BREAKING: Joni Ernst not seeking reelection: report

Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) will not seek reelection in the 2026 midterms, according to a new report from CBS News, citing sources familiar with the matter. The outlet reported that the Iowa senator plans on making the announcement next week about not seeking reelection.

The announcement is reportedly scheduled for Thursday, the outlet reported. Ernst has avoided the question of if she would run for a third term, and the outlet reported that those close to her were told that she set out to serve two terms, and that has been accomplished. 

The Iowa senator has been in office since 2015 and will join other GOP senators who are also leaving their role, including Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), and Mitch McConnell (R-KY). 

Some Democrats have already jumped into the Senate race in Iowa, including state Sen. Zach Wahls, state Rep. Josh Turek, and Des Moines School Board chairwoman Jackie Norris. Although she did no say she would run, Ernst predicted that the Senate seat would still go to Republicans. "Every day we get a new Democratic member of the House or Senate that decides to run for this Senate seat — bring it on," Ernst said at a Westside Conservative Club meeting. "Bring it on, folks. Because I tell you, at the end of the day, Iowa is going to be red."

Previous to becoming a senator, Ernst served in the local and state government of Iowa before a Senate seat opened up in 2014. Since becoming elected, she has become the third in charge of the Republican conference in the Senate. Although she was interviewed by Trump in 2016 as a VP pick, she withdrew herself from consideration.