The 2022 United States Senate election in Iowa was held on November 8, 2022, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of Iowa. Incumbent Republican Senator Chuck Grassley defeated Democratic nominee Michael Franken to win re-election to an eighth term.

Grassley was first elected in 1980 and was most recently re-elected in 2016. Grassley, who turned 89 years old on September 17, 2022, ran for reelection to an eighth term. With U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy retiring the same year, he became the second-oldest person ever to be re-elected for another term (behind Strom Thurmond in 1996 at age 93), on January 3, 2023, upon the departure of Patrick Leahy from the United States Senate Chuck Grassley became the most senior member in the Senate, and on January 4, 2023, he became the longest-serving Republican senator in history (overtaking Orrin Hatch), as well as the most senior member of Congress since January 3, 2023.

The Republican Party flipped Iowa's 3rd congressional district in the concurrent House election, thus marking the first time since 1957 that Iowa had an entirely Republican congressional delegation.

Despite his victory, this was Grassley's closest Senate race since he was first elected in 1980, as well as his worst performance since that time due to him not cracking 60% of the vote. Franken defeated Grassley in Linn, Story, and Polk counties, all of which Grassley won in every election since 1986. In addition, this election was the first time that Grassley lost Black Hawk County. Finally, this election saw both the Class 3 Senate seat's worst performance by a Republican since 1962 and the seat's best performance by a Democrat since 1980.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee Chuck Grassley, incumbent U.S. senator (1981–present) and president pro tempore emeritus

Eliminated in primary Jim Carlin, state senator from the 3rd district (2017–2023)

Declined Ashley Hinson, U.S. representative for (2021–2023) (ran for re-election; endorsed Grassley) Matthew Whitaker, former acting U.S. attorney general, former U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Iowa, and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2014 (endorsed Grassley)

Fundraising Candidate Total receipts Coverage endingChuck Grassley$6,881,288Coverage ending: May 18, 2022Jim Carlin$508,308Coverage ending: May 18, 2022

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee Michael Franken, retired U.S. Navy admiral, former aide to U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy, and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2020

Eliminated in primary Abby Finkenauer, former U.S. representative for (2019–2021) Glenn Hurst, Minden city councilor and chair of the Iowa Democratic Party Rural Caucus

Withdrew Bob Krause, former state representative (endorsed Franken) Dave Muhlbauer, former Crawford County supervisor (2017–2021) (endorsed Franken)

Declined Cindy Axne, U.S. representative for (2019–2023) (ran for re-election; endorsed Finkenauer) Rob Sand, Iowa State Auditor (2019–present) (ran for reelection) J. D. Scholten, former paralegal, former professional baseball player and nominee for in 2018 and 2020 (ran for state house)

Campaign Former U.S. Representative Abby Finkenauer was the original frontrunner in the Democratic primary, with her campaign being backed by several prominent politicians and labor unions, as well as the influential political action committee EMILY's List. However, in an upset, retired vice-admiral Michael Franken managed to slowly overtake her as the perceived frontrunner, assisted by an effective campaign that highlighted his leadership credentials.

Fundraising Candidate Total receipts Coverage endingAbby Finkenauer$3,740,881Coverage ending: May 18, 2022Michael Franken$2,863,882Coverage ending: May 18, 2022Glenn Hurst$129,618Coverage ending: May 18, 2022

Endorsements

Polling Graphical summary

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error AbbyFinkenauer MichaelFranken GlennHurst UndecidedChange Research (D)Change Research (D)May 4–8, 2022866 (LV)± 4.0%40%42%4%14%Change Research (D)April 6–11, 2022416 (LV)± 6.3%53%26%7%14%GBAO (D)GBAO (D)March 30 – April 3, 2022600 (LV)± 4.0%64%15%6%15%

Results

General election

Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 7, 2022 Inside Elections August 25, 2022 Sabato's Crystal Ball August 31, 2022PoliticoOctober 18, 2022RCPOctober 15, 2022Fox NewsAugust 22, 2022DDHQJuly 20, 2022538September 6, 2022The EconomistSeptember 7, 2022

Debates 2022 United States Senate general election in Iowa debates Date Host Moderator Link Republican Democratic Participant   Absent   Non-invitee   Invitee Withdrawn Chuck Grassley Michael Franken 1 October 6, 2022 Iowa PBS O. Kay HendersonYoutube

Endorsements

Polling Aggregate polls Source of pollaggregationDatesadministeredDatesupdated ChuckGrassley (R) MichaelFranken (D) UndecidedMarginFiveThirtyEightFiveThirtyEightOctober 2 – November 8, 2022November 8, 202251.8%42.2%6.0%Grassley +9.6270towin270towinOctober 26 – November 5, 2022November 8, 202253.0%42.7%4.3%Grassley +10.3Average52.4%42.5%5.1%Grassley +9.9 Graphical summary

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error ChuckGrassley (R) MichaelFranken (D) Other UndecidedSelzer & Co.Selzer & Co.October 31 – November 3, 2022801 (LV)± 3.5%53%41%4%2%Cygnal (R)Cygnal (R)October 26–27, 2022600 (LV)± 4.0%54%43%–3%CiviqsCiviqsOctober 22–25, 2022623 (LV)± 5.2%52%44%3%2%The Tarrance Group (R)The Tarrance Group (R)October 15–19, 2022600 (LV)± 4.1%53%42%–4%Change Research (D)Change Research (D)October 14–18, 20221,008 (LV)± 3.3%48%45%–6%Selzer & Co.Selzer & Co.October 9–12, 2022620 (LV)± 3.9%46%43%8%3%Emerson CollegeEmerson CollegeOctober 2–4, 2022959 (LV)± 3.1%49%38%4%9%Cygnal (R)Cygnal (R)October 2–4, 2022600 (LV)± 4.0%54%40%–6%Change Research (D)September 3–8, 20221,143 (LV)± 3.0%48%44%–8%Cygnal (R)Cygnal (R)July 13–14, 2022600 (LV)± 4.0%52%43%–5%Selzer & Co.Selzer & Co.July 10–13, 2022597 (LV)± 4.0%47%39%7%5%Change Research (D)Change Research (D)June 30 – July 4, 20221,488 (LV)± 2.7%49%44%–7%Change Research (D)April 6–11, 20221,070 (LV)± 4.0%45%42%–13%

Chuck Grassley vs. Abby Finkenauer Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error ChuckGrassley (R) AbbyFinkenauer (D) Other UndecidedMoore Information Group (R)Moore Information Group (R)March 8–13, 2022400 (LV)± 5.0%45%36%6%14%Cygnal (R)Cygnal (R) February 20–22, 2022610 (LV)± 3.9%53%39%–8%Data for Progress (D)Data for Progress (D)December 2–13, 2021770 (LV)± 4.0%53%39%–8%Cygnal (R)Cygnal (R)October 18–19, 2021600 (LV)± 4.0%55%39%–6%Selzer & Co.Selzer & Co.September 12–15, 2021620 (LV)± 3.9%55%37%1%7%

Results

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

Black Hawk (largest city: Waterloo) Linn (largest city: Cedar Rapids) Polk (largest city: Des Moines) Story (largest city: Ames)

By congressional district Grassley won all four congressional districts. District Grassley Franken Representative 53% 47%Mariannette Miller-Meeks 55% 45%Ashley Hinson51%48%Cindy Axne (117th Congress)Zach Nunn (118th Congress) 66% 34%Randy Feenstra

See also 2022 United States Senate elections 2022 Iowa elections

Notes

Partisan clients

References

External links Official campaign websites

Chuck Grassley (R) for Senate