Trump's Troubles In Farm Country

 

Am they learning?  Looking at you, Iowa:

It’s been two decades since Iowa elected a Democrat to the governor’s mansion. But this year, the state is suddenly fielding a host of competitive races. State Rep. Josh Turek, a Democrat, is running within range of Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson for the state’s open Senate seat. Two U.S. House seats are up for grabs as well, after several cycles in which Iowa’s congressional delegation has been entirely Republican. [snip]

Mr. [Democratic nominee for Governor Rob] Sand was leading Mr. Lahn by five percentage points and by 26 points among independent voters, in an Emerson College poll in early August. The same survey found that Mr. Trump was viewed favorably by 43% of Iowa voters, while 51% disapproved of the job he was doing.

Democrats have been busy highlighting all the ways in which Mr. Trump’s actions have been bad for Iowans – from tariffs that have squeezed farmers to the Iran war’s impact on the price of gas and fertilizer.

Most recently, Mr. Trump announced a deal to lower the cost of imported beef, drawing immediate criticism from Democratic and Republican officials alike. Mr. Sand called it “a blow to Iowa farmers and cattlemen,” and Ms. Hinson called it “a bad idea.”

“Democrats are taking advantage of the environment,” says Derek Eadon, an Iowa Democratic strategist. “The policies that we’ve seen from Trump have really hurt Iowa.”...

Democrats in the Midwest used to be competitive (remembering Sens. Harold Hughes, John Culver, and Tom Harkin), until Republican demagoging on "culture war" issues seemed to turn the tide.  It's still the heartland for Christian evangelism, so it would take a perfect storm of higher prices, the Malignant Fascist's pedo-protecting government, and a brutal crackdown on the immigrants who are employed in Iowa agriculture for a state like Iowa to return to the sane years when it elected Democrats.  But maybe we can see that happen this year.

(You can donate to Democrat Josh Turek's campaign here)

(Photo: Democratic Senate candidate Josh Turek with his bronze and gold medals from two Paralympics Games)