(Radio Iowa) – The Associated Press and other media organizations, Tuesday night, declared Chuck Grassley the winner of the G-O-P’s nomination as he seeks an eighth term in the U.S. Senate. Grassley released a video message after the race was called. “Thank you to all of you who supported my renomination so we could to turn around the bad policies of this administration,” Grassley said.

Jim Carlin, a Republican state senator from Sioux City, had challenged Grassley in Tuesday’s primary, the first time Grassley has faced a primary opponent since winning a seat in the senate in 1980. Grassley was in Washington, D.C. Tuesday night. In an audio recording released by the Grassley campaign, the 88-year-old senator celebrated his victory, but asked Republicans to unite behind the party’s General Election ticket.

“Quite a victory. I love serving the people of Iowa,” Grassley said. “Now that the primary’s over, I want everybody to unite so we can have a big victory in November. A big victory in Iowa contributes to Republicans taking over control of the United States Senate and House of Representatives.”

Grassley suggests the 2022 election will be a referendum on President Biden. “Just think of what I hear at my 99 county meetings – the Q&As with my constituents – they’re upset about inflation, gasoline prices, the border crisis,” Grassley said. “…So, we work hard between now and November the 8th and by doing that, we will save America from the bad policies of the socialistic endeavors of the progressive left.”

Grassley will face retired Navy Admiral Mike Franken in the November General Election.