Joni Ernst won’t be running in 2026
I don’t know whether Ernst’s bowing out for 2026 will end up mattering:
No doubt, the Democrats will aim for Iowa, as the party seeks to take down the Republican majority.
However, a Democrat hasn’t represented Iowa in the Senate since 2008. President Donald Trump won the state by 13 points in 2024.
I’m seeing reports that third-term Rep. Ashley Hinson will run for Ernst’s seat. But that would also open a seat for the Democrats to snatch in the House.
Iowa seems to me to be a solidly red state. Then again, the result of a recent special election for state rep there was alarming: the Democrat flipped the seat in what had seemed to be a solidly Republican district. Of course, it was a special election in an off-year, and that typically has low turnout and goes to the most energized party.
Republicans had better get more energized in 2026.
To me it looks like “far right” in this context roughly equates to advocating for less immigration, or even a lengthy pause on same. I don’t think RN or AFD are in favor of things that the media in this country calls “far right” e.g. lower taxes, a shrinking of the welfare state, gun rights, limits on abortion, etc. etc.
BTW, I am generally in favor of all those things, AND I think we should have much, much lower immigration.
Nadler is retiring too, finally. His district is mostly Upper East and West Side, so it’s possible his successor won’t be an anti-Semitic Communist, but certainly won’t be a Republican.
When Joni Ernst ran nearly 12 years ago I had high hopes for her. She portrayed herself as the quintessential Midwesterner, replete with a cowmilking photo-op. Then nothing significant really happened in the ensuing years. She wasn’t necessarily a bad Senator (although she seemed to be difficult on confirming at least one Trump nomination) so maybe I just expected more than I should have. No everyone can be a firebreather. Maybe Kim Reynolds would be a better Senator.
Yes, there is a reason the Republican Party is known as the Stupid Party. On another Blog (Hey Professor), people put up YouTube videos. I click on them, and I get an anti Gabe Evens ad. He is the Rep that took a Dem seat here in CO. So much money is in play here, I don’t see how he can win again. It was a shock that he won at all.
There was also a lot of kamala ads on youtube do they have any substantial criticism of him
She was one who floated unsubstantiated rumors against hegseth she showed some promise on doge and then silence
I agree with chazzand. She’s been a disappointment for me, though not a huge one. It strikes me that she assimilated with the Borg quite rapidly. Pity. It would be nice if Hinson replaces her & is better.
She got divorced. Maybe she wants to move back home and remarry.
Two terms are enough.
If she goes back to Iowa and does something else with her life, it’s good. If she stays in Washington and opens a lobbying business, that’s bad. Trey Gowdy joined a law firm headquartered in Columbia, SC. That’s passable.
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We benefit from members of Congress and state legislators who see electoral politics as an interlude in a life devoted to other pursuits. The sort that run Congress tend to be those who scarcely had any other life.
Iowa is a strange state. The only district that would be considered safe for Republicans is the 4th, in the northwest, which includes the liberal Ames. Feenstra won 67 – 32.7.
District 1, in northeastern Iowa which Hinson represents, includes Waterloo and Cedar Rapids, which are more Democrat. Republican Hinson won handily, 57.1 – 41.5, but a new person could struggle.
District 2, in southeastern Iowa, includes the very liberal Iowa City, and Davenport and Fairfield which are more Democrat. Republican Miller-Meeks won 50 – 49.8.
District 3, in southwestern Iowa has the liberal Des Moines. Republican Nunn won 51.9 – 48.1.
While Ernst won her Senate elections easily, Iowa voters can be quite fickle, especially in an off-year election.