T-R PHOTO BY MIKE DONAHEY Democratic candidate Eddie Mauro poses on the steps of the Times-Republican Wednesday. He is running against two other Democrats in the June 2020 primary for the right to face incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Joni Ernst in that year’s general election.

Democratic candidate Eddie Mauro is a business owner, community volunteer, coach, father, and former educator who is campaigning to represent Iowa in the U.S. Senate.

But before planning a swearing-in ceremony in January 2021, he has two major hurdles to overcome. First, he must defeat fellow Democrats Kimberly Graham and Theresa Greenfield who have officially announced their intent to challenge Republican Sen. Joni Ernst in the November 2020 general election.

If successful in defeating them in a June 2, 2020 primary, Mauro, owner of a Des Moines-based insurance company, then must defeat Ernst. She’s amassed a large war chest of several millions of dollars and is expected to receive strong support from President Donald Trump, who won Iowa in 2016.

As a former high school baseball coach who led Des Moines Dowling to two state championships in 1999 and 2001, Mauro said he is used to facing challenges. He admitted Ernst would be a formidable opponent, but also said he thinks she is vulnerable on several fronts.

The tax cut supported by Ernst and signed into law by Trump is one.

“Eighty-three percent of those tax cut benefits benefited the top one percent in the nation,” Mauro said. “Iowans are struggling in a number of ways despite their hard work and determination. I look around to see who should be leading us and we do not have the right leader in Sen. Ernst.

“She represents special interests and big industry, such as the Koch brothers. She is not representing the people of Iowa in my opinion. We are being told how great this economy is, but here in Marshalltown 70 percent of kids qualify for free or reduced cost lunches, food banks and Catholic charities are serving more people … there is a disconnect as to who is benefitting in this economy.”

Mauro said recent payments made by the Trump administration to farmers to make up for losses in the trade war against China are not enough.

“It is not funneling down to Main Street,” he said. “Small business owners are not seeing the benefit.”

Mauro, a Roman Catholic, said he will be promoting religious values throughout his campaign. This is Mauro’s third try for elected office. However, he has said those losses made him a stronger candidate. Specifically, he has worked to line up support from state leaders and legislators.

“We learned an awful lot from striking out in that congressional race,” Mauro told the Associated Press. “The experiences I’ve had, being a candidate, make me an even stronger candidate for 2020.”

Local resident Michelle Roseburrough who met Mauro briefly at the Tremont on Main on Tuesday, found Mauro outgoing.

“I would like to know more about him,” she said. “I understand he is planning a meet and greet in Marshalltown in the near future.”

In addition to his background as a coach and eductor, Mauro cited a strong record on giving back to a variety of Des Moines-based and state charitable organizations.

He was a Salvation Army Volunteer of the Year, among other awards.

His efforts are not limited to Iowa. Mauro is planning a trip to the African nation of Tanzania in the near future as part of a team working to bring Tanzanians clean water.

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Contact Mike Donahey at

641-753-6611 or

mdonahey@timesrepublican.com