When asked about which state will surprise Americans on election day, she said, “Wisconsin. It’s getting plenty of attention, but my bet is on Eric Hovde [to be a sleeper win]. I was just talking to a radio station in his neck of the woods and it sounds like polls are starting to lean in his favor, plus the people love him. We need another strong Republican fighter from the Midwest in the Senate!”
Trump is almost sure to win Iowa, but Ernst isn’t leaving any of her fellow federally elected Iowa Republicans behind. Two of them, Reps. Zach Nunn and Marianette Miller-Meeks, are military veterans who are facing tough bids for reelection next week. But Ernst views the candidates as good matches for the Democrats’ “radical, out-of-touch agenda” that includes “higher taxes, the consequences of an open border, and continued chaos around the globe.”
“Iowans deserve representatives who stand for their values and fight for our way of life,” she said. “They have that in Zach and Mariannette.”
Looking ahead to the next Congress, Ernst has her sights set on climbing the leadership ladder and on crippling America’s enemies abroad. She is running to chair the Senate Republican Conference, and she wants to pass the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), “which Chuck Schumer is holding up,” she lamented.
“Even though this is a historic bipartisan action Congress takes annually, he has prioritized political show votes and his liberal nominees,” she said. “It really shows you the Democrats’ priorities. Additionally, we need to reaffirm our commitment to our allies and show strength against our adversaries. Iran was cash poor when Trump was in power, so they could not fund their proxy terrorism, which is why I have my bipartisan Iranian Sanctions Enforcement Act to enforce the sanctions on the books. Additionally, as long as Iran has bounties on American officials’ heads — including President Trump — my PUNISH Act will keep maximum sanctions in place.”
Ernst, a combat veteran, said that the contrast is clear between Trump and Harris. “Under President Trump, we had peace in the Middle East and world leaders respected us. However, the weakness from a Biden-Harris White House has emboldened our adversaries, and they are on the march. Thirteen servicemembers were killed during Biden and Harris’s disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal, the match that lit the world on fire.”
“Since then,” she said, “dozens of Americans were murdered on October 7, more are still being held hostage by Iran-backed Hamas, and three of our servicemembers at Tower 22 in Jordan were killed by Iranian proxies, yet Biden and Harris waffle on our allies and appease our adversaries.”
“American lives are on the line,” she said.
Below is a transcript of our interview with Sen. Joni Ernst, lightly edited for clarity.
Washington Reporter:
Senator Ernst, thanks for your time. Tell us about your campaign travel — you’ve been all over the country. What message is resonating best?
Sen. Joni Ernst:
I’ve been crisscrossing our nation from Georgia to Michigan, Montana, Ohio, and, Pennsylvania to ensure that Kamala Harris and Chuck Schumer can never again open our nation’s borders to a stampede of illegal immigrants and terrorists, unlock historic inflation, destroy America’s reputation on the world stage, or force radical green mandates. The far left agenda has hurt hardworking Americans so much. I hear over and over again that they just want solutions to the issues that matter — someone who will bring down prices, secure the border, and keep families safe. That’s why we need Donald Trump in the White House and a Senate Republican majority to stop the radical agenda in its tracks. The future of our country is on the line.
Washington Reporter:
What’s your sleeper race for Tuesday that you think is not getting enough attention?
Sen. Joni Ernst:
Wisconsin. It’s getting plenty of attention, but my bet is on Eric Hovde. I was just talking to a radio station in his neck of the woods and it sounds like polls are starting to lean in his favor, plus the people love him. We need another strong Republican fighter from the Midwest in the Senate!
Washington Reporter:
You’ve been a leader on national security issues: are those coming up on the campaign trail?
Sen. Joni Ernst:
The contrast is clear. Under President Trump, we had peace in the Middle East and world leaders respected us. However, the weakness from a Biden-Harris White House has emboldened our adversaries, and they are on the march. Thirteen servicemembers were killed during Biden and Harris’s disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal, the match that lit the world on fire. Since then, dozens of Americans were murdered on October 7, more are still being held hostage by Iran-backed Hamas, and three of our servicemembers at Tower 22 in Jordan were killed by Iranian proxies, yet Biden and Harris waffle on our allies and appease our adversaries. We need to return to American leadership and restore peace through strength. American lives are on the line.
Washington Reporter:
How are you feeling about the Senate GOP’s chances next week?
