WATERLOO, Iowa (Legal Newsline) – A new poll shows U.S. Rep. and Senate-candidate Bruce Braley tied with his Republican rival, state Sen. Joni Ernst, a tea party favorite.
On June 3, Ernst, a lieutenant colonel in the Iowa Army National Guard, captured 56 percent of the primary vote to overcome her male Republican rivals.
Braley, a plaintiffs lawyer by trade and former head of the Iowa Trial Lawyers Association, was the only Democrat running for Iowa’s open U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Democrat Sen. Tom Harkin.
Two weeks after the primary, Braley led Ernst 44–40 percent, according to a June 18 Quinnipiac University poll.
Two months later, a Public Policy Polling survey has the candidates tied at 42 percent.
In the race for governor, the poll shows incumbent GOP Gov. Terry Branstad leading Democratic challenger Jack Hatch by a 48-35 percent margin.
The poll surveyed 915 Iowa voters and was conducted Friday-Sunday.
Reach David Yates at elections@legalnewsline.com
Latest poll shows Braley, Ernst tied in Iowa U.S. Senate race
