Iowa U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst is serving her second, six-year term representing Iowa in the U.S. Senate and is up for re-election in 2026. She has not formally launched a re-election campaign, but her announcement Wednesday of a campaign manager sends a clear signal that the Republican incumbent is building an operation to run for a third term.
In other campaign news, Congressman and gubernatorial candidate Randy Feenstra said his campaign has raised more than $3.2 million.
Iowa Rep. J.D. Scholten said he decided to make his candidacy official after U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst drew national criticism for a comment she made at a town hall in Parkersburg last week. “... I've been thinking about it for a while, but that's when I just said: This is unacceptable and you've gotta jump in," Scholten said of his decision.
Iowa Republican U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst will host a town hall meeting Friday in Butler County, according to a news release posted on her office website this week. The town hall meeting, which is open to the public, is scheduled for 7:30 a.m. Friday at Aplington-Parkersburg High School in Parkersburg.
Sage is the first Democratic challenger to formally launch a campaign to run for the seat now held by Republican U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst in what is expected to be a competitive Democratic primary.
Some of the most vulnerable Republicans in Congress — including Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, of Davenport — are embracing the strategy of GOP leaders who say there is no benefit to hosting in-person town hall meetings and creating more viral moments like the pointed questions that have faced U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley this month.
Also in the Campaign Almanac: Libertarian county attorney exploring run for Iowa U.S. Senate seat
Nathan Sage, executive director of the Knoxville Chamber of Commerce, is the first Democratic challenger to formally launch a campaign to run for the seat in what is expected to be a competitive Democratic primary.
President Donald Trump vowed to keep up his campaign of “swift and unrelenting action” in reorienting the nation’s economy, immigration and foreign policy in an unyielding address before Congress that left Democratic legislators to register their dissent with stone faces, placards calling out "lies,” and one legislator’s ejection.
Flags have been flying half-staff in remembrance of former President Jimmy Carter, who passed away last month
Also, Iowa senator speaks on private equity in health care
Also, State Auditor Rob Sand endorses Rita Hart’s re-election as Iowa Democratic Party chair
Iowa’s longtime Republican U.S. Senator met recently with President-elect Trump’s picks to lead the FBI, Kash Patel; and National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard.
Iowa Republican U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst issued a more positive assessment on Monday after a second meeting with Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s embattled pick to lead the U.S. Department of Defense.
Ernst declined Thursday to commit to supporting Hegseth, who faces allegations of sexual impropriety, financial mismanagement, public drunkenness and other personal misconduct.
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