J.D. Scholten · [email protected]

September 20, 2024 at 12:07 AM

The season may be over, but I’m still Standing Tall

Scholten for Iowa     John, This morning, I had the honor of hand-delivering the jersey I wore during my first game back with the Sioux City Explorers to Josh Rawitch, President of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. You might recall that they originally asked for the h…

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  J.D. Scholten · [email protected]

September 17, 2024 at 2:36 PM

2 minutes

Scholten for Iowa     Do you have 2 minutes, John? That's all it takes to make sure you're prepared to make your voice heard in this historic election. Today is National Voter Registration Day. If you haven't already registered to vote, there's no time like the present. …

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  J.D. Scholten · [email protected]

September 14, 2024 at 4:04 PM

We have a reason for hope

Scholten for Iowa     I have hope, John. After Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022, we all knew it was only a matter of time before Governor Reynolds and her extremist allies took away our fundamental freedoms and banned abortion in Iowa. It was devastating for so many Io…

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  J.D. Scholten · [email protected]

September 11, 2024 at 7:13 PM

Let me save you the trouble:

Scholten for Iowa     No question, John. He's unqualified to be President of the United States. If you didn't watch last night's debate, let me save you the trouble. Donald Trump was on his "best" behavior i.e. he spewed lies, acted worse than a playground bully, and gav…

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  J.D. Scholten · [email protected]

September 7, 2024 at 2:26 PM

We need more Democrats in Northwestern Iowa.

Scholten for Iowa     Are you going to join our movement, John? Each day I'm working with volunteers and leaders across our community to build a better future for Iowa's hard-working families. But, as the only Democrat in Northwestern Iowa who can stand up for our commun…

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  J.D. Scholten · [email protected]

September 6, 2024 at 3:26 PM

Here’s how we stop far-right extremists

Scholten for Iowa     John, Here's how we stop far-right extremists in Iowa: By working with community members and teaming up with the Woodbury Dems, we can build a movement strong enough to Stand Tall for All Iowans. We need to be knocking on doors, placing yard signs,…

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  J.D. Scholten · [email protected]

September 2, 2024 at 4:49 PM

Standing Tall for workers.

Scholten for Iowa     Happy Labor Day, John! I know many of us will spend today outside with friends and family, enjoying the last days of summer. As we celebrate, let's take a moment to think about the reason we have this day: the labor movement. From workplace safety …

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  J.D. Scholten · [email protected]

August 31, 2024 at 5:51 PM

Iowans deserve a voice

Scholten for Iowa     John, Between now and Election Day, you'll probably receive a million emails and text messages from candidates across the country — some of whom you've never heard of before. They will ask for a donation and tell you about some made up deadline. No …

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  J.D. Scholten · [email protected]

August 29, 2024 at 5:41 PM

In between starts and bullpen sessions

Scholten for Iowa     I'm going to Cooperstown, John! Or at least, my hat is. I was beyond honored when Explorers manager Steve Montgomery gave me a call to make an emergency start a month ago. But I was completely awe-struck when my childhood dreams came true and the Ba…

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  J.D. Scholten · [email protected]

August 26, 2024 at 6:33 PM

Families know their needs

Scholten for Iowa     No one knows a family's needs better than that family, John. But Governor Reynolds seems to think she knows what families need better than anyone else. Earlier this month, Reynolds announced that Iowa would opt out of the 2025 Summer EBT program — t…

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  J.D. Scholten · [email protected]

August 23, 2024 at 5:34 PM

More leaders Standing Tall

Scholten for Iowa     John, Our communities are full of bright leaders, ready to put in the necessary work to make a difference in our state. I talk a lot about the need to build a Democratic movement to bring change to Iowa. That includes my friend Rosanne Plante. Rosan…

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  J.D. Scholten · [email protected]

August 21, 2024 at 2:15 PM

Iowa is no exception.

Scholten for Iowa     John, In the wake of the Supreme Court's disastrous decision in Dobbs, many states with restrictive abortion laws on the books have seen already existing problems go from bad to worse. Iowa is no exception. Since our state's dangerous six-week abort…

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  J.D. Scholten · [email protected]

August 19, 2024 at 9:35 PM

A future built on change.

