Iowa Senator Joni Ernst will not run for reelection in 2026, according to multiple sources. Ernst is expected to make a formal announcement next week, with the details set to be revealed on Thursday.

Ernst, a Republican, has served in the U.S. Senate since 2015. At 55 years old, she has indicated to close associates that she plans to step away from her Senate role after two terms. Spokespeople for Ernst did not respond to requests for comment regarding her decision.

As Ernst prepares to exit, several Iowa Democrats have already entered the race for the Senate seat. Notable candidates include state Senator Zach Wahls, state Representative Josh Turek, and Jackie Norris, chairwoman of the Des Moines School Board.

In recent public comments, Ernst has been noncommittal about her future plans but expressed confidence in the Republican Party's standing in Iowa. "Every day we get a new Democratic member of the House or Senate that decides to run for this Senate seat — bring it on," she stated at a meeting of the Westside Conservative Club. "Because I tell you, at the end of the day, Iowa is going to be red."

White House officials had hoped Ernst would seek another term, especially as other Republican senators, such as Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, are also stepping down. Meanwhile, GOP Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee has announced her candidacy for governor, although her Senate term does not end until 2030.

Sources close to Ernst have revealed that she feels she has accomplished her goals in the Senate and intends to transition to the private sector. Ernst has a background in military service, having retired as a lieutenant colonel in the Iowa Army National Guard after deployments in Kuwait and Iraq. She has also held various positions in local and state government before winning a Senate seat in 2014. During her time in the Senate, she rose to a leadership role within the Republican conference and has consistently supported President Trump's policies.