(Radio Iowa) – U-S Senator Joni Ernst says her decision not to run for reelection is the right one, for several reasons. Radio Iowa’s O. Kay Henderson reports.

Ernst spoke with Radio Iowa this weekend and brought up her 2014 campaign pledge to serve no more than two terms in the U.S. Senate.

Ernst says her daughter was her main sounding board as she wrestled with the decision.

Ernst says she wants to spend more time with her aging parents.

Ernst, who is 55, retired from the Iowa National Guard a decade ago. Ernst says she learned during her 22-year military career that there are other people who are prepared to do the work.

On Saturday, at the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition’s fall banquet, Ernst was applauded when she mentioned her pledge to term limit herself.

The U-S Senate’s Republican leader and other top Republican had been encouraging her to run.

Ernst will host her final “Roast and Ride” fundraiser for veterans groups on October 11th.