Child welfare attorney, Kimberly Graham, is one of five candidates seeking the Democratic Party’s nomination to challenge Republican incumbent, Joni Ernst, for her seat in the U.S. Senate and hosted a campaign stop in Carroll’s Queen Beans Tuesday afternoon. Graham is a graduate of the Drake University Law School and has spent her career representing abused and neglected kids in juvenile court. She is campaigning on a broad range of issues, including criminal justice and immigration reform, racial equality and more, but she considers healthcare to be the most pressing topic of this election cycle.
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She supports transitioning to a universal, single-payer healthcare system like the one used in Canada.
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Graham adds it does not seem right to her that private insurance companies can post enormous profits off the backs of sick people. Another of Graham’s key issues is climate change.
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Graham backs the Green New Deal introduced last year by New York Congresswoman, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, which aims to drastically reduce the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions and invest in renewable energy. She is also campaigning on other progressive ideals, including a $15 federal minimum wage, increased standards for gun ownership and reducing student loan burdens. Graham has four declared challengers for the party’s nomination: retired U.S. Navy Admiral, Michael Franken; real estate broker, Theresa Greenfield; businessman and teacher, Eddie Mauro; and West Des Moines realtor, Cal Woods. The Democratic primary is scheduled for Tuesday, June 2.