Sen. Joni Ernst:
I’ve been really focused on working to deliver a Republican majority in the Senate, and after being on the trail with a number of our great candidates, I am optimistic about our chances on Tuesday. We must grow and strengthen the Republican coalition to reverse the harmful, out of touch policies and crises created by Chuck Schumer and the Biden-Harris administration. As we expand our conference, it’s so important that everyone has a voice and feel their voice is heard.
Washington Reporter:
What are the stakes of this election that you hear from voters as you travel the country?
Sen. Joni Ernst:
Kamala Harris and Democrats are trying to destroy the country I know and love, the one I fought for. That’s why I refuse to sit on the sidelines. Throughout the year and these last few months especially, I’ve been barnstorming our great country to elect Republicans up and down the ballot, bring a Donald Trump victory home, and recruit the next lineup of my Senate colleagues. This is about our future generations and their ability to live the American Dream, from home ownership to being able to afford basic necessities. I want them to share in the pride of being an American or even choosing to serve our country like I did.
Washington Reporter:
How are Trump’s proposed tariffs on China being received by Iowa farmers?
Sen. Joni Ernst:
Iowans see a fighter in Trump, and they remember what the world was like when he was president. They were better off. He doesn’t let others take advantage of the United States or our farmers. When Iowa farmers talk about Trump, I hear time and time again that finally, someone is standing up for us.
Washington Reporter:
What do you see as the top threats facing Americans right now? How do we deal with the threats abroad, no matter who is running the country next year?
Sen. Joni Ernst:
China is our number one pacing threat, but the weakness in our current White House has lit our entire world on fire. The CCP is increasing its aggression, Putin is on the march and North Korea is joining their ranks, and Iran is enriched and emboldened. What I keep hearing from leaders around the globe is ‘where is American leadership?’ We have to restore American strength — and that starts with a new commander-in-chief and a Republican Senate majority.
Washington Reporter:
Is the United States prepared for a multi-front war, and if not — what should the Senate do?
Sen. Joni Ernst:
We can start by passing our National Defense Authorization Act, which Chuck Schumer is holding up. Even though this is a historic bipartisan action Congress takes annually, he has prioritized political show votes and his liberal nominees. It really shows you the Democrats’ priorities. Additionally, we need to reaffirm our commitment to our allies and show strength against our adversaries. Iran was cash poor when Trump was in power, so they could not fund their proxy terrorism, which is why I have my bipartisan Iranian Sanctions Enforcement Act to enforce the sanctions on the books. Additionally, as long as Iran has bounties on American officials’ heads — including President Trump — my PUNISH Act will keep maximum sanctions in place.
Washington Reporter:
How have you seen the military change, from when you were in it, to now that you are conducting oversight of it?
Sen. Joni Ernst:
The Biden-Harris administration has it all wrong; they are trying to push their Green New Deal mandates on our military and electrify our fleet, when they should be focused on creating the most lethal fighting force on the planet. We’re facing a historic military recruitment crisis because not only have Biden and Harris showed they will not protect our servicemembers, but their student loan bailout extends education benefits — like the G.I. Bill provides — to civilians who have not served, which impacted recruitment efforts and undermined the fundamental principles of military service. Additionally, civilian leadership appointed by this administration has pushed woke policies. It is not these young men and women that are joining this service, who are committed to doing the right thing for their country. In them, I see a bright future and a safer nation.
Washington Reporter:
You’ve been working overtime to keep two Iowa veterans, Zach Nunn and Mariannette Miller-Meeks, in office — why is it so important that Iowans send them back to D.C. next week?
Sen. Joni Ernst:
Every vote counts when it comes to the House majority, and keeping these seats out of the hands of the far left is essential to preserve that. Iowans have the opportunity to determine control of the U.S. House of Representatives. If Republicans lose power, we will see Democrats force a radical, out-of-touch agenda on hardworking folks, including higher taxes, the consequences of an open border, and continued chaos around the globe. Iowans deserve representatives who stand for their values and fight for our way of life. They have that in Zach and Mariannette.
Washington Reporter:
What have you been working on to keep Iowa first in the nation next presidential cycle?
Sen. Joni Ernst:
Democrats gave Middle America the middle finger when they abandoned the Iowa caucuses, but Republicans are proud of our first in the nation status. Iowans are pros at vetting candidates — they take their job very seriously. Donald Trump’s policies resonate in our state, and after winning the caucuses, he went on to win the nomination.
Washington Reporter:
Senator Ernst, thanks so much for your time.
