Iowa’s 2026 Senate Race Explodes as Sen. Joni Ernst Announces Retirement, Rep. Ashley Hinson Declares Candidacy

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) on Tuesday confirmed she will not seek re-election in 2026, dramatically reshaping the state’s political landscape and setting the stage for a high-stakes open Senate contest. Her announcement was swiftly followed by Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa) declaring her intent to run for the now-vacant Republican nomination.

Ernst’s decision, confirmed in a video post after months of speculation, creates a rare open Senate seat in Iowa, a state known for its long-serving incumbents. This development immediately elevates the 2026 midterms as Republicans work to maintain their narrow majorities in both chambers of Congress.

Citing her aging and growing family, Ernst, Iowa’s first woman elected to Congress and a decorated Iraq War combat veteran, stated, “This was no easy decision. I never imagined this farm girl would have the opportunity to serve as a lieutenant colonel and then a United States senator.”

Rep. Hinson wasted no time, announcing her candidacy for the GOP nomination just hours after Ernst’s statement. Hinson, who represents Iowa’s northeastern congressional district, pledged to be “President Trump’s top ally in the United States Senate,” signaling a fierce primary and general election battle ahead. Two other Republicans, former state Sen. Jim Carlin and veteran Joshua Smith, had already entered the primary.

The ripple effect of Ernst’s retirement also impacts Hinson’s current House seat, which is considered one of the country’s most competitive. Democrats have already identified it as a key target, and both parties are now scrambling to field candidates for both the Senate and Hinson’s vacated congressional district.

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