Scholten for Iowa     John, The Democratic Convention kicks off in Chicago today. I'm excited to hear from a range of speakers from all walks of life in our party, and to see Vice President Harris and Governor Walz lay out their vision for the country. We are at a cruci…

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  J.D. Scholten · [email protected]

August 14, 2024 at 10:07 PM

How many?

Scholten for Iowa     How many Iowans does it take to make change, John? No, that's not the start of a terrible joke. It's something that's been on my mind for a while. I talk a lot about the need for a broad coalition to stand up for the needs of our communities and lea…

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  J.D. Scholten · [email protected]

August 8, 2024 at 6:16 PM

Is this heaven?

Scholten for Iowa     When opportunity came knocking, I answered, John. I've played a lot of baseball around the world and here at home. At 44, I thought my best playing days were behind me. But when the Explorers manager, Steve Montgomery, gave me a call and asked if I …

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  J.D. Scholten · [email protected]

August 6, 2024 at 8:14 PM

The down-ballot Democrats

Scholten for Iowa     John, I never imagined my life would take me into politics, but the extremism of Donald Trump and his allies — particularly, his allies in Iowa — drove me to jump into the fight. Iowa needs leaders on the state and national level that are fighting …

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  J.D. Scholten · [email protected]

August 1, 2024 at 3:48 PM

When Kamala Harris heard about the Reynolds abortion ban…

Scholten for Iowa     The fight isn't over, John. Governor Reynolds and her extremist allies got their six-week abortion ban — effectively a near-total ban — but they aren't stopping there. Anti-choice extremists have a larger vision for Iowa: A total ban with no excepti…

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  J.D. Scholten · [email protected]

July 28, 2024 at 4:45 PM

I have two things to say:

Scholten for Iowa     John, Starting tomorrow, July 29th, 2024, abortion care will not be accessible in Iowa after the first six weeks of pregnancy. I have two things to say: First, if you are in need of abortion care and you live in Iowa: there are still options for you…

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  J.D. Scholten · [email protected]

July 24, 2024 at 6:43 PM

“Which is the Capitol Building”

Scholten for Iowa     John, On Monday, the state auditor, Rob Sand, released a new report and the findings are damning. In January, 2023, Governor Reynolds forced a new charter school bill through the legislature with the goal of taking public money out of public schools…

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  J.D. Scholten · [email protected]

July 19, 2024 at 5:58 PM

Cutting through the noise

Scholten for Iowa     There's a lot going on this week, John. With the RNC happening in Milwaukee and questions lingering about President Biden's appearance on the ballot this November, there's a lot of noise about national politics at the moment. But, away from the spec…

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  J.D. Scholten · [email protected]

July 12, 2024 at 4:48 PM

Five things I tell people before they knock doors:

Scholten for Iowa     John, When I'm not throwing strikes for the Sioux City Explorers, I'm usually training volunteers on how to knock doors for the first time, and I always tell them these five guidelines to help them be successful: Always take a friend with you. If y…

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  J.D. Scholten · [email protected]

July 10, 2024 at 6:45 PM

We've hit a bit of a snag:

Scholten for Iowa     John, We are just five days from our next fundraising deadline, so right now I should be calling friends and family, hosting house parties to raise money and speak to voters, and writing countless fundraising emails and text messages. But we've hit …

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  J.D. Scholten · [email protected]

July 4, 2024 at 3:29 PM

Here’s what’s at stake:

Scholten for Iowa     John, We can't forget why we Stand Tall for All. Extremism is rampant, infecting our state politics with the far-right priorities of national Republicans, and dragging our communities down. When SCOTUS gave Donald Trump unprecedented legal protection this week…

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  J.D. Scholten · [email protected]

July 1, 2024 at 10:14 PM

Just plain wrong

Scholten for Iowa     John, Today, the Supreme Court threatened the foundation of our democracy when they ruled that the President is immune from criminal prosecution for any "official actions". Not only does this violate the Constitution, overturn centuries of legal pre…

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  J.D. Scholten · [email protected]

June 30, 2024 at 3:43 PM

This isn't anything new for us.

Scholten for Iowa     John, We've said it before and we'll say it again: thank you. Because of your incredible support, John, our team has been able to: Connect with voters all across the district Meet with community leaders to discuss the most pressing needs in our com…

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  J.D. Scholten · [email protected]

June 28, 2024 at 6:04 PM

We can count on each other.

