Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson said she would be Republican President Donald Trump’s “strongest ally in the Senate” as she teased a coming announcement following U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst’s confirmation that she would not seek reelection in 2026.
Hinson thanked Ernst for her service in a social media post posted Tuesday, Sept. 2, and said she and her husband would “have an announcement soon about how we believe we can best serve Iowa, and how we can help President Trump make America great again.”
“As we look forward, President Trump needs a fighter in the Senate who will always have his back to continue to cut spending, deport illegal aliens and put working families first,” she said. “I’ve stood shoulder to shoulder with the president to pass this America First agenda in the House, and I would be his strongest ally in the Senate.”
Sources familiar with Ernst’s decision told the Des Moines Register Aug. 29 she was not expected to run again, and Ernst confirmed the news with a video message Sept. 2.
“After a tremendous amount of prayer and reflection, I will not be seeking reelection in 2026,” Ernst, a Republican, said in the video.
Hinson, who represents Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District, has been widely seen among Iowa Republicans as a possible successor to Ernst.
She raised $854,000 in the most recent fundraising quarter — more than the $723,000 Ernst brought in during the same period.
Which Iowa Republicans might run for U.S. Senate now that Joni Ernst is out?
But Hinson could face other challengers if she does enter the Senate race.
Former state legislator Jim Carlin, who unsuccessfully ran a primary campaign against U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley in 2022, previously announced he would primary Ernst for the Republican nomination. Carlin is a former state senator and trial lawyer who served in the Iowa Legislature from 2017 to 2022.
And Joshua Smith, who previously ran for public office as a Libertarian, also announced before Ernst’s decision that he would be running as a Republican in 2026.
Others may weigh jumping into the race as well.
NBC News reported that Republican Matt Whitaker would also consider running for the seat, citing a source familiar with Whitaker’s thinking.
Whitaker could not immediately be reached by the Register for comment.
Which Iowa Democrats are running for U.S. Senate seat in 2026?
Several Iowa Democrats had previously announced they would run for their party’s nomination in 2026.
They include state Sen. Zach Wahls, state Rep. Josh Turek, Des Moines School Board Chair Jackie Norris and former Knoxville Chamber of Commerce Director Nathan Sage.
Following the early reports that Ernst would not seek reelection, Iowa Democrat Bob Krause announced he would end his campaign for Congress in the 1st District and instead run for U.S. Senate.
“Senator (Ernst’s) withdrawal from the Republican Senate Race was a card that was not previously on the table, and I now endorse Christina Bohannon to be the Democratic nominee in Iowa’s First District,” he said in a news release. “I have run for the U.S. Senate before and have many friends across the state and believe this will be a better fit for an ultimate victory.”
Krause unsuccessfully sought his party’s nomination for the U.S. Senate in 2010 and 2016. And in 2022, he withdrew from the U.S. Senate Democratic primary race after failing to gain enough signatures to make it onto the ballot.
Democrats expressed optimisim that the open seat would help their chances next November.
“An open seat in Iowa is just the latest example of Democrats expanding the senatorial map,” Senate Majority PAC Spokesperson Lauren French said in a statement. “And the fact remains, regardless of who the GOP nominee is, they are going to have to answer to Iowans hurting because of the deep cuts to health care and nutrition assistance forced upon them by congressional Republicans.”
Des Moines Register reporter Stephen Gruber-Miller contributed to this report.
Brianne Pfannenstiel is the chief politics reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach her at bpfann@dmreg.com or 515-284-8244. Follow her on X at @brianneDMR.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Ashley Hinson teases announcement after Joni Ernst says she won’t run in 2026
Reporting by Brianne Pfannenstiel, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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