Iowa Democrats mull challenger for veteran GOP Sen. Grassley

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Republican Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley has been winning Iowa elections for nearly six decades, yet Democrats are sensing vulnerability this time stemming from his refusal to hold confirmation hearings for President Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominee.

[...] just as the progressive candidacy of Bernie Sanders turned the Iowa presidential caucuses into a nail-biter against the establishment favorite Hillary Clinton, Judge is facing a tough nomination battle against more liberal state Sen. Rob Hogg, who is supported by two key labor unions.

Since she entered the race in March, Judge, 72, has kept her focus clearly on Grassley, all but ignoring Hogg and two other Democrats running in the June 7 primary — attorney Tom Fiegen and former state legislator Bob Krause.

The incumbent, who ranks fourth in the Senate in seniority, has $5 million available in his campaign account and hasn't lost an election since he first ran for the state Legislature in 1958.

Megan Suhr, chairwoman of the Marion County Democrats in south-central Iowa, said the perception that Hogg is more liberal and not backed by national party leaders could help him in a year when Sanders and Republican Donald Trump have seen so much success.

Danny Homan, president of the state's largest public employee union, criticized the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee's decision to recruit Judge shortly before the deadline to enter the race.