J. D. Scholten

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J. D. Scholten
Scholten in 2022
Member of the Iowa House of Representatives
from the 1st district
Assumed office
January 9, 2023
Preceded byJohn Wills
Personal details
Born
James Dennis Scholten

(1980-03-04) March 4, 1980 (age 44)
Ames, Iowa, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationUniversity of Nebraska–Lincoln (BA)
WebsiteCampaign website

James Dennis Scholten[1] (born March 4, 1980) is an American paralegal, politician and retired professional baseball player from the state of Iowa. He is a member of the Iowa House of Representatives for District 1. Scholten was the Democratic nominee for Iowa's 4th congressional district in the 2018 and 2020 elections.

Early life[edit]

Scholten was born in Ames, Iowa, in 1980.[2] His family moved to Sioux City, Iowa, when he was four years old. He attended East High School in Sioux City, and played for their baseball and basketball teams.[3] Scholten attended Morningside College, where he played college baseball as a pitcher and first baseman for three years, and then transferred to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln to pitch for the Nebraska Cornhuskers as a senior. In 2002, he led the Cornhuskers in earned run average.[4] Scholten graduated from Nebraska in December 2003.[1]

Career[edit]

Professional baseball[edit]

After graduating from college, Scholten played professional baseball, making his professional debut for the Saskatoon Legends of the Canadian Baseball League, an independent baseball league, in 2003.[5] When the league folded during the season, he signed with the Sioux City Explorers of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, formerly of the Northern League.[6] He returned to Sioux City in 2004, and then played in Belgium in 2005 before returning to Sioux City.[7] In total, he played baseball in seven countries—the U.S., Canada, Belgium, Germany, France, the Netherlands, and Cuba.[8]

After retiring from baseball, Scholten became a paralegal. He worked for firms in Minneapolis and Seattle that focused on intellectual property, and returned to Sioux City after the 2016 United States elections.[4]

Politics[edit]

Scholten at a Pete Buttigieg rally in November 2019

In the 2018 elections, Scholten ran against Republican incumbent Steve King for the United States House of Representatives in Iowa's 4th congressional district.[9][10][11] He lost, 50%–47% in a closer showing than expected.[12] In January 2019, Scholten announced the formation of a nonprofit group to help low-income Iowans gain more information about the earned income tax credit.[13][14]

In August 2019, Scholten announced that he would seek a rematch against King in the 2020 elections.[15][16] He was unopposed in the primary election and faced Randy Feenstra, who had defeated King in the Republican primary.[17] Scholten lost to Feenstra by a 25 point margin.[18]

On March 16, 2022, Scholten announced his candidacy for District 1 in the Iowa House of Representatives.[19] He was unopposed in the Democratic Party primary and the general election.[20][21]

In 2023, while serving in the Iowa House of Representatives, Scholten signed with the Oosterhout Twins in the Honkbal Hoofdklasse. He continued to work as a legislator remotely.[22]

Scholten is running for reelection in the 2024 elections.[23]

Personal life[edit]

Scholten's father, Jim, was Morningside College's baseball coach.[24][25]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "1,450 to Receive Degrees at Dec. 20 Commencement". University of Nebraska-Lincoln. December 20, 2003. Archived from the original on June 29, 2006. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  2. ^ Rebecca Zweig (October 22, 2018). "J.D. Scholten Bets the Farm on Beating Steve King". The Nation. Archived from the original on October 24, 2018. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
  3. ^ Block, Tim (February 17, 1998). "East's Scholten 'passing' muster". Sioux City Journal. Retrieved May 29, 2020 – via Newspapers.com. (subscription required)
  4. ^ a b Hayworth, Bret. "Former Sioux City Explorer Scholten pitches his fitness for Iowa's 4th District seat". Sioux City Journal. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  5. ^ "J.D. Scholten". Baseball Reference. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  6. ^ "Explorers rough up Canaries, 14–8". Sioux City Journal. July 28, 2003. p. B1. Retrieved May 29, 2020 – via Newspapers.com. (subscription required)
  7. ^ "2007 Sioux City Explorers". Sioux City Journal. May 10, 2007. p. B7. Retrieved May 29, 2020. (subscription required)
  8. ^ Judd, Donald (August 5, 2019). "Iowa native JD Scholten announces second bid to unseat GOP Rep. Steve King". CNN. CNN. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  9. ^ Andy Kroll (October 30, 2018). "Who Is J.D. Scholten, Steve King's Iowa Challenger? – Rolling Stone". Rollingstone.com. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
  10. ^ "Scholten wins Democratic bid to face U.S. Rep. Steve King in Iowa's 4th District". Des Moines Register. June 6, 2018. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
  11. ^ "Iowa election 2018 results: Republican Steve King overcomes strong challenge". Des Moines Register. November 5, 2018. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  12. ^ "Steve King outlasts J.D. Scholten; lashes out at attempts by critics to 'Kavanaugh-ize' him | Government and Politics". Sioux City Journal. November 7, 2018. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  13. ^ "J.D. Scholten. former Steve King foe, launches nonprofit, leaves door open for 2020 run". Des Moines Register. January 23, 2019. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  14. ^ "J.D. Scholten calls for Iowa farmers to attend rally in Storm Lake | Government and Politics". Sioux City Journal. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  15. ^ "JD Scholten launches second bid to unseat Steve King". The Hill. August 5, 2019. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  16. ^ Judd, Donald (August 5, 2019). "'We built something, and we earned the votes': Iowa native JD Scholten announces second bid to unseat Rep. Steve King – CNNPolitics". Cnn.com. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  17. ^ "Scholten says he's ready for Feenstra".
  18. ^ "J.D. Scholten, a Progressive Who Almost Unseated Steve King, Concedes in Iowa Race". November 3, 2020.
  19. ^ Richardson, Ian (March 16, 2022). "Democrat J.D. Scholten, former Congressional candidate, is running for Iowa House". Des Moines Register. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  20. ^ "J.D. Scholten among Iowa legislature advancing, unopposed, to November general election".[permanent dead link]
  21. ^ McNett, Jared (November 8, 2022). "Newly-elected legislators J.D. Scholten, Kevin Alons among Iowa statehouse winning candidates with no challengers". Sioux City Journal. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  22. ^ https://www.thegazette.com/state-government/sioux-city-rep-j-d-scholten-making-a-return-to-baseball/
  23. ^ https://siouxcityjournal.com/news/local/government-politics/scholten-iowa-legislature-reelection/article_93ad1590-8ed1-11ee-b9e0-f7be77b0b9c9.html
  24. ^ "Sioux City native Scholten returns to Explorers". Sioux City Journal. April 4, 2007. p. B1. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  25. ^ Poe, Barry (April 28, 2011). "College Baseball: Scholten will retire as Morningside coach". Sioux City Journal. Retrieved July 23, 2020.

External links[edit]

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