Senate race switch up, implications for Iowa GOP candidates

Ernst’s decision against reelection bid overhauls shape of Iowa’s 2026 elections

Iowa will have open-seat elections for both the U.S. Senate and governor on the same ballot for the first time since 1968.

Republicans’ Senate Campaign Arm Tells Donors They Are Confident in Their Iowa Chances

The Senate Republican campaign arm sent a memo to donors touting Rep. Ashley Hinson’s potential strength in the Iowa Senate race, while stopping short of fully endorsing her to replace outgoing Sen. Joni Ernst.Senate Democrats have been looking for ways to expand their difficult 2026 map to take back the majority, eyeing red states like Iowa and Alaska as potential places to do so.Republicans remain confident Iowa will stay in GOP hands and indi…

Senate Republicans Like Their Chances in Iowa

“The Senate Republican campaign arm sent a memo to donors touting Rep. Ashley Hinson’s potential strength in the Iowa Senate race, while stopping short of fully endorsing her to replace outgoing Sen. Joni Ernst,” NOTUS reports. “Senate Democrats have been looking for ways to expand their difficult 2026 map to take back the majority, eyeing red states like Iowa and Alaska as potential places to do so.”

Senate race switch up, implications for Iowa GOP candidates

DES MOINES, IOWA -- On Tuesday, Senator Joni Ernst (R) announced that she was not seeking reelection, and hours later Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (R) IA-02 launched her campaign for that seat. Hinson joined a field of two other Iowa Republicans, former State Senator Jim Carlin and veteran Joshua Smith. Both of those candidates have been in the race since the early summer, seeking to run challenge Ernst in the primary. "The proximity tells you th…

Republicans tease 2nd District campaign announcements after Hinson’s jump to Senate race

Following incumbent U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson’s Senate campaign launch, some Republicans, including former U.S. Rep. Rod Blum, have hinted they are planning to run for Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District in 2026. Hinson, who has represented the northeast Iowa district for…