Dear MoveOn member,
On the campaign trail, Republican Senator Joni Ernst just repeated a QAnon coronavirus conspiracy theory, saying she's "so skeptical" of the death count and even suggesting that doctors and nurses are lying about cases to make money.1
"These health-care providers and others are reimbursed at a higher rate if COVID is tied to it, so what do you think they're doing?" she said.2
Yes, really, she said that. It's appalling. And it comes at a time when Iowa is seeing cases spike in what scientists say is one of the worst coronavirus outbreaks regionally in the entire nation and even the world.3
Mar, Ernst is running for re-election right now in one of the most competitive Senate races in the country.
Joni Ernst flipped a Senate seat long held by Democrats when she was elected in 2014 and is considered a rising star in the Republican Party.4 She had a prime-time speaking role at the Republican National Convention.5
Now, the Iowa Senate race is neck and neck.6 One of the most well-respected, nonpartisan election analysts in the nation, Larry Sabato, said today that the Iowa Senate race "remains close" but that Ernst "may eventually retain an edge" over Theresa.7
But, really, it's up to us—and what each of us does in the 55 days until Election Day. And we cannot let Ernst get away with accusing doctors and nurses on the front lines of the pandemic of making up cases of coronavirus for their own personal profit.
At least 1,198 Iowans have already died from COVID-19.8 We need to stop Ernst in her tracks. And, if Ernst loses re-election, Mitch McConnell will almost surely lose his Senate majority.
Will you donate $3 to Theresa Greenfield and help defeat Joni Ernst?
While Joni Ernst has spent her time carrying water for the Trump administration, Theresa Greenfield has been hard at work supporting Iowans and pushing for policies that will benefit the many, rather than the few.9
A native Iowan who grew up on a family farm, Theresa has seen firsthand the devastating realities of climate change on rural communities and small businesses and will fight for legislation to tackle the climate crisis. Joni Ernst, on the other hand, doesn't even admit that climate change exists.10
As a young widow and single mother of two children, Theresa relied on Social Security survivor benefits and will fight to protect Social Security. Sen. Ernst has said she only wants to discuss Social Security "behind closed doors."11
Theresa is a proud supporter of Planned Parenthood and is committed to fighting for abortion access and reproductive health care for all people, no matter where they live or how much money they make. Sen. Ernst has repeatedly introduced bills in Congress to defund Planned Parenthood and make it even more difficult for low-income people to access abortion.12
Theresa supports the Black Lives Matter movement, will push for the restoration of the Voting Rights Act when in the Senate, and supports policing reforms to end the epidemic of police violence against Black Americans and people of color. Sen. Ernst said that the protesters demanding racial justice in the wake of the murder of George Floyd were "just trying to be provocative."13
Joni Ernst has proven over and over again that she does not deserve her seat in the Senate. Theresa Greenfield does.
Thanks for all you do.
–Allison, Heather, Ann, Kate, and the rest of the team
Sources:
1. "'So skeptical': Sen. Joni Ernst echoes conspiracy theory questioning coronavirus death count," The Washington Post, September 2, 2020
https://act.moveon.org/go/143883?t=5&akid=273381%2E10220574%2EfyVmGB
2. Ibid.
3. Ibid.
4. Ibid.
5. "The lone vulnerable senator at the GOP convention," Roll Call, August 26, 2020
https://act.moveon.org/go/143885?t=7&akid=273381%2E10220574%2EfyVmGB
6. "Latest Polls, U.S. Senate, Iowa," FiveThirtyEight, accessed September 9, 2020
https://act.moveon.org/go/142294?t=9&akid=273381%2E10220574%2EfyVmGB
7. "The Post-Labor Day Sprint, Part One: The Senate," Sabato's Crystal Ball, September 9, 2020
http://act.moveon.org/go/143886?t=11&akid=273381%2E10220574%2EfyVmGB
8. "Iowa, Coronavirus Deaths," Worldometer, accessed September 9, 2020
https://act.moveon.org/go/143887?t=13&akid=273381%2E10220574%2EfyVmGB
9. "Theresa on the Issues," Theresa Greenfield for Iowa, accessed September 9, 2020
https://act.moveon.org/go/143884?t=15&akid=273381%2E10220574%2EfyVmGB
10. "Denying the truth of climate change hurts Iowa's farmers," The Gazette, February 6, 2020
https://act.moveon.org/go/142288?t=17&akid=273381%2E10220574%2EfyVmGB
11. "Sen. Ernst says lawmakers should discuss fixing Social Security 'behind closed doors,'" The Washington Post, September 5, 2019
https://act.moveon.org/go/142289?t=19&akid=273381%2E10220574%2EfyVmGB
12. "Sen. Joni Ernst Puts Planned Parenthood—and Access to Birth Control—on the Chopping Block," The Intercept, February 10, 2017
https://act.moveon.org/go/142282?t=21&akid=273381%2E10220574%2EfyVmGB
13. "What Joni Ernst Thinks Of Iowa's Black Lives Matter Protests," Iowa Starting Line, June 24, 2020
https://act.moveon.org/go/142290?t=23&akid=273381%2E10220574%2EfyVmGB
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