Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst won’t seek reelection to third term
Iowa Republican Sen. Joni Ernst, 55, has decided not to seek reelection to a third term, two people familiar with the decision say, and is poised to make an announcement next week.
Her retirement creates an open Senate seat in Iowa. Rep. Ashley Hinson is making plans to jump into the race, one GOP official says. National Republicans, anticipating Ernst’s retirement, have long said they believe Hinson would be a strong candidate.
A crowded field of Democrats is already running. The party’s primary field includes state Rep. Josh Turek, a Paralympian wheelchair basketball player, state Sen. Zach Wahls, Knoxville Chamber of Commerce executive director Nathan Sage and Des Moines School Board chair Jackie Norris.
| by Anonymous | reply 28 | September 3, 2025 5:19 AM
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Ernst has come under fire since responding “we are all going to die” to a constituent at a town meeting who raised concerns about Medicaid cuts in Trump’s policy megabill.
She was first elected in 2014 on a pledge to cut government spending with her signature slogan: “Make ‘em squeal.” As the Republican Party has evolved under Trump, Ernst has often struggled to strike a balance between GOP voters identifying with Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement and those who don’t.
| by Anonymous | reply 1 | August 29, 2025 5:40 PM
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Send her to the cornfield, Anthony!
| by Anonymous | reply 3 | August 29, 2025 5:53 PM
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[quote] Ernst has often struggled to strike a balance between GOP voters identifying with Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement and those who don’t.
That would be quite a struggle to balance between the overwhelming majority of Republicans who support Trump and the handful who don’t. Maybe her trying to strike such a balance is why conservatives have a problem with her.
| by Anonymous | reply 5 | August 29, 2025 5:57 PM
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This is the way you have to treat Anthony, r3...
| by Anonymous | reply 6 | August 29, 2025 6:14 PM
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"Oh, well, back to the farm to castrate hogs."
Or, lucrative lobbying as a Swamp Creature.
| by Anonymous | reply 8 | August 29, 2025 7:36 PM
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Is Joni Ernst going off to die because as she once lovingly and fatefully said, "We are all going to die."
| by Anonymous | reply 9 | August 29, 2025 7:38 PM
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It's NATURAL - you're just jealous I have full natural hair!
If I wore a wig, you think I would have it GRAY? C'mon.
| by Anonymous | reply 10 | August 29, 2025 7:46 PM
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Talk about a punchable face.
| by Anonymous | reply 13 | August 29, 2025 9:47 PM
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Can't believe fuck off and die wasn't a winning political message.
| by Anonymous | reply 14 | August 29, 2025 9:51 PM
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Oh she's in the CVS check-out as I type, picking up a box of Clairol Winter Wheat #26. Blonde hair IS the key to landing the sweetest gigs on Fox!
| by Anonymous | reply 15 | August 29, 2025 10:03 PM
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I’m still waiting for her to explain the tooth fairy.
| by Anonymous | reply 16 | August 29, 2025 10:13 PM
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We've been through this. That horrible hair is, in fact hers.
| by Anonymous | reply 17 | August 29, 2025 10:51 PM
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Her hair is so fucking amazing. She seemed like a nice gal.
| by Anonymous | reply 18 | August 29, 2025 11:26 PM
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This crusty old Nazi is ONLY 55??
| by Anonymous | reply 20 | August 30, 2025 4:40 AM
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Joni Ernst’s Political Career is DEAD TO ME
| by Anonymous | reply 22 | August 30, 2025 5:08 AM
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I miss Tom Harkin. I wish he hadn't retired.
| by Anonymous | reply 23 | August 30, 2025 6:49 AM
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I’d like to think the pendulum is shifting and the people want something more pragmatic. In rural parts of the state you don’t see Trump signs, but you see just as many signs for democratic gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand.
| by Anonymous | reply 24 | August 30, 2025 7:03 AM
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Vultures clawing their way in!
| by Anonymous | reply 25 | September 3, 2025 2:24 AM
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[quote]I miss Tom Harkin. I wish he hadn't retired.
He's six years younger than Chuck Grassley!
| by Anonymous | reply 26 | September 3, 2025 2:28 AM
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Her wig looks like a Romulan warbird landed on her head.
| by Anonymous | reply 27 | September 3, 2025 2:41 AM
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I saw Joni Ernst once at the Iowa State Fair and her hair really does look like that.
| by Anonymous | reply 28 | September 3, 2025 5:19 AM
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