Urbandale, Iowa (RI) — Iowa Senator Joni Ernst is touting her influence in the Trump Administration — and giving firm signals that she’s running for re-election in 2026. Ernst spoke this (Wednesday) morning at the Westside Conservative Breakfast Club in Urbandale and mentioned the five Democrats who’ve launched campaigns for the U.S. Senate.
Three of the five Democrats who’ve launched campaigns for the U.S. Senate are currently members of the Iowa legislature. Ernst says 2026 will be a big election year for Iowa Republicans.
Ernst says President Trump’s four-year break from the White House gave him a chance to develop his America First policy agenda and select federal agency leaders who are working to put it in place.
Ernst says this spring, the US Secretary of Agriculture asked her to lobby Trump to let an updated calculation for some farm subsidies be included in the One Big Beautiful Bill he signed July 4th.
Ernst says Trump returned her call at midnight on a Sunday.
In July of 2016, Ernst was among the people Trump interviewed as a potential running mate before picking Mike Pence.
KIWA Staff Photo
