Ernst 1 to announce decision not to seek reelection Thurs: CBS

Ernst 1 to announce decision not to seek reelection Thurs: CBS

Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa, has announced her decision not to seek reelection in the 2026 U.S. Senate race. The news was reported by CBS on July 2, 2025. This development comes after Ernst served two terms in the Senate, having been first elected in 2014 and re-elected in 2020. Her decision to step down marks a significant shift in Iowa's political landscape.

Ernst's announcement follows a period of speculation about her potential candidacy. In May 2025, she sparked controversy with a remark during a town hall meeting, which may have influenced her decision. The senator's decision to not run for re-election leaves the Republican Party with a key vacancy to fill in the upcoming elections.

In the Republican primary, several candidates have already expressed interest or declared their candidacy. Jim Carlin, a former state senator and 2022 Senate candidate, has filed paperwork to run. Joshua Smith, a former vice chair of the Libertarian National Committee, is also in the running. Additionally, John Berman has publicly expressed interest in the race. Ashley Hinson, a U.S. Representative from Iowa's 2nd congressional district, and Kari Lake, a former nominee for Governor of Arizona, have declined to run [1].

The Democratic primary has seen a few candidates declare their intentions to run. Nathan Sage, market director for KNIA, and Jackie Norris, chair of the Des Moines school board, are among the declared candidates. Josh Turek, a state representative from the 20th district, and Zach Wahls, a state senator from the 43rd district, have also announced their candidacies. J. D. Scholten, who previously ran for Iowa's 4th congressional district, has endorsed Josh Turek but has since withdrawn from the race [2].

Predictions for the 2026 U.S. Senate election in Iowa suggest that the Republican Party is likely to retain the seat, given the state's trend towards Republicanism. Polls indicate that Ernst, if she were to run, would face strong competition from Democratic candidates. The Republican Party's stronghold in Iowa, along with Ernst's decision not to seek reelection, could lead to a competitive primary race to determine the party's nominee [3].

Ernst's decision to not seek reelection will have implications for both the Republican and Democratic parties in Iowa. The Republican Party will need to select a strong candidate to maintain their hold on the Senate seat, while the Democratic Party will look to capitalize on the opportunity to challenge the GOP's dominance in the state. The upcoming primary elections will be crucial in shaping the political landscape of Iowa.

References:
[1] [NUMBER:1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_United_States_Senate_election_in_Iowa
[2] [NUMBER:1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_United_States_Senate_election_in_Iowa
[3] [NUMBER:1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_United_States_Senate_election_in_Iowa