Hello,

Donald Trump came back to Iowa to endorse my Republican opponent Chuck Grassley, and that’s a scary thing for democracy. Let me explain why.

After Donald Trump was elected in 2016, I retired from the U.S. Navy after nearly 40 years. I knew what Donald Trump was, and I was not going to be used as a prop for the political purposes of an irrational demagogue. Never did I imagine, though, that we would witness what happened on January 6th.

Thankfully, our democracy prevailed that day, but I fear things may be in a more dangerously precarious position than ever before. Donald Trump’s minions are already back in Iowa gearing up for a comeback in 2024. Trump is once again using division to consolidate support from lapdog-ishly weak-willed Republicans like my opponent Chuck Grassley.

If Republicans take back the House and the Senate in 2022, what stops them from overturning the election results in 2024 like they nearly succeeded at doing in 2020? The only assurance we can bank on is a Senate led by tough, seasoned, stalwart Democrats – ready to defend our democracy against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

Senate control hinges on my race here in Iowa. But we’re facing our first end-of-quarter FEC deadline on December 31st, and right now we’re still $31,405 short of our $100,000 goal and what we need to win.

If we’re going to defeat Chuck Grassley, turn Iowa blue, and protect not only our Democratic majority in the Senate but also our very democracy, I am counting on grassroots donors like you to give right now:

Please, will you chip in $5 or more right now – every dollar you can afford before our first end-of-quarter FEC deadline – to help me defeat Chuck Grassley, turn Iowa blue, and protect our Democratic Senate majority?

If you've saved payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately:

It’s not hyperbole to say the future of our democracy is at stake. It is why I am in this race.

Thank you for being a part of this crucial campaign,

Mike Franken, VADM, U.S. Navy (ret.)