Iowa senator Joni Ernst won't seek reelection: Democrats eye flipping majority in midterm - reports

Iowa Republican Senator Joni Ernst will not seek a third term in 2026, according to two sources familiar with her decision, CNN reported. The 55-year-old senator is expected to make a formal announcement next week, setting the stage for a competitive open-seat race in a key Midwestern state.

Representative Ashley Hinson , a fellow Iowa Republican, is preparing to enter the race, a GOP official told the portal. National Republicans have long viewed Hinson as a strong contender, anticipating Ernst's potential retirement.

On the Democratic side, the field is already crowded. Primary candidates include state Representative Josh Turek, a Paralympian wheelchair basketball player, state Senator Zach Wahls, Knoxville chamber of commerce executive director Nathan Sage, and Des Moines School board chair Jackie Norris.

First elected in 2014, Ernst gained national attention with her "Make 'em squeal" slogan promising to cut government spending. However, she has occasionally faced criticism - most notably when she told a constituent concerned about Medicaid cuts, "we are all going to die," during a town hall.

Ernst has struggled at times to navigate the political divide within the Republican party between traditional conservatives and Trump-aligned voters. While Iowa has shifted rightward in recent cycles - with Trump winning the state by 8 points in 2020 and 13 points in 2024 - recent Democratic wins in special elections have prompted renewed optimism within the party.

Democrats need to flip four Senate seats in the 2026 midterms to regain control. While their main target remains an open-seat race in North Carolina, they are also eyeing opportunities in Iowa, Ohio, Maine, and Texas.