J.D. Scholten, a paralegal and former baseball standout who recently returned to his home of Sioux City, has announced that he will challenge Congressman Steve King in Iowa’s 4th Congressional District.
Born in Ames and raised in Sioux City, Scholten played baseball in high school and later for Morningside College in Sioux City and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln before going pro, playing in seven countries throughout his career. He also worked as a paralegal in both Minnesota and Seattle before returning to Iowa to help his parents in their retirement and consider a bid against King.
In June, the Informer was the first to report that Scholten was considering a bid after Kim Weaver, a fellow Democrat, dropped out of the race, citing death threats and family obligations as reasons for her withdrawal.
Scholten continues to work as a freelance paralegal and technical consultant, specializing in intellectual property law. According to a press release, he “is a lifelong Democrat who protested the Iraq war and has volunteered on local, state, and national campaigns.”
In the press release, posted on his campaign website, Scholten also explained his reasons for challenging King:
I’m running for Congress because the 4th District deserves someone who truly represents the people of this district. Like most Americans, I am sick and tired of how divisive politics in this country has become, and how divorced it is from people’s lives. I was raised to believe that hard work, civility, and community are the values we should all aspire to, and I’m committed to bringing the same values and a new energy to this campaign. The 4th needs a voice that cares more about building our district’s future than it does about dividing us apart.
It’s going to take a unified effort to defeat Steve King and restore the voice of the people — our government is supposed to work for the people that live in this district, not for special interests and the privileged elite. I want to put Iowa values back at the center of public service, create new opportunities for Iowa’s middle class, and ensure that Iowans never again need to worry about healthcare as a barrier to living free, productive, and successful lives.
I look forward to being on the campaign trail everyday, meeting voters, listening to their concerns, and earning their support.
