Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa just dropped a political bombshell by deciding not to seek re-election in the 2026 midterms.
According to Fox News, after months of deliberation, Ernst, a stalwart conservative voice since her 2014 election, is stepping away, leaving an open Senate seat in a state that’s trended hard to the right in recent years, as confirmed by multiple sources to Fox News.
First elected in 2014, Ernst burst onto the national scene with her memorable “make ‘em squeal” ads, a jab at Washington’s bloated spending that resonated with heartland voters tired of government overreach.
As the first female combat veteran in the Senate, having served in the Iraq War with the Army Reserve and Iowa National Guard, Ernst brought a unique perspective to Capitol Hill, especially on defense issues.
Her personal experience as a survivor of sexual assault fueled her passionate push to combat such crimes in the military—a cause that even the most progressive among us can’t help but respect, even if we spar over other policies.
Now, at 55, after years of balancing support for President Donald Trump with a more traditional GOP agenda, she’s ready to hang up her Senate spurs, with an official announcement expected next week.
Iowa itself has shifted dramatically since Ernst’s first win, moving from a battleground state carried by Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012 to a Republican stronghold, with Trump winning by 8 points in 2020 and a whopping 13 points in 2024.
Republicans now dominate the state, holding both Senate seats, all four congressional districts, and nearly every statewide office, save for the state auditor position held by Democrat Rob Sand, who’s eyeing the governor’s mansion in 2026.
Yet, Democrats aren’t rolling over—they’ve picked up steam by flipping two GOP state Senate seats in special elections this year, a reminder that even in red territory, complacency can cost you.
With Ernst’s exit, the race for her seat is already heating up, and GOP Rep. Ashley Hinson, a former TV news anchor now in her third term representing Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District in the northeast, is gearing up to throw her hat in the ring.
Hinson’s got name recognition and a conservative track record, but she’ll face a crowded Democratic field including state Rep. Josh Turek, a Paralympian wheelchair basketball player, state Sen. Zach Wahls, Knoxville Chamber of Commerce director Nathan Sage, and Des Moines School Board Chair Jackie Norris.
While the left may tout “diversity” in their lineup, let’s be honest—voters in Iowa care more about who’ll fight for their farms and freedoms than who checks the most identity boxes.
Earlier this year, Ernst stirred some eyebrows at a town hall when a voter pressed her on Medicaid cuts in a major GOP domestic policy bill, to which she quipped, “We are all going to die.”
Now, before the outrage machine revs up, let’s unpack that—Ernst likely meant it as a blunt reminder of life’s realities, not a dismissal of legitimate concerns, though it’s the kind of soundbite that fuels progressive talking points about “heartless conservatives.”
Turns out, in a state where every vote counts, such off-the-cuff remarks can linger longer than a bad harvest.
