The Republican senator from Iowa faces some criticism from Iowa activists. Her Senate seat is up in the 2026 election.

A good decade ago I spent a few days riding around Iowa in Joni Ernst’s RV ... rest of us as we evaluate the fitness of Pete Hegseth. In 2019, Ernst publicly shared that she had in fact been ...

Senator Ernst has a chance to buttress a reputation for taking seriously allegations of abuse against women, writes Rekha ...

The Republican senator said she was not ready to throw her support behind Hegseth, adding that a "very thorough vetting" is needed.

Ernst, the first female combat veteran in the Senate, has been threatened with a primary challenge over her reticence - so ...

the most common descriptor you heard among Washingtonians about Defense-secretary nominee Pete Hegseth was “toast” or “dead man walking.” Many cited Senator Joni Ernst’s skepticism as a ...

Sen. Joni Ernst signaled Monday that she is warming to Defense Secretary designee Pete Hegseth after days of being reticent ...

President-elect Trump threw his support behind embattled defense secretary pick Pete Hegseth Friday as the nominee continues to meet with Republican senators.

You’re marked safe from a primary. You go up against Pete Hegseth, the president repeatedly, then don’t be surprised, Joni Ernst, if all of a sudden you have a primary challenge in Iowa." ...

After a second meeting with Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's embattled pick to lead the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst said in a statement Monday she will "support ...

Sen. Joni Ernst signaled Monday that she is warming to Defense Secretary designee Pete Hegseth after days of being reticent over the accusations leveled against him. The 54-year-old Ernst ...

Joni Ernst is mounting − including from some Iowa Republicans− as she refuses to commit to supporting Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Department of Defense.