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LetMyPeopleVote

(169,852 posts) Fri Aug 29, 2025, 12:41 PM Aug 29

Joni Ernst won't seek reelection to Senate in 2026, sources say

Source: CBS

Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa has told confidantes she plans to reveal next week that she won't seek reelection in 2026, multiple sources familiar with the matter told CBS News.

Ernst's announcement is scheduled for Thursday, the sources said. Ernst, 55, has served in the U.S. Senate since 2015.

Spokespeople for Ernst did not reply to requests for comment.

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

Ernst has been evasive about whether she would run for a third term in 2026, but in public remarks earlier this month, predicted continued GOP control of Iowa.

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/joni-ernst-wont-seek-reelection-to-senate-in-2026-sources-say/

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22 replies

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Joni Ernst won't seek reelection to Senate in 2026, sources say (Original Post) LetMyPeopleVote Aug 29 OP

She blew her wad BumRushDaShow Aug 29 #1

Hopefully, Ernst will feel free to tell trump to shove it on upcoming votes LetMyPeopleVote Aug 29 #10

I think she is too loon and unrepentant to turn back now. BumRushDaShow Aug 29 #14

Exactly.......... popsdenver Aug 29 #12

Bye, b**** sheshe2 Aug 29 #2

So who are the Republican candidates? Owens Aug 29 #3

The very least she could do. Fil1957 Aug 29 #4

Good riddance. (nt) Paladin Aug 29 #5

Adios, fucko JoseBalow Aug 29 #6

@joniernst drops out after @ZachWahls spent months holding her accountable for supporting the biggest Medicaid cuts i riversedge Aug 29 #7

How it started How it's going LetMyPeopleVote Aug 29 #8

Back to the pig farm... dlk Aug 29 #9

Ernst joins: North Carolina's Thom Tillis, Alabama's Tommy Tuberville and Kentucky's Mitch McConnell. riversedge Aug 29 #11

"I did not know tommy t was leaving. But grand!!" BumRushDaShow Aug 29 #15

I fall behind on the news sometimes but sure was glad to see TT will not see reelection!! riversedge Aug 29 #16

There was WAY WAY too much going on then BumRushDaShow Aug 29 #17

This is winnable for Democrats! LFG!! OrlandoDem2 Aug 29 #13

We are all going to die IbogaProject Aug 29 #18

Good Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Aug 29 #19

Iowa's Joni Ernst to retire from Congress, despite pressure from Republican leaders LetMyPeopleVote Aug 31 #20

This message was self-deleted by its author LetMyPeopleVote Sep 2 #21

Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa announced on Tuesday that she will not be seeking reelection in 2026, LetMyPeopleVote Sep 2 #22

BumRushDaShow

(160,228 posts)

1. She blew her wad

Reply to LetMyPeopleVote (Original post)

Fri Aug 29, 2025, 12:47 PM

Aug 29

and that's all folks!

Sounds like the seat flips there were a warning sign for her.

LetMyPeopleVote

(169,852 posts)

10. Hopefully, Ernst will feel free to tell trump to shove it on upcoming votes

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Reply #1)

Fri Aug 29, 2025, 01:17 PM

Aug 29

BumRushDaShow

(160,228 posts)

14. I think she is too loon and unrepentant to turn back now.

Reply to LetMyPeopleVote (Reply #10)

Fri Aug 29, 2025, 01:34 PM

Aug 29

popsdenver

(481 posts)

12. Exactly..........

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Reply #1)

Fri Aug 29, 2025, 01:30 PM

Aug 29

She and all her Republican comrades along with her voters have done their irreparable damage in destroying the U.S.A.

She must think her allegiance has guaranteed her a place in the top 1%, and has not been watching what Trump/Republicans do to people who have outgrown their usefulness.......................

sheshe2

(93,782 posts)

2. Bye, b****

Reply to LetMyPeopleVote (Original post)

Fri Aug 29, 2025, 12:48 PM

Aug 29

Owens

(561 posts)

3. So who are the Republican candidates?

Reply to LetMyPeopleVote (Original post)

Fri Aug 29, 2025, 12:50 PM

Aug 29

Or does it even matter? Is Trump going to cancel the 2026 elections, is that why she is not "running".

Fil1957

(223 posts)

4. The very least she could do.

Reply to LetMyPeopleVote (Original post)

Fri Aug 29, 2025, 01:08 PM

Aug 29

Paladin

(31,609 posts)

5. Good riddance. (nt)

Reply to LetMyPeopleVote (Original post)

Fri Aug 29, 2025, 01:12 PM

Aug 29

JoseBalow

(8,405 posts)

6. Adios, fucko

Reply to LetMyPeopleVote (Original post)

Fri Aug 29, 2025, 01:13 PM

Aug 29

riversedge

(77,794 posts)

7. @joniernst drops out after @ZachWahls spent months holding her accountable for supporting the biggest Medicaid cuts i

Reply to LetMyPeopleVote (Original post)

Fri Aug 29, 2025, 01:15 PM

Aug 29

Andrew Bates
@AndrewBatesNC
·
1h
.@joniernst
drops out after @ZachWahls
spent months holding her accountable for supporting the biggest Medicaid cuts in history - just so rich donors would pay less in taxes.

