DES MOINES, Iowa — The Democratic field for a challenger to incumbent Senator Joni Ernst (R) is growing.

Iowa State Senator Zach Wahls announced his run for the seat on Wednesday morning. Wahls, from Coralville, has been serving District 43 since 2019. He tells WHO 13 News why he is now deciding to hop into the race.

“I’m running because Iowans are working hard but aren’t getting ahead. And I want to do something to help solve the problems that hardworking Iowans are facing. I’ve got a track record of standing up to leaders of both parties when they are not delivering for us. And that’s exactly what I’ll do in Washington. My wife and I started talking about it seriously this spring when we were watching everything that was happening in D.C.,” said Senator Wahls, (D) District 43 from Coralville.

Democrat Nathan Sage from Knoxville announced his bid for the office earlier in the year. Along with State Representative J.D. Scholten, from Sioux City. Wahls tells WHO 13 News that he isn’t focusing on his Democratic opponents in this primary race, instead focusing on the incumbent.

“The fact that Senator Ernst didn’t have the courage of her convictions to stand against the nomination of Pete Hegseth when she clearly had concerns that were valid, as we all found out when the Signal-gate story broke. And I think that unfortunately, Sen. Ernst has lost her way,” said Wahls. “We deserve a senator who isn’t going to glibly joke that we are all going to die, I mean we all know we are going to die, that’s a part of life. It’s not supposed to be our senators who are the ones killing us. We need someone who’s going to fight back for these benefits that so many Iowans count on.”

Wahls told WHO 13 News that he is eager to get out and campaign in all 99 Iowa counties and meet voters. Wahls is a 6th-generation Iowan who is eager to run on lowering costs, protecting health care and abortion rights, and providing affordable child care to Iowa’s families.