High Profile Republican Senator Will Not Seek Reelection

To be honest, I wasn’t expecting this.

Republican U.S. Senator Joni Ernst will reportedly not seek reelection in 2026.

Ernst, who has served in the Senate since 2015, will announce her decision on Thursday.

She joins Alabama’s Tommy Tuberville, Kentucky’s Mitch McConnell, and North Carolina’s Thom Tillis, who have all decided not to seek reelection.

CBS reported more details on Ernst’s decision:

Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa has told confidantes she plans to reveal next week that she won’t seek reelection in 2026, multiple sources familiar with the matter told CBS News.

Ernst’s announcement is scheduled for Thursday, the sources said. Ernst, 55, has served in the U.S. Senate since 2015.

Some Iowa Democrats have already jumped into the race, including state Sen. Zach Wahls, state Rep. Josh Turek, and Des Moines School Board chairwoman Jackie Norris.

Ernst has been evasive about whether she would run for a third term in 2026, but in public remarks earlier this month, predicted continued GOP control of Iowa.

“Every day we get a new Democratic member of the House or Senate that decides to run for this Senate seat — bring it on,” she said at a meeting of the Westside Conservative Club. “Bring it on, folks. Because I tell you, at the end of the day, Iowa is going to be red.”

CNN reported on which Republican plans to run for Ernst’s open seat:

Ernst has been wrestling with the decision for months, but began telling friends in recent days. Her retirement creates an open Senate seat in Iowa.

Rep. Ashley Hinson is making plans to jump into the race, one GOP official says. A crowded field of Democrats is already running.