Former U.S. Navy Admiral and Democratic Senate nominee Michael Franken held a rally at Chautauqua Park in Mt. Pleasant on July 30th. He spoke to the crowd about his previous experience in Washington. Franken also mentioned in his speech that he has reached out to Senator Charles Grassley’s camp multiple times to try and arrange a possible debate. After the rally, KCII spoke with Franken and elaborated on what he would want from a debate involving the longtime Iowa Senator.

“I’d let him ask the questions initially, and I’d let him use whatever format he desires. But I do believe he has a voting record, and we could go back a long way, or we could go back very recently and talk about if what he did was in the best interest of Iowans and the best interest of our nation. From background checks to asking him what he did as an adamant supporter of former President Trump that actually improved the lives of everyone.”

Grassley did debate his opponent Patty Judge in his 2016 Senate campaign. However, according to Franken, the Iowa Senator has not accepted any of his debate challenges.

Grassley’s office has come out against these claims stating that “Sen. Grassley will debate his opponent as he has in all prior campaigns. Sen. Grassley looks forward to highlighting Mike Franken’s unwavering support for President Biden’s failed record of historic inflation, lawlessness at the border, and crime on our streets. Mike Franken should have to answer why he believes President Biden is doing a ‘fabulous job’ while Iowans are struggling to afford groceries, rent, and gas.”