Democratic Iowa Senate candidate Rep. Bruce Braley called the state’s long-serving Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley a “farmer from Iowa who never went to law school,” and who should therefore not be chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Braley made the disparaging remark at a Texas fundraiser with trial lawyers. His statement was captured on video:
“To put this in stark contrast, if you help me win this race, you may have someone with your background, your experience, your voice. Someone who’s been literally fighting tort reform for 30 years, in a visible and public way, on the Senate Judiciary Committee,” Braley said.
“Or, you might have a farmer from Iowa, who never went to law school, never practiced law, serving as the next chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee,” Braley continued.
“Because if Democrats lose the majority, Chuck Grassley will be chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee,” Braley said.
Braley is running for Iowa’s open U.S. Senate seat, trying to replace Tom Harkin, who is retiring.
Grassley has been a U.S. senator for Iowa since 1981.
This report has been updated.