Saying at one time she looked up to Sen. Chuck Grassley (R), former US Rep. Abby Finkenauer (D) who in 2020 lost her seat to freshman Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-Marion/Cedar Rapids), yesterday declared her US Senate candidacy.  Incumbent Grassley, first elected in 1980, has yet to confirm that he will seek an eighth term. 

Already in the Democratic primary are Minden City Councilman Glenn Hurst and former Crawford County Supervisor Dave Muhlbauer.  Retired Navy Admiral and 2020 Senate candidate Mike Franken remains as a possible candidate. The 2022 Iowa race is expected to be competitive.

The University of New Hampshire released the results of their July statewide survey (7/15-19; 1,794 UNH panel respondents; 1,540 NH likely voters; online) and again found that Gov. Chris Sununu (R) has the slightest of leads over first-term Senator Maggie Hassan (D). The ballot test gives the Governor a 49-48% edge, similar to the 48-46% spread found in February.

If former Senator Kelly Ayotte were the Republican candidate, thus setting the re-match between the two women from the 2016 campaign that Ms. Hassan won 48-47%, the ballot test breaks 49-45% in the current Senator’s favor. In February, the spread between the two was an almost identical 48-43%. If retired Army General and 2020 Senate candidate Don Bolduc were the GOP nominee, Sen. Hassan would enjoy a stronger 51-41% advantage. On the money front, the incumbent raised a whopping $11.3 million during her out-cycle time and now reports $6.56 million cash-on-hand, meaning she is ready for a serious 2022 campaign.

Former Republican National Committee chairman, ex-Maryland Lt. Governor, and previous US Senate candidate Michael Steele yesterday filed an exploratory committee in the Maryland Governor’s race. With Gov. Larry Hogan (R) ineligible to seek a third term, Republicans have only state Commerce Secretary Kelly Schulz, state Delegate Dan Cox (R-Frederick), and frequent candidate Robin Ficker as announced candidates. Should Mr. Steele enter the race, he would be the favorite to capture the Republican nomination but would be cast as a decided underdog to whoever becomes the Democratic nominee.

State Rep. Dylan Roberts (D-Eagle County), who was viewed as a possible 2022 congressional candidate, yesterday instead announced that he would run for the Colorado Senate. Mr. Roberts will seek the seat that Senate President Pro Tempore Kerry Donovan (D-Wolcott) is leaving to herself run for Congress. A total of ten Democrats have announced their congressional candidacies for the 3rd District seat, but Sen. Donovan appears to be the early leader. She raised $1.18 million in the second quarter, far more than any other Democrat. 

Still, Ms. Donovan trails incumbent Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Silt) by $800,000 in campaign receipts and approximately $700,000 in cash-on-hand. Additionally, the first unofficial Colorado redistricting commission congressional map would make Rep. Boebert’s western slope district even more Republican.

Bridie Farrell, who was a member of the US National Speedskating Team and an advocate for protecting women from sexual assault, announced yesterday that she will enter the Democratic primary in hopes of challenging House Republican Conference chair Elise Stefanik (R-Schuylerville) next year. Ms. Farrell, at the outset, would appear to be the strongest of the three announced Democrats. For her part, Rep. Stefanik, originally elected in 2014, has already raised $2.3 million for her re-election effort holding $2.1 million in her account. 

One of the Texas state House Democrats who fled Austin to stop the passage of the Republican leadership’s voting bill declared her congressional candidacy, yesterday. State Rep. Michelle Beckley (D-Carrollton) announced that she will challenge freshman US Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R-Irving) next year. On paper, this looks like a potential Democratic conversion opportunity since the Congresswoman won with just under 49% of the vote. Redistricting, however, will likely change this seat drastically, and in Ms. Van Duyne’s favor, so Ms. Beckley may find herself in a much different political situation once the new maps are enacted.

Saying he is still in the exploratory phase of potentially running for Governor, former Detroit Police Chief James Craig (R) filed a gubernatorial fundraising committee with the Michigan Secretary of State. Mr. Craig said he will make a final decision about running and subsequent announcement after Labor Day. Currently in the Republican primary are online talk show host Tudor Dixon, businessman Austin Chenge, and chiropractor Garret Soldano. The eventual Republican nominee will challenge Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D).

It appears safe to say that none of the announced Republican candidates is catching fire. The leading fundraiser for the second quarter was author and former congressional candidate Kathy Barnette, slightly ahead of ex-congressional candidate Sean Parnell, and 2018 Lt. Governor nominee Jeff Bartos, but none have reached the $600,000 mark in receipts for the second quarter. 

Conversely, Democratic Lt. Gov. John Fetterman attracted $2.5 million for the quarter and Montgomery County Commissioner Val Arkoosh (D) scored just over $1 million. Rep. Conor Lamb (D-Pittsburgh), said to be seriously considering a Senate race, reported raising just under $1 million.  The open Pennsylvania race with Sen. Pat Toomey (R) retiring could be the most pivotal campaign in the 2022 election cycle.

As expected, Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes (D) yesterday declared his candidacy for the Senate in next year’s campaign pledging to “change the game” while attacking Sen. Ron Johnson (R) as not delivering for his constituency. Already in the Democratic primary are state Treasurer Sarah Godlewski, state Senator Chris Larson (D-Milwaukee), Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson, and Milwaukee Bucks basketball team senior executive and former Obama White House aide Alex Lasry.  Sen. Johnson has not yet said if he will seek a third term.