Scholten for Iowa     John, I wrote to you yesterday about the Supreme Court's dangerous and harmful ruling in Moyle, which dealt a blow to bodily autonomy and reproductive rights across the country. Today, the Iowa Supreme Court took it a step further and issued a rulin…

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  J.D. Scholten · [email protected]

June 27, 2024 at 6:12 PM

Far from the last word.

Scholten for Iowa     These waning days of June are typically saved for barbecuing, commenting on how high the corn has gotten, and catching fireflies (hey, a guy's gotta feel young somehow); but in recent years, those of us who are concerned with the state of our countr…

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  J.D. Scholten · [email protected]

June 26, 2024 at 1:03 PM

Her win speaks to two facts:

Scholten for Iowa     We need to come together, John. For the last two years, I have been the only Democrat to represent northwestern Iowa, and it looks like it may stay that way. The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee — a group that helps elect state legislators …

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  J.D. Scholten · [email protected]

June 24, 2024 at 5:53 PM

A stream of profanity after each paragraph.

Scholten for Iowa     Do you remember the day, two years ago, when the Supreme Court threw out reproductive rights, John? When I saw the push notification on my phone, my eyes grew wide and my heart sank. I immediately read the Dobbs opinion and each paragraph was follow…

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  J.D. Scholten · [email protected]

June 18, 2024 at 9:02 PM

Indefensible.

Scholten for Iowa     John, If you need a clear example of how right-wing extremists are pushing a national agenda in Iowa, look no further than Governor Reynolds's illegal reentry law. This bill was always destined to be unconstitutional and could never amount to more t…

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  Jim Scholten · [email protected]

June 16, 2024 at 4:40 PM

Our family was not surprised!

Scholten for Iowa     Hi John, I've had the privilege to watch and guide JD as he grew and matured into the man he is today, and to say that I am proud of him would be a huge understatement. Ever since JD could pick up his first mitt, we have shared a love of baseball. B…

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  J.D. Scholten · [email protected]

June 14, 2024 at 7:27 PM

Bought and paid for

Scholten for Iowa     Hi, John. Me again. I'd figured my email this morning about Flag Day would be the only thing I'd reach out about today. Then the Supreme Court weighed in, and now our country's a more dangerous place. In the aftermath of the horrific 2017 Las Vegas …

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  J.D. Scholten · [email protected]

June 14, 2024 at 3:16 PM

A patriotism of progress

Scholten for Iowa     John, I have played baseball around the globe — Canada, Belgium, Germany, and France just to name a few places. But, as a good Iowa-born baseball player, I always felt something was missing when I played abroad: standing and recognizing the American…

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  J.D. Scholten · [email protected]

June 13, 2024 at 1:45 PM

They're selling out our state

Scholten for Iowa     John — For some kids, school lunches are all they will eat in a day. So, the end of the school year and the absence of school meals means that kids don't get the nutrition they need and that cash-strapped families are forced to make pennies stretch…

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  J.D. Scholten · [email protected]

June 7, 2024 at 5:11 PM

Who isn’t in a better mood during the summer?

Scholten for Iowa     John — Growing up in Sioux City, this was always my favorite time of year: The feeling of a warm breeze on a front porch; the thick smell of a bright rain; and the sound of kids playing into the wee hours of the evening; School is out, and summer h…

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  J.D. Scholten · [email protected]

June 3, 2024 at 7:19 PM

It is FREE to attend!

Scholten for Iowa     John, You know that I'm committed to standing up for rural communities and ensuring they have a strong voice in policy decisions. But did you know I am a part of a national movement to bring rural voices to Washington to make sure rural priorities a…

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  J.D. Scholten · [email protected]

May 31, 2024 at 6:07 PM

We’re worried, and with good reason

Scholten for Iowa     We are 157 days away from election day, and our race is starting to heat up, John. We are printing signs, knocking on doors, hosting house parties, and hearing directly from our community, and do you know what I hear the most? Worry. Folks are wor…

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  J.D. Scholten · [email protected]

May 27, 2024 at 5:14 PM

Memorial Day

Scholten for Iowa     John, Today, we pause to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service of our nation. From the brave souls who fought in the American Revolution to the courageous service members who defend our freedoms today, we owe a debt of gratitude …

