Sen. Joni Ernst has announced that she will not seek reelection in 2026, saying the decision followed extensive prayer and personal reflection.
In a statement, she said the choice was difficult but made after careful consideration of her future and long record of public service.
Ernst reflected on her background, noting her Iowa roots and her path from farm life to military service and the U.S. Senate.
She said she never expected to become a lieutenant colonel and later one of Iowa’s most prominent elected officials.
First elected in 2014, Ernst made history as the first female combat veteran elected to the U.S. Senate.
During her time in office, she emphasized efforts to reduce waste, fraud, and regulatory burdens in government.
Her announcement creates an open-seat race in Iowa in 2026 that is expected to attract significant political attention.
Iowa’s Senate race is likely to become one of the most closely watched contests of the election cycle, with both parties preparing for a competitive campaign to fill the seat.
Her departure marks the end of a notable chapter in Iowa politics, as Ernst leaves behind a decade-long record in the Senate that shaped debates on defense, spending, and government reform at both the state and national levels in recent years period
