J. D. Scholten

J. D. Scholten is an American politician and former professional baseball player serving as a member of the Iowa House of Representatives for District 1. A progressive Democrat often described as a populist, he gained national attention for his competitive congressional campaigns in Iowa's 4th district in 2018 and 2020. Beyond his legislative work, Scholten is noted for his unique career as a professional baseball pitcher, having played in multiple countries and becoming the only elected official to concurrently compete in professional baseball. He has announced his retirement from the Iowa House at the end of the 2026 legislative session.