Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst reportedly not seeking reelection in 2026

U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) is set to publicly announce that she will not seek a third term in the Senate, according to a report from CBS News. Ernst, who is 55 years old, was first elected to the Senate in 2014, where she became a vocal proponent of President Donald Trump’s controversial agenda. Ernst drew criticism when she held a town hall event in May, where she vigorously defended Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill. The lawmaker responded to the crowd’s concerns that people will die because of the Medicaid cuts in the bill by saying, “We are all going to die.”

U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) responds to constituents saying Medicaid cuts will kill people:

“Well, we are all going to die.” pic.twitter.com/qAOXfbtEXe — Heartland Signal (@HeartlandSignal) May 30, 2025

With Ernst out of the race, Democrats have a much better chance of flipping the Iowa Senate seat which was held by Sen. Tom Harkin (D) for three decades before he retired. Ernst won the seat on the back of millions funneled into her election by the Koch brothers. Former Iowa state Sen. Jim Carlin (R) will likely be the frontrunner on the Republican side. State Rep. Josh Turek (D-Council Bluffs) and state Sen. Zach Wahls (D-Coralville) lead the Democratic candidates. A Public Policy Poll released on Aug. 22 indicated a competitive race for Ernst, with Wahls ahead of her by two percentage points.

Iowans are ready for new leadership. Whoever the @GOP nominates to fill Joni Ernst’s shoes will have to defend her awful record. And we will defeat them. pic.twitter.com/K4cUMgoA61

— Zach Wahls (@ZachWahls) August 29, 2025