Hinson was endorsed and praised by Ernst with Hinson claiming that she shared the same values as Ernst. Ernst claimed that her seat “belonged” to Hinson.
Ernst was riddled with numerous controversies from inappropriate relations with Pentagon staff who she was supposed to oversee as a member of the Senate armed services committee to claiming “we are all going to die” when Iowans voiced their concerns about devastating Medicaid cuts.
Ernst Claimed That Hinson Had Her Full Support. According to the Gazette, “‘I will tell you that (Hinson) has my full support, and you may hear something more official a little bit later on,’ Ernst said.” [Gazette, 10/11/25]
Ernst Officially Endorsed Hinson’s Senate Bid. According to KCRG, “Saturday, Senator Joni Ernst officially endorsed Representative Ashley Hinson for US Senate. In a post on social media, Ernst said, ‘Ashley is an incredible friend. She is an incredible mother. She’s an incredible wife. She has mentored many that have followed behind her as well. She is a leader.’” [KCRG, 1/10/26]
Hinson And Ernst Attended A Joint Even Where Ernst Endorsed Hinson. According to the Des Moines Register, “ U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst is endorsing Rep. Ashley Hinson to succeed her as Iowa's next senator, calling her the best choice to keep the seat in Republican hands in 2026. More than a hundred supporters gathered Saturday, Jan. 10, at Iowa Spring in Adel for an event featuring Ernst and Hinson, waving signs saying ‘Thank you Joni’ on one side and ‘Vote Ashley’ on the other.” [Des Moines Register, 1/10/26]
Hinson Claimed That Ernst Was “Tough As Nails” And Thanked Her For Her Service In The Senate. According to the Des Moines Register, “ Hinson called Ernst ‘tough as nails’ and said ‘you don't back down from a fight,’ thanking Ernst for her service in the U.S. Senate, the military and local office.” [Des Moines Register, 1/10/26]
Ernst Claimed That Her Senate Seat Belonged To Hinson. According to the Iowa Capital Dispatch, “‘I also had made a commitment early on that I would serve two terms,’ Ernst said. ‘And so I have term limited myself and will be stepping aside because I think it’s the right thing to do for the next generation.’ Ernst said she supported Hinson’s campaign for the position she currently holds, saying, “that seat belongs to you, the seat that I currently occupy.’” [Iowa Capital Dispatch, 9/20/25]
Ernst Claimed that Part Of Her Decision To Retire Was If She Thought Someone Could Win Her Seat And She Claimed That Person Was Hinson. According to the Des Moines Register, “‘Part of that decision on whether I would run again or not was knowing that we as Iowans would have somebody that could step in to this campaign and ensure that we keep this seat,’ Ernst said. ‘That woman is Ashley Hinson.’” [Des Moines Register, 1/10/26]
Hinson Claimed That In The Senate She Would Make Them “Squeal.” According to the Des Moines Register, “Hinson praised Ernst for her work in Washington, D.C., and reining in spending, referencing her 2014 campaign slogan, ‘make 'em squeal.’ ‘This will be my promise to all of you too,’ Hinson said. ‘Not only will they not stop squealing, we’re going to make them squeal even louder.’” [Des Moines Register, 1/10/26]
Hinson Claimed That She Shared “Values” With Ernst. According to the Iowa Capital Dispatch, “‘We know that in the Senate, Joni has helped pave the way for what it means to put Iowa first and put America first,’ Hinson said. ‘These values are values that we share, and we are continuing to work together for you. … We’re going to continue to deport those criminal illegal aliens who threaten our communities. We’re going to stop China from owning our food supply. We’re going to protect veterans, continue to work on cutting taxes and protecting taxpayers and help Iowa’s working families to thrive.’” [Iowa Capital Dispatch, 10/11/25]
[VIDEO] When Talking About Medicaid Cuts, Ernst Said “Well We All Are Going To Die” When An Attendee Said That People Would Die From The Cuts. “They're not they are not eligible, so they will be coming off. So we people are not (attendee: people are going to die) Well we all are going to die. Okay. No, but. But what, what you don't want to do is listen to me when I say that we are going to focus on those that are most vulnerable, those that meet the eligibility requirements for Medicaid.” [Butler County Town Hall, 05/30/25]
Ernst’s Comments Drew Groans From The Crowd. According to the Associated Press, “‘People are not ... well, we all are going to die,’ Ernst said, drawing groans. ‘So, for heaven’s sakes. For heaven’s sakes, folks.’” [Associated Press, 5/31/25]
When Asked By A Reporter, Ernst Claimed That The Reactions To Her Comments Were “Hysteria That’s Out There Coming From The Left.” According to the Des Moines Register, “Talking to reporters later in the day at a Google data center construction site, Ernst said the now-viral reaction to her comments is ‘hysteria that's out there coming from the left.’” [Des Moines Register, 5/31/25]
In A Social Media Post, Ernst Claimed That She “Made An Incorrect Assumption That Everyone In The Auditorium Understood That, Yes, We Are All Going To Perish From This Earth.” According to the Washington Post, “‘I made an incorrect assumption that everyone in the auditorium understood that, yes, we are all going to perish from this earth,’ she said in a video filmed in what appeared to be a cemetery. ‘So I apologize, and I’m really, really glad that I did not have to bring up the subject of the tooth fairy as well.’” [Washington Post, 6/1/25]
