(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senator Joni Ernst is dismissing a report in a Washington, D.C. publication that cites unnamed Republicans as being concerned she will not seek reelection in 2026. “There’s always all kinds of chitter chatter everywhere,” Ernst said, “but I have a lot left to do in the United States Senate, so I am not slowing down any time soon. We’ll have an announcement this fall.” Ernst, who is 55 years old, hired a campaign manager in June.

Federal Election Commission reports show Ernst raised about one-and-a-half MILLION dollars in the first half of this year and has about three-point-four MILLION dollars in her campaign account. Last week, Senate Republican Leader John Thune told the digital newspaper Politico that he is doing everything he can to encourage Ernst to run for reelection — and Thune believes Ernst is moving in that direction. At the of June, a top Republican senator from North Carolina announced he’ll retire at the end of his current term.

Senator Ernst. (Photo from Ernst’s office)

And Governor Kim Reynolds, a key Ernst ally, announced in April she wouldn’t seek reelection next year. Ernst says those retirements have no bearing on her own deliberations about a 2026 campaign for reelection.  “Everybody makes their own decisions,” Ernst says.

Ernst’s annual “Roast and Ride” fundraiser is scheduled for October 11th in Des Moines.