U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst will not seek reelection in 2026, according to two people familiar with her decision, setting off a massive upheaval in one of Iowa’s marquee midterm contests.
Speculation has swirled for months around Ernst’s intentions as the senator delayed announcing a formal reelection campaign, despite hiring a campaign manager in June and scheduling her annual Roast and Ride fundraiser for October.
It’s the second time Iowa’s political landscape has been upended by a retirement this year, after Gov. Kim Reynolds announced in April that she would not seek another term as governor.
Ernst’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
Ernst was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2014 and is serving her second term. She is the first woman elected to Congress from Iowa and the first female combat veteran to serve in the Senate.
The former state senator served in the Iowa Army National Guard for 23 years and retired as a lieutenant colonel.
When first seeking the office in 2014, she promised to serve just two terms in the Senate — a pledge that both Republican and Democratic challengers have sought to use against her this year as she moved toward running for a third term.
Ernst already faced a Republican primary challenge from former state Sen. Jim Carlin, who unsuccessfully ran a primary campaign against U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley in 2022, as well as Joshua Smith. But her announcement is almost certain to spur higher-profile Republicans to enter the race.
Ernst has endured national scrutiny over comments she made at a May 30 town hall, saying, “well, we all are going to die” after a constituent shouted that people would die due to Medicaid cuts in President Donald Trump’s budget bill.
The next day, after facing backlash, Ernst shared a sarcastic apology video that she filmed while walking through a cemetery.
The GOP senator also received criticism from the right earlier this year after raising concerns about Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth while considering whether to support him for the job. She eventually voted to confirm him.
Four Democrats are seeking their party’s nomination for U.S. Senate next year: state Sen. Zach Wahls, state Rep. Josh Turek, Des Moines School Board Chair Jackie Norris and former Knoxville Chamber of Commerce Director Nathan Sage.
Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at sgrubermil@registermedia.com or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on X at @sgrubermiller.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Joni Ernst reelection: US Sen. expected to announce she won’t run
