T-R PHOTO BY ADAM SODDERS - U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley speaks to the Rotary Club of Marshalltown Tuesday afternoon at Elmwood Country Club.

U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley isn’t on the ballot in November, but he’s working to ensure fellow Republicans at the federal and state level retain power.

He talked about the upcoming mid-term election and many other topics at a Rotary Club of Marshalltown meeting Tuesday at Elmwood Country Club.

“It’s looking a lot better now than it did a couple of months ago,” he said of Republicans’ chances of defeating Democrats in November.

Grassley said a “blue wave” this year would stall progress the GOP has made during their control of the presidency, the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate.

“I think it’s going to shut down anything that (President Donald) Trump wants to get done,” he said.

If Republicans are able to keep ahold of the House, Grassley said one issue that may be addressed includes making individual federal tax cuts permanent, rather than letting them end after nine years.

Grassley said he plans to campaign for U.S. Rep. Rod Blum, who is running against Democratic challenger Iowa Rep. Abby Finkenauer for control of Iowa’s First Congressional District, which includes Marshall County. He is also campaigning for U.S. Rep. David Young in Iowa’s Third Congressional District, as well as several state-level Republicans.

One factor that might drive Republicans to the polls in two weeks is the controversial nomination process of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, Grassley said.

“It’s energized Republicans in a way they would have never been energized,” he said.

Kavanaugh and Christine Blasey Ford were the subject of national attention when Blasey Ford accused Kavanaugh of sexual assault. The Senate Judiciary Committee, headed by Grassley, held a hearing on the matter, and Kavanaugh was confirmed as a Supreme Court justice shortly afterward.

Grassley described Iowa voters as “very divided” when it came to the hearing and nomination process. However, he said he has not heard much from constituents on the issue since the process ended.

Within the bipartisan Judiciary Committee, Grassley said there was very little contention after Kavanaugh was confirmed to the Supreme Court.

“I think it’s just normal to get back,” he said.

Another hot issue in Iowa has been U.S. trade relations with several countries. Grassley said there have been improvements on that front.

He said the recent U.S.-Mexico-Canada agreement and opening up trade relations with the European Union, South Korea and Japan all bode well for Iowa farmers and manufacturers. Grassley said Trump is confident the U.S. will win out in the trade standoff with China, and that other countries standing with the U.S. on the issue may help bring China to the negotiating table.

Grassley’s seat is back up for election in 2022. He was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1980.

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Contact Adam Sodders at

(641) 753-6611 or

asodders@timesrepublican.com