DES MOINES, Iowa —

Just hours after U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst announced she will not be running for reelection in 2026, U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson says she's running for Ernst's seat in the Senate.

Hinson, a Republican, currently represents Iowa's 2nd Congressional District in the U.S. House, a seat she has held since 2023. She also served as the representative for the 1st Congressional District from 2021-2023 and in the Iowa House of Representatives from 2017-2021.

Immediately after Ernst's announcement, Hinson thanked the senator for her service and previewed her entry into the race, saying Trump needs a “fighter in the Senate who will always have his back."

Related video above: Republican US Sen. Joni Ernst makes it official: she won't seek reelection in 2026

“I’ve stood shoulder to shou

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