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  J.D. Scholten · [email protected]

May 25, 2024 at 3:35 PM

Those words remain true

Scholten for Iowa     John, I remember the first time I saw the video of George Floyd's murder. We were still locked down in our homes, weathering the storm of COVID, and I began to see this video circulating around the internet and on the news. The images were horrifyin…

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  J.D. Scholten · [email protected]

May 21, 2024 at 6:49 PM

I am incredibly grateful

Scholten for Iowa     Thank you, John! Yesterday, I finished filing all of our disclosures from our May 14th deadline, and here's my takeaway: Our movement is powering change in Iowa. On May 2nd, we set the goal of 37 grassroots donations before our deadline, but by the…

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  J.D. Scholten · [email protected]

May 17, 2024 at 4:29 PM

What will kids learn about Brown v. Board of Education today?

Scholten for Iowa     Do you remember learning about Brown v. Board of Education in school, John? I remember being taught about segregation, the civil rights movement, good people standing up and fighting for equality, and how it was the first major victory for the civil…

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  Team Scholten · [email protected]

May 14, 2024 at 3:58 PM

Can they beat us in November?

Scholten for Iowa     Hi John, Team Scholten here, we just wanted to remind you that our fundraising deadline is tonight at midnight. We are SO close to our goal of 37 donors before the disclosure deadline and we only need 7 more grassroots donations to reach our goal. Reaching our…

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  J.D. Scholten · [email protected]

May 13, 2024 at 5:59 PM

We need a progressive fighter who will stand up for all of us

Scholten for Iowa     Our deadline is tomorrow, John! Here's what we are doing to reach our goal: I am calling every person I know and some folks I don't know yet, sending out emails like this one, and asking friends to help get their friends involved. We are in the thro…

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  Deb Scholten (A.K.A. Momma Scholten) · [email protected]

May 12, 2024 at 4:03 PM

She wanted to send and email 🫣

Scholten for Iowa     Hi John! It's me, Deb, and I told Fritz that all I wanted for Mother's day was access to his email, so here I am! On March 4, 1980, JD came into this world in a big way: 10 lbs, 2 oz, and 22 1/2 inches in length. As his mom, it is my duty to remind …

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  J.D Scholten · [email protected]

May 11, 2024 at 3:49 PM

Cookies with my face on them? 🤔

Scholten for Iowa     John, We are about to start door-knocking, but we're missing one thing: Campaign Lit! Our fundraising deadline is in 3 days and our goal is 37 grassroots donors before the deadline. I just checked this morning and we've seen 21 donations come in s…

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  J.D Scholten · [email protected]

May 7, 2024 at 7:21 PM

They're tired of Democrats who fight for Iowans

Scholten for Iowa     What do you want to see happen in Iowa, John? That is a pretty big question! But I bet you and I have pretty similar answers: Free school lunches for Iowa's school children; Safe and legal access to abortion care; A cleaner environment; Safe schools…

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  J.D Scholten · [email protected]

May 2, 2024 at 5:27 PM

Create and power a lasting movement

Scholten for Iowa     What are you fighting for, John? We each have something that drove us to get involved in our community and politics. For me, it was growing extremism. I saw what happened with the 2016 election and I felt that was not us. It was maddening to watch b…

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  J.D Scholten · [email protected]

April 26, 2024 at 6:16 PM

Working with dignity and safety

Scholten for Iowa     All workers deserve to return home safely from work, John. That seems like a simple statement, but it is not always a fact. Each year, thousands of Americans die from fatal injuries at work. In fact, OSHA reported that in 2022, 5,486 people died fro…

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  J.D Scholten · [email protected]

April 24, 2024 at 8:26 PM

That's a wrap from Desk 57

Scholten for Iowa     John, At 4:23 am on Saturday morning, the legislative session finally ended. This was a long and hard legislative session. And if you're like me and believe elected officials should listen to the voters they represent, then this was not your session…

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  J.D Scholten · [email protected]

April 22, 2024 at 11:35 PM

It’s a *dirty* topic

Scholten for Iowa     Let's talk about dirt, John. Iowa has a lot of dirt, and it brought settlers to Iowa in the early 1800s who were looking for rich, dark soil that was perfect for growing all sorts of crops. It's the same soil that farmers use today. But something ha…

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