Theresa Greenfield, an urban planner who has also worked in real estate and development, is determined to retake a Senate seat captured by Sen. Joni Ernst (R) almost six years ago.
Iowa is a purple state that continues to elect both Democrats and Republicans. The state voted for President Obama twice and then Donald Trump in 2016, and before that Al Gore and George W. Bush. Presently, while both Senate seats and the governorship are held by Republicans, three of the four U.S. Representatives are Democrats.
Although Greenfield faced a primary, she has united supporters across the spectrum behind her candidacy, both locally and nationally. While she started this contest as an underdog, political pundits see this a close race, a shift confirmed by polling that shows both candidates neck-and-neck. Ernst’s popularity in the state has waned well below that of Trump, marking a spectacular loss of public trust.
Greenfield grew up on a family farm. At age 16, she started helping with the family crop-dusting business and then put herself through college. When widowed at 24, she raised two children with help from Social Security survivor benefits and union assistance. She is a hard worker and well organized.
She argues that, contrary to current executive branch leadership, “America should be a world leader that promotes freedom, human rights and democracy.”
