Just two weeks ahead of the midterm elections, it was discovered that an Iowa Senate candidate previously supported the violent assault of Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), which resulted in several injuries.
Admiral Mike Franken, a Democrat, is challenging incumbent Sen. Chuck Grassley (R) in the November election.
In 2021, Franken tweeted, “Wasn’t Rand’s neighbor more than a little in the right?” referring to the assault, which was committed by Paul’s neighbor.
“Disgusting that Mike Franken would celebrate an assault (from behind) that resulted in 6 broken ribs, a damaged lung that had to be removed, and chronic pain. Advocacy for violence should disqualify Franken from holding ANY office,” Paul tweeted Tuesday.
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Disgusting that Mike Franken would celebrate an assault (from behind) that resulted in 6 broken ribs, a damaged lung that had to be removed, and chronic pain. Advocacy for violence should disqualify Franken from holding ANY office. https://t.co/87qcHpcxy8
— Rand Paul (@RandPaul) October 25, 2022
A nonremorseful Franken responded to Paul, saying, “I spent 40 years defending this country from complete assholes. I’m not done just because I retired from the Navy. And I’m not going to be lectured to by an insurrectionist.”
I spent 40 years defending this country from complete assholes. I’m not done just because I retired from the Navy.
And I’m not going to be lectured to by an insurrectionist. https://t.co/6JiC6lpI8h
— Admiral Mike Franken (@FrankenforIowa) October 25, 2022
Franken is a retired three-star admiral in the Navy, according to his Twitter account.
Grassley also responded to the resurfaced tweet. “There’s no place for violence in our democracy. Mike Franken should apologize for condoning political violence,” he wrote.
There’s no place for violence in our democracy. Mike Franken should apologize for condoning political violence. https://t.co/XRO7qN1BJk
— Grassley Works (@GrassleyWorks) October 25, 2022
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) also chimed in, calling the tweet “disgusting.”
He added that it’s “not surprising that Mike Franken would celebrate a violent assault.”
“This — along with other alarming behavior — speaks to Mike Franken’s lack of character. Iowa, send a decent man @GrassleyWorks back to the Senate to keep fighting for you,” Cotton concluded.
Disgusting, but not surprising that Mike Franken would celebrate a violent assault.
This—along with other alarming behavior—speaks to Mike Franken’s lack of character.
Iowa, send a decent man @GrassleyWorks back to the Senate to keep fighting for you. https://t.co/2hJ5kwTODQ
— Tom Cotton (@TomCottonAR) October 25, 2022
A recent poll by the Des Moines Register/Mediacom showed Franken closing in on Grassley, who was up by only 3 points. According to the poll, 46% of likely voters plan to choose Grassley, while 43% will vote for Franken.
The poll surveyed 804 Iowans 18 or older. Respondents were surveyed between Oct. 9-12. The poll’s margin of error is 3.5 percentage points for all Iowans and 3.9 for those identified as likely voters.
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Grassley’s seat was considered “safe Republican” until last week, when analysts shifted it to a “likely” Republican win.
