After outlining her record of service and accomplishments, Senator Joni Ernst paused, took a deep breath, and shared the core of her message. With emotion in her voice, she said, “Raised in a family that has given me love, strength, and unwavering support, I’ve realized that as my family grows older, it’s my turn to give back. After much prayer, reflection, and discussions with loved ones, I have decided I will not seek reelection in 2026. This was one of the hardest decisions of my life.”
Her announcement briefly silenced the room. Known for her sharp humor and political toughness, Ernst allowed a softer, reflective side to emerge as she spoke of her years in public service and the calling that first drew her to politics.
Emphasizing her deep connection to Iowa and lifelong devotion to the country, she said, “I love my state, and I love my country. That sense of duty is why I wore our nation’s uniform, why I ran for office, and why I’ve fought for the people of Iowa.”
Ernst recounted her remarkable journey. “I never imagined that a farm girl from Red Oak, Iowa, feeding pigs and baling hay, would one day serve as a lieutenant colonel in the Iowa Army National Guard, and later as a U.S. Senator. Only in America is such a story possible.”
She paused, smiling, adding, “By the grace of God, eleven years ago, I was elected the first female combat veteran in the U.S. Senate—a title I have carried with pride and responsibility every day.”
Blending gratitude with subtle vindication, she recalled the bold promise at the heart of her campaign: exposing waste and inefficiency in Washington. “Iowans elected me to make Washington squeal,” she said. “It was never just a slogan—it was a promise.”
Detailing her achievements, she added, “We’ve fought against unnecessary spending, stood up for taxpayers, reined in overbearing regulations, and made government more accountable.”
Reflecting on the personal cost of public service, Ernst said, “It hasn’t always been easy—missed dinners, long flights, sleepless nights. But every sacrifice was worth it to defend the values I hold dear and the people I love.”
Concluding with heartfelt closure, she said, “As I step away from this chapter, my commitment to my state and country continues, just in a different way. My family has supported me for decades; now it’s time to support them. I leave with gratitude, pride, and faith—in God, in Iowa, and in the future of this great nation.”
Ernst offered one final smile—relief and nostalgia mingled in the look of someone closing a defining chapter of her life.