IA-SEN: Democrat Nathan Sage ends U.S. Senate campaign
Democrat Nathan Sage ended his campaign for U.S. Senate Sunday, citing fundraising difficulties.
Sage, former executive director of the Knoxville Chamber of Commerce, was the first Democrat to enter the 2026 race for U.S. Senate — announcing his campaign in April 2025 before U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst had announced she would not seek reelection. Sage was the only Democratic candidate in the race when Ernst made a controversial comment at a May town hall, saying “we all are going to die,” when a member of the crowd yelled that people will die due to GOP-supported Medicaid cuts.
On the campaign trail, Sage spoke about his experience growing up in a trailer park in Mason City and serving in the military. He called for Iowans who were looking for a nontraditional, anti-establishment politician to back him in the race.
“I did not step into this race lightly, and I do not step away lightly,” Sage said in a statement announcing the end of his campaign.
https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2026/02/15/democrat-nathan-sage-ends-u-s-senate-campaign/
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