Sen. Joni Ernst to announce she won’t seek Iowa Senate re-election
Republican Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa Announces Retirement
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Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa has confirmed that she will not seek re-election in next year’s midterms, according to three sources.
The 55-year-old Ernst, who has served in the Senate since 2014, is expected to make an official announcement next week.
Ernst, a retired Army Reserve and Iowa National Guard officer who served in the Iraq War, has been contemplating whether to run for re-election in 2026.
The senator’s decision to retire instead of seeking a third six-year term opens up a Senate seat in Iowa.
Iowa Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson Plans to Run for Senate
Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, arrives for a closed briefing for members of the Senate Armed Services Committee at the U.S. Capitol on July 29, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
GOP Rep. Ashley Hinson, a former TV news anchor representing Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District, is planning to run to succeed Ernst, according to multiple sources.
Iowa, once a battleground state, has shifted to the right in recent election cycles, with Republicans currently holding both Senate seats and all congressional districts.
Democrats in Iowa are energized after flipping two GOP-held state Senate seats in special elections this year.
Senate Republicans Aim to Defend Majority in 2026 Elections
Republicans are looking to defend and expand their current Senate majority in the upcoming elections. Ernst’s retirement creates an open seat that will be closely watched by both parties.
The GOP faces political headwinds in midterm elections, but they are targeting vulnerable Democratic incumbents in key states like Georgia, Michigan, New Hampshire, and Minnesota.
Meanwhile, the party is defending an open seat in battleground North Carolina, where Republican Sen. Thom Tillis is not seeking re-election.
This story is developing. Stay tuned for updates.
