grassley that I knew 10 or 15 years ago and it’s not the thing Iowans want to see from their senator.”