Joni Ernst will not search reelection to Senate in 2026, sources say

Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa has instructed confidantes she plans to disclose subsequent week that she will not search reelection in 2026, a number of sources accustomed to the matter instructed CBS Information.

Ernst’s announcement is scheduled for Thursday, the sources stated. Ernst, 55, has served within the U.S. Senate since 2015.

Spokespeople for Ernst didn’t reply to requests for remark. 

Some Iowa Democrats have already jumped into the race, together with state Sen. Zach Wahls, state Rep. Josh Turek, and Des Moines Faculty Board chairwoman Jackie Norris. 

Ernst has been evasive about whether or not she would run for a 3rd time period in 2026, however in public remarks earlier this month, predicted continued GOP management of Iowa. 

“Day by day we get a brand new Democratic member of the Home or Senate that decides to run for this Senate seat — carry it on,” she stated at a gathering of the Westside Conservative Membership. “Deliver it on, of us. As a result of I inform you, on the finish of the day, Iowa goes to be purple.”

White Home officers had hoped Ernst would run once more, as an alternative of becoming a member of different Republicans who’re leaving the Senate, together with North Carolina’s Thom Tillis, Alabama’s Tommy Tuberville and Kentucky’s Mitch McConnell. 

GOP Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee introduced a run for governor however her Senate time period doesn’t expire till 2030. 

Ernst has instructed folks near her that she supposed to serve solely two phrases, she has achieved what she got down to do, and intends to go to the personal sector, one of many sources stated. 

She grew up in rural southwestern Iowa and graduated from Iowa State College. She joined the Military reserves, retiring as a lieutenant colonel within the Iowa Military Nationwide Guard, after excursions in Kuwait and Iraq. 

Ernst served in native and Iowa state authorities earlier than working for an open U.S. Senate seat in 2014. She rose to the No. 3 management place within the Republican convention and has been a dependable vote for President Trump’s agenda. She was interviewed by Trump as a possible vice presidential choose in 2016, however finally withdrew from consideration.

Caitlin Huey-Burns and

Nikole Killion

contributed to this report.