Senator Joni Ernst closed Wednesday night’s candidate forum by agreeing with J.D. Scholten, the Democrat candidate for U.S. House in Iowa’s Fourth District.
The agreement was centered around the importance of candidates showing up, and it left the Democrat candidate for U.S. Senate, Theresa Greenfield, vulnerable to criticism since she was absent from the forum.
“Mr. Scholten brought up the point, it’s about showing up,” Ernst said. “I am sitting up here by myself as the lone United States Senate candidate because my opponent, Theresa Greenfield, refused to show up this evening.
“Iowans expect more from their elected representatives. This is the time we should be fighting to earn your vote, to express our ideas and our thoughts to the future. And my opponent refuses to come out of her basement and face Iowans, hear about their challenges and learn about their opportunities.
“I have served in the United States Senate for six years and it has been the greatest honor of my life. Every year I do the 99-county tour because I want to hear from Iowans. I want to know what you are thinking and how I can best serve you in the United States Senate.
“It is about showing up.”