Joni Ernst plans to retire from the Senate in 2026, sources say
Iowa Senator Joni Ernst is expected to reveal next week that she will not seek reelection in 2026, with an announcement anticipated on Thursday. Ernst, 55, has served in the U.S. Senate since 2015.
Spokespeople for Ernst did not respond to requests for comment. The move opens up a high-stakes, open-seat race in a state that has been a Republican stronghold in recent years.
Democrats in Iowa are already lining up for the contest, including state Sen. Zach Wahls, state Rep. Josh Turek, and Des Moines School Board chair Jackie Norris, signaling a competitive primary and a potential general-election matchup.
Ernst has not been shy about her political trajectory in public remarks, and in recent days she has suggested that Republicans will continue to control Iowa, emphasizing her belief that the state will remain red.
White House officials had hoped Ernst would seek another term, especially as several other Republicans have departed the Senate, such as North Carolina’s Thom Tillis, Alabama’s Tommy Tuberville, and Kentucky’s Mitch McConnell, though McConnell has not indicated retirement. Another note from the politics beat is that Ernst has long told confidants she planned to serve two terms, accomplish her goals, and then transition to the private sector.
Her background helps explain her political rise: she grew up in rural southwest Iowa, is an Iowa State University alum, and served in the Army reserves, retiring as a lieutenant colonel in the Iowa Army National Guard after tours in Kuwait and Iraq. Before joining the Senate, she held local and state government roles and won election to open-seat Senate in 2014. She later rose to a top leadership position in the Republican caucus and became known as a staunch supporter of the agenda pursued by former President Trump, including a potential 2016 vice presidential consideration that did not come to pass.
What this could mean for Iowa and national politics: a major open-seat race in a pivotal swing state, with early moves by both parties signaling a two-year sprint to define the contest. Ernst’s planned departure also paves the way for new leadership within the Iowa delegation and could reshape committee dynamics and fundraising landscapes ahead of 2026.
Summary: Iowa’s Joni Ernst is reportedly planning to retire from the Senate in 2026, prompting a crowded race on both sides and signaling a significant transition for Iowa politics. A hopeful note for supporters is that the change could energize new voices and fresh policy approaches for the state.