29Aug, 2025
Good Riddance, Joni Ernst

Joni Ernst has built a career in Washington on snappy one-liners, cruel policy positions, and loyalty to special interests over the people of Iowa. Now, reports say she is preparing to announce that she will not run for re-election in 2026. If true, Iowa has every reason to breathe a sigh of relief.

A Career Defined by Cruelty

From the start, Ernst sold herself as a “tough Iowa farm girl” with that infamous pig-castration ad. The image stuck. However, behind the theater, she pursued policies that hurt working Iowans.

When Iowans begged her not to slash Medicaid, she brushed them off with a shocking retort: “We all are going to die.” That moment crystallized her approach to governing—dismissive, callous, and unwilling to wrestle with the real consequences of her votes. For over 600,000 Iowans who rely on Medicaid, Ernst’s words were not just flippant. They revealed how little she cared about whether her constituents lived with dignity or not at all.

What She Supported

Over the years, Ernst consistently backed legislation that undermined social programs and tilted power toward the wealthy and well-connected. She supported deep cuts to Medicaid and Medicare, opposed expanding the Affordable Care Act, and embraced the privatization of essential safety nets.

She pushed for abortion bans, voted to block Planned Parenthood funding even for cancer screenings and other vital health services, and stood in the way of wage increases for working families. Ernst also opposed environmental protections, denied climate science, and favored tax policies that benefited corporations over everyday Iowans.

Taken together, her record shows a senator who valued ideology and party loyalty above the well-being of her state.

What She Fought Against

It wasn’t just what Ernst supported—it was what she stood against. She opposed restoring net neutrality, resisted marriage equality until it became politically impossible, and blocked even the most basic efforts to expand voting rights. Again and again, Ernst put herself on the wrong side of progress and on the wrong side of history.

At every turn, her resistance to change slowed Iowa down. Instead of helping Iowa move forward, she clung to outdated talking points while ignoring the voices of those she represented.

The Counter-Argument

To be fair, some will argue that Joni Ernst gave Iowa a strong national profile. She rose quickly in Republican leadership, became the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate from Iowa, and often touted her military background as proof of toughness. Supporters will say she brought grit and authenticity to Washington, and they credit her with keeping defense spending high for Iowa’s bases and contractors.

Yet, these accomplishments cannot outweigh the harm she caused. A senator should represent more than party slogans and defense contracts. Ernst’s “grit” too often translated into cruelty, and her authenticity blurred into dismissiveness. Even if her rise was historic, her legacy will be remembered as one of neglecting the everyday people who trusted her to fight for them.

Why Iowa Is Better Without Her

If Ernst truly does step aside, Iowa will finally have the chance to elect someone who actually listens. The state deserves leadership rooted in compassion, common sense, and responsibility. Ernst’s brand of politics has run its course.

Iowa is good to be rid of Joni Ernst—not out of spite, but out of hope. Hope that the next senator will see Iowans as more than political props. Hope that the people’s voices will matter more than wealthy donors. And hope that the dignity of ordinary families will finally outweigh cruel one-liners.

So yes, let the chair-dancing begin.

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