Democrats who fight for working families and against special interests are what we need in 2026.

Link to tweet

LetMyPeopleVote

(169,852 posts)

8. How it started How it's going

Reply to LetMyPeopleVote (Original post)

Fri Aug 29, 2025, 01:15 PM

Aug 29

Link to tweet

dlk

(12,939 posts)

9. Back to the pig farm...

Reply to LetMyPeopleVote (Original post)

Fri Aug 29, 2025, 01:15 PM

Aug 29

She’s done as much damage as she can.

riversedge

(77,794 posts)

11. Ernst joins: North Carolina's Thom Tillis, Alabama's Tommy Tuberville and Kentucky's Mitch McConnell.

Reply to LetMyPeopleVote (Original post)

Fri Aug 29, 2025, 01:18 PM

Aug 29

I did not know tommy t was leaving. But grand!!

White House officials had hoped Ernst would run again, instead of joining other Republicans who are leaving the Senate, including North Carolina's Thom Tillis, Alabama's Tommy Tuberville and Kentucky's Mitch McConnell.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/joni-ernst-wont-seek-reelection-to-senate-in-2026-sources-say/

GOP Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee announced a run for governor but her Senate term does not expire until 2030.

BumRushDaShow

(160,228 posts)

15. "I did not know tommy t was leaving. But grand!!"

Reply to riversedge (Reply #11)

Fri Aug 29, 2025, 01:54 PM

Aug 29

Oh hell yeah!

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143447536
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143467160

riversedge

(77,794 posts)

16. I fall behind on the news sometimes but sure was glad to see TT will not see reelection!!

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Reply #15)

Fri Aug 29, 2025, 04:13 PM

Aug 29

BumRushDaShow

(160,228 posts)

17. There was WAY WAY too much going on then

Reply to riversedge (Reply #16)

Fri Aug 29, 2025, 04:41 PM

Aug 29

and even now!

OrlandoDem2

(3,097 posts)

13. This is winnable for Democrats! LFG!!

Reply to LetMyPeopleVote (Original post)

Fri Aug 29, 2025, 01:33 PM

Aug 29

IbogaProject

(4,985 posts)

18. We are all going to die

Reply to LetMyPeopleVote (Original post)

Fri Aug 29, 2025, 07:07 PM

Aug 29

Including her own campaign. I'd guess the big GOP donors told her it was time to retire.

Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin

(128,722 posts)

19. Good

Reply to LetMyPeopleVote (Original post)

Fri Aug 29, 2025, 08:24 PM

Aug 29

And go die

LetMyPeopleVote

(169,852 posts)

20. Iowa's Joni Ernst to retire from Congress, despite pressure from Republican leaders

Reply to LetMyPeopleVote (Original post)

Sun Aug 31, 2025, 07:39 PM

Aug 31

By any fair measure, the last year has been challenging for the Iowa Republican. Now, she's calling it quits.

Iowaâ€™s Joni Ernst to retire from Congress, despite pressure from Republican leaders www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
— ðŸ¦‹ Still Standing ðŸ¦‹ (@imstillstanding.bsky.social) 2025-08-29T17:57:05.837Z

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/iowas-joni-ernst-retire-congress-pressure-republican-leaders-rcna228056

In early July, Politico reported that the two-term incumbent was considering retirement ahead of a possible 2026 re-election campaign, followed soon after by an intense intraparty effort to persuade her to run again. That lobbying apparently did not prove persuasive. NBC News reported:

Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, plans to announce that she will not run for re-election next year, according to a person familiar with her decision. Her decision, first reported by CBS News, would open up another potentially competitive race in Iowa, months after GOP Gov. Kim Reynolds announced she wouldn’t run for re-election either.

For those keeping score, there are now 10 incumbent senators who are preparing to give up their seats next year, including five Republicans: Tennessee’s Marsha Blackburn (who’s running for governor), Ernst, Kentucky’s Mitch McConnell, North Carolina’s Thom Tillis and Alabama’s Tommy Tuberville (who’s also running for governor in that state).......

.As for Iowa’s political trajectory, Democrats face an uphill climb: While Barack Obama won the state twice, Donald Trump carried Iowa in each of the last three election cycles, including a 13-point victory last fall. A Democrat hasn’t won a Senate race in the state since Tom Harkin’s re-election bid in 2008.

Given the current GOP advantage, Democrats would need a net gain of four Senate seats in the 2026 midterms to reclaim a majority in the chamber. Watch this space.

Response to LetMyPeopleVote (Original post)

LetMyPeopleVote This message was self-deleted by its author.

LetMyPeopleVote

(169,852 posts)

22. Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa announced on Tuesday that she will not be seeking reelection in 2026,