Senator Joni Ernst announces she won’t seek re-election in Iowa Senate

Sen. Joni Ernst, a Republican of Iowa, will not be re-elected in the middle of next year.

Ernst, 55, was first elected to the Senate in 2014 and is expected to make a formal announcement next week.

Ernst, a retired Army Reserve and Iowa National Guard who served in the Iraq War, has been running for re-election for several months in 2026.

The Senator’s decision to retire rather than seek a third six-year term has established an open seat in Iowa.

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Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson, a former TV news anchor who represents Iowa’s second congressional district in her third term, which covers the northeastern part of the state, is planning a run to replace Ernst, a number of sources for Fox News.

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Iowa was once the highest battlefield for former President Barack Obama’s victory in 2008 and 2012. But the state has moved to the right in the recent election cycle, with President Donald Trump improving the state with eight points in 2020 and 13 points last November.

Republicans currently own seats in the state’s Senate – Ernst and longtime Senator Chuck Grassley, as well as all four congressional districts in Iowa, as well as all statewide offices, except for the state auditor held by Democrat Rob Sand, who runs for governor next year.

But Iowa Democrats are full of energy after flipping two Republican Senate seats in special elections so far this year.

Four Democrats are already running for the Senate in Iowa. The field includes state Rep. Josh Turek, Paralympic wheelchair basketball player, state Sen. Zach Wahls, Knoxville Chamber Executive Director Nathan Sage and Des Moines School Board Chairman Jackie Norris.

Ernst gained national attention 11 years ago with a “Make’Em Scream” ad as she won the high-profile Senate election for long-time Democratic Senate Tom Harkin, who was successfully retired.

Because of her military background, the senator often leads in defense issues.

Center Senator Joni Ernst spoke on Capitol Hill, speaking with Shelley Moore Capito, Steve Daines and John Thune. (Reuters)

Ernst has balanced support for the president since Trump won the White House in 2016, as she feels a more traditional Republican agenda.

Earlier this year, Ernst sparked controversy after “We’ll all die” as she responded to a voter at a town hall meeting who was concerned about Medicaid cuts in the Republican’s massive domestic policy bill.

Republicans’ goal is not only to defend the current 53-47 Senate majority in next year’s election.

Senate Republicans enjoyed a discounted map over the 2024 cycle as they moved four seats from the blue to win the majority.

But those in power (apparently Republicans are currently) face political headwinds in traditional terms in the midterms. However, the current reading of the 2026 map suggests that the Republicans may attack in certain critical states.

In the battlefield in Georgia that Trump almost carried in last year’s White House game, Republicans believe that the first Senator Jon Ossoff is the most vulnerable Democrat next year and there will be another election next year.

They also target the battlefield in Michigan, where Democratic Sen. Gary Peters will retire at the end of next year, while Swing State New Hampshire is where long-time Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen decided not to seek a fourth six-year term in the Senate.

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The NRSC’s target list is also Minnesota Blue Minnesota, where Democratic Sen. Tina Smith is not running for reelection.

But Republicans are defending an open seat on the North Carolina battlefield, with Republican Senator Thom Tills not seeking reelection.

This is a developing story. Please check the update.