Senate candidate speaks out against big money

Within a close-knit environment in a Pizza Ranch private room, Nathan Sage, running as a Democrat to take over the U.S. Senate seat left open by Sen. Joni Ernst, spoke to residents of Southwest Iowa who were likely to be unfamiliar with the Knoxville native.

At times fiery and at times emotional, the Marine Corps veteran explained how he’s ingrained himself in Knoxville as a sports radio host for 95.3 KNIA and former executive director of the Knoxville Chamber of Commerce.

Sage faces two main challengers when the Democratic primary arrives next year. Josh Turek and Zach Wahls are also running for the nomination, both with experience in the Iowa legislature.

Recounting his background, which he described as “growing up in poverty in Mason City in a trailer park,” Sage said he knew higher education was “out of the realm of possibility.” Still, he was able to graduate from Kansas State University as the first member of his family to go to college.

“I like to look myself as the poster child of why we need strong unions, higher-paying wages and lower health care costs,” Sage said. “If we had that growing up, things would have been a lot different.”

Following 9/11, Sage joined the military, serving two tours in Iraq as a Marine and one tour in the Army. From this time, Sage receives 30% disabled benefits for PTSD. As someone who regularly visits Veteran’s Affairs and uses services such as telehealth, which Sage said saved him, he understands how important maintaining those services can be.

After his military service, Sage was able to go to college. Still, with a family to take care of, Sage took classes during the day and worked through the night. Although extreme, Sage said this was essential for the time and gave him a perspective more akin to constituents than other politicians.

“That’s what working-class does,” Sage said. “We work. We have to support our families. We have to make it somehow.”

After graduating, Sage used his degree in journalism to work with Knoxville radio, where he was able to monitor local politics while also rooting himself within his local community. Sage recounted an instance speaking with Amy Sinclair where the state senator had “lied to [his] face” about school vouchers.

When Sage started collaborating with local small businesses, he said “a light turned on.” As a marketing director, Sage worked to sell advertising for rural businesses. However, Sage recounted how hard it was for these businesses to afford advertising.

“You learn really quick, main street businesses in rural Iowa, they’re just trying to keep the lights on,” Sage said. “They’re trying to keep the doors open. They’re trying to be that beacon of light for their community. And a lot of them are struggling.”

Sage, noting his own anger on the subject, said “the rich keep getting richer while the poor are getting poorer and we’re at the bottom scraping for what we get to get by. What are we doing? I’m tired of it. I’m tired of every single day struggling.”

Shifting focus to U.S. leaders, Sage said the majority of them aren’t representative of their constituents. He went as far to say that those in power were paid off by corporations and “don’t care about anyone in this room.”

Sage was in support of raising the minimum wage, which he called the current minimum of $7.25/hr “insane.” Lowering health care costs, and eliminating pharmaceutical companies as middlemen between the government and those in need, were also in his sights.

One goal, which Sage said he liked talking about the most, was overturning Citizens United. This refers to a Supreme Court decision on Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, which removed restrictions for political spending by companies, saying corporations have the right under free speech.

This matter of undisclosed spending, including the trend of insider trading and other forms of dark money, was criticized by Sage.

“The only way to get proper representation is to get big money out of politics,” Sage said.

Sage noted how his appearance didn’t always align with party values, but was more supportive of defined, clear leadership. Although critical of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, he noted the stalemate established during this cycle of the government shutdown for the sake of health care tax credits showed a willingness to fight for constituents.

Citing Iowa’s status as the state with the fastest rising cancer rate, Sage recounted an emotional experience with the months before his father passed. While navigating health care, Sage and his family visited his father’s apartment to empty it before his father passed.

Sage encountered the landlord for the building, who requested next month’s rent. After Sage informed the landlord of his father’s condition, the landlord responded coldly.

“[They] said, ‘well, he’s not dead yet,’” Sage said.

This experience left a permanent impact on Sage, who promised to fight against corporate interests. Focusing on the rights of the average citizen, Sage lamented the overturning of Roe v. Wade and fights against transgender rights.

Sage promised to be a candidate that would fight for Iowans, protecting the rights of citizens and continuously supporting the average person’s interests.

“My name is Nathan Sage. I’m running for U.S. Senate because I want to help people,” Sage said. “I want to fight for people. I’m a working-class guy, I like to say I have a little street cred. I know what it’s like to live in a world where nobody wants you, you’ve been lied to and left behind.”