Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) is likely to announce that she won’t seek a third term in the Senate.
Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa), who has been in the Legislature since 2021 and previously worked as a reporter, is being discussed among GOP insiders.
CBS News initially reported that Ernst plans to step away from reelection, with an announcement anticipated on Thursday. Efforts to reach out to Ernst’s team for comments were made.
The Cook Political Report, which is nonpartisan, previously labeled her seat as “Republican” before news of her expected retirement emerged. Ernst previously faced a tough re-election battle in 2020 but won against Democratic challenger Teresa Greenfield by over six points.
Several Democrats are vying for Ernst’s position, including Jackie Norris, Nathan Sage, state lawmaker Josh Turek, and State Sen. Zack Walds.
Ernst, a military veteran and a survivor of sexual assault, played a significant role in confirming Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who dealt with allegations regarding excessive drinking and sexual assault earlier this year. Hegseth claimed the 2017 incident, in which he was accused of sexual assault, was agreed upon as a misunderstanding. He was not charged with any crime.
Iowa Republicans faced backlash during a City Hall meeting in May, with comments reflecting a sense of urgency about the future.
Ernst has shared her thoughts publicly, emphasizing her experience in winning hard-fought races. Besides her 2020 campaign, she previously won her contested primary in 2014. One of her notable campaign ads included the line, “Washington is full of big spenders. Let’s start crying.”
