Republican U.S. Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa will not run for reelection, she announced Tuesday, leaving open a race Democrats aim to make competitive despite the state's conservative tilt.

Timothy Hagle, professor of political science at the University of Iowa, said that open races are generally more competitive than when an incumbent opts to run for reelection. But how competitive the race becomes will ultimately depend on who secures the Democratic and Republican nominations, he added.

Iowa GOP Chairman Jeff Kauffman wrote in a statement that the party is "confident the next generation of Republican leaders will continue building on her incredible legacy."

Newsweek reached out to the Iowa Democratic Party for comment via email.

Why It Matters

Iowa has shifted rightward over

See Full Page