Democrats are already expected to take a shellacking at the ballot box this fall.
But things keep getting worse.
And now one Democrat candidate is facing a criminal charge that could end her political campaign.
As farmers and working-class rural Americans in Iowa are shifting to the GOP, the Democrat Party is losing control of the state.
After Barack Obama won Iowa in 2008 and in 2012, Donald Trump carried the state by massive margins in 2016 and in 2020.
Since the GOP is heavily favored to win the Senate and Gubernatorial elections in Iowa this fall, the Democrats placed all their chips on making gains in the State House.
But after police arrested Iowa House District 28 candidate Sonya Heitshusen on reckless use of a firearm, the Democrats are facing more of an uphill battle in House races.
On June 27, Sonya Heitshusen allegedly fired a gun through a sliding glass door at her home, leading police to charge her with reckless use of a firearm.
The police report reads, “as she was placing the handgun onto the kitchen table, she pulled the trigger, discharging it.”
In 2014, Heitshusen pleaded guilty to drunk driving.
And alcohol was allegedly involved in the recent incident, which took place at 11PM at night.
In a statement to the Des Moines Register, Heitshusen denied the criminal charges.
She also said she kept a handgun in her home for self defense because she received several threatening messages.
“I’ve received ongoing threatening messages on social media,” Heitshusen wrote in a statement. “Knowing my partner was leaving town for an extended period of time, I checked one of the firearms, and while checking it, an accidental discharge of the firearm occurred.”
Heitshusen added that no one was hurt and she looked forward to resolving the incident.
“No one was hurt and no property was damaged other than my own,” Heitshusen’s statement added. “I take full responsibility for the accident and we reported it to the police. I look forward to this matter being resolved quickly.”
Grant Woodard, who serves as Heitshusen’s attorney, called the charges “baseless.”
“We believe that this is utterly baseless,” Woodard stated. “No crime was committed and Ms. Heitshusen will be exonerated, ultimately.”
Former Congressman David Young is running against Heitshusen.
But there’s less than four months until the General Election.
And Heitshusen’s arrest is expected to put this House race out of reach for Democrats this fall.
Political Animal News will keep you up-to-date on any new developments in this ongoing story.
