Republicans have publicly and privately encouraged the 87-year-old Grassley to mount one more campaign, seeing his candidacy as a sure-fire way to lock down the Iowa Senate seat. The party is also eager to avoid another retirement after five of its incumbent senators announced that they will not run for reelection in 2022.

Democrats, meanwhile, saw their first prominent candidate, former Rep. Abby Finkenauer (D-Iowa), jump into the Senate race on Thursday.

Iowa will be a difficult target for Democrats, even if Grassley decides to retire. The party suffered a series of setbacks there in 2020: former President Donald Trump won the state by a more-than-8-point margin; Democrats failed in their effort to oust Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa); and the party lost control of two of its House seats – Finkenauer’s included.