Following Ernst's remarks that "we are all going to die," a Democrat declares her intention to run against him.

At a town hall on Friday, Ernst was confronted by a number of irate residents who voiced their worries about Republican Medicaid cuts in the package that would finance Trump's legislative agenda. Following a shout from one audience member. "Humans will perish!" He said, "Well, we are all going to die." Ernst agreed.

The event "really hit home with me," Scholten said in a quick interview with ABC News. "We require more capable leadership than that."

Ernst wrote, "I made an inaccurate assumption that everyone in the auditorium realized that, yes, we are all going to perish from this earth," in a mocking "apology" she released on Saturday for her remarks in what looked like a graveyard. I am very, very happy that I did not have to bring up the tooth fairy as well, and I apologize.

In 2018, Scholten narrowly lost to far-right Representative Steve King in her previous run for higher office. He currently represents the Sioux City area in the state house after losing the 2020 campaign for King's former seat to Rep. Randy Feenstra by a larger majority.

At the moment, he is a pitcher for the American Association of Baseball's Sioux City Explorers, a separate Major League Baseball partner league.

Noting that Iowa soybean farmers have been enmeshed in the trade conflict with China, Scholten stated that he also intends to turn the Democratic primary into a referendum on President Donald Trump's trade policies should he win.

Democrats have not won a Senate contest in Iowa since 2008, despite the fact that some of the state's House seats are anticipated to be competitive in 2026.

Democratic state lawmaker J.D. Scholten, who is most known for his failed 2018 campaign against lawmaker Steve King of Iowa, stated on Monday that he felt forced to run against Ms. Ernst due to her remarks.

Ms. Ernst said, "Well, we all are going to die," in response to a town hall participant who shouted that "people are going to die" as a result of the proposed Medicaid cuts on Friday. Then, over the weekend, she posted a video on social media mocking her detractors.

Mr. Scholten declared his intention to run for the Senate before his campaign had created a website, produced a promotional video, or distributed fundraising materials. He claimed that because Ms. Ernst had been "disrespectful to Iowans," he made an impromptu choice.

In an interview on Monday, Mr. Scholten stated, "I am not a politician who plans things." "At the start of the year, I was not aware of this race. However, I decided that I had to accept this challenge.

In the primary, a number of Democrats are expected to run against Ms. Ernst, who will continue to be the front-runner due to Iowa's conservative slant. One candidate who attended Ms. Ernst's town hall on Friday was Nathan Sage, a Marine Corps veteran who served in Iraq and is presently the leader of the Chamber of Commerce in Knoxville, Iowa. Democratic state senator Zach Wahls has been getting ready to declare his candidacy.

According to the interview, Mr. Scholten's message to Iowa's Democratic primary voters was that he had outperformed the top-seeded Democrats in his races, including two unsuccessful bids for Congress and his elections to the State House. Additionally, he mentioned that he represents the most Republican region in a red state—western Iowa.

"I think it is pretty clear that we represent a very good possibility for the Democrats and the best chance for the Democrats to take on Joni Ernst if we are going to have an electability primary," he stated.

Politico had already reported his announcement.

In a number of red areas, including Iowa, Democrats are optimistic that their candidates will win the midterm elections next year by riding a wave of resistance to President Trump. Democrats will need to retake at least four Republican-held seats and hold onto their seats in Georgia, Michigan, and New Hampshire in order to regain a majority in the chamber.

After that, the math becomes difficult for Democrats. Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Susan Collins of Maine, two Republican senators in challenging areas, are anticipated to face well-funded opponents. From a group that includes Iowa, Alaska, Mississippi, and Texas, the party would need to win Senate contests in at least two additional red states.

Mr. Scholten will not be out on the campaign trail full time for a few months. He pitches in minor league baseball and joined his hometown independent team, the Sioux City Explorers, on Sunday. He stated that he intended to stay with the team until early September, when the season ends.

"Talking to people who attend the games but are not necessarily politically active is how I get votes," Mr. Scholten, 45, stated. Not just our supporters, but also my teammates. The Democrats have a problem with young males, you know. Every day I speak to young males. I converse with my catcher, who is 21 years my junior.