When Asked If She Would’ve Responded Differently Looking Back, She Said “No, I Don’t Think So.” According to the Des Moines Register, “Angelo asked her, ‘Sen. Ernst, do you look back now and would you've done things a little bit differently in response to all of this controversy?’ ‘No, I don’t think so, Jeff, and let me explain why, too,’ Ernst replied. ‘I absolutely respect civil discourse, and that’s why I did a town hall. Many of us across Iowa are very famous for going out and doing town halls, doing my river to river tour, getting out and meeting with Iowans.’” [Des Moines Register, 6/6/25]
Democratic Candidate Nathan Sage Posted That His Jaw “Almost Hit The Floor” When He Heard The Quote. According to the Washington Post, “Nathan Sage, the only Democrat so far to mount an official bid against Ernst for the 2026 race, said on X that his jaw ‘almost hit the floor’ when he heard what Ernst had said.” [Washington Post, 6/1/25]
Sage Called Ernst’s Comments “A New Low” And That Ernst “Shrugged” Off The Fact That The Cuts Would Kill People.” According to the Des Moines Register, “Nathan Sage, a Democrat seeking his party's nomination for U.S. Senate in 2026, called Ernst's remarks ‘a new low,’ saying ‘she's not even trying to hide her contempt for us.’ ‘This is simple: these cuts will kill people,’ Sage said in a statement. ‘But Joni Ernst can’t even pretend to care. She shrugged it off. It’s disgusting and vile. Iowa deserves so much better. She needs to go.’” [Des Moines Register, 5/31/25]
Ernst Sat On The Senate’s Armed Services Committee Which Oversaw The Pentagon And Played A Crucial Role In Setting Its Annual Budget. According to ProPublica, “But one of the women whose relationship with Finerty was scrutinized by the inspector general was Sen. Joni Ernst, according to two sources with knowledge of the investigation. The Iowa Republican and combat veteran is one of the most influential voices on the Hill about the military, and she sits on the Senate’s Armed Services Committee, which oversees the Pentagon and plays a crucial role in setting its annual budget.” [ProPublica, 3/4/25]
Ethics Experts Claimed That Relationships Between Lawmakers And Lobbyists Or Other Legislative Advocates Could Create A Conflict Of Interest. According to ProPublica, “Ernst and the officials were not married at the time and Senate rules do not bar lawmakers from entering into romantic relationships with lobbyists or other legislative advocates. But ethics experts say such relationships can create a conflict of interest, and other lawmakers have been criticized for such behavior in the past.” [ProPublica, 3/4/25]
A Former Air Force Officer Who Worked For General Finerty Claimed That His Relationship With Ernst “Absolutely Gave The Air Force Undue Influence.” According to ProPublica, “A former Air Force officer who worked for Finerty said the perception in the office was that his relationship with Ernst ‘absolutely gave the Air Force undue influence.’” [ProPublica, 3/4/25]
Multiple Sources Within The Airforce Claimed That There Were Concerns About Ernst’s Relationship And That Ernst Was The Focus Of Inspector General Investigation. According to ProPublica, “Six sources who worked for the Air Force or in Congress told ProPublica that they had heard about a relationship between Ernst and Finerty and there had been concerns about it for years. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because they did not have permission to speak publicly or feared for their jobs. One source said that they were told about the relationship by one of the two participants. Two sources said they heard from witnesses interviewed by the inspector general that Ernst was a focus of the investigation.” [ProPublica, 3/4/25]
Ernst’s Spokesperson Claimed That The “Fake News Media” Was “Gossiping” And That Insinuations that She Was Influenced Was A “Slanderous Lie.” According to ProPublica, “A spokesperson for Ernst would not address whether the senator had any relationships with military legislative liaisons but said the lawmaker maintained her independence: ‘The fake news media is clearly too busy gossiping to report the real news that Senator Ernst is focused on cutting waste at the Pentagon. Her votes and work in the Senate are guided by the voices of Iowans who elected her and her constitutional duty alone. Any insinuation otherwise by tabloid ‘journalism’ is a slanderous lie — full stop.’” [ProPublica, 3/4/25]
Since The Inspector General’s Report Was Heavily Redacted, It Was Unclear Which Parts Of The Report Referred To Ernst. According to ProPublica, “The nature of his relationship with the women varied, from suggestive messages to graphic sexting and photos to physical sex, according to the report. Sources told ProPublica that the inspector general asked witnesses about Ernst, but because of the redactions in the report, it’s unclear which sections, if any, refer to the senator.” [ProPublica, 3/4/25]
Ernst Was Pushing For More Money And Projects For The Air Force While Finerty Was Heading The Legislative Affairs Office. According to ProPublica, “Around the time Finerty was heading the legislative affairs office, from April 2019 to March 2023, Ernst publicly pushed for more money and championed projects for the Air Force on multiple occasions, including in at least one instance on a specific matter that Finerty was advocating for on the Hill.” [ProPublica, 3/4/25]
2021: Ernst Pushed For More Air Force Funding. According to ProPublica, “In June 2021, she pushed for more Air Force funding from the Senate floor: ‘While the Biden budget promises a bureaucratic buildup at the IRS, his proposal is far less generous to our armed forces. The Air Force would suffer a substantial cut in its number of aircraft.’” [ProPublica, 3/4/25]
2022: Ernst Attacked Biden For A Proposed Budget That She Claims “Shrinks The Size OF Our Airforce.” According to ProPublica, “In April 2022, she attacked then-President Joe Biden for a proposed budget that ‘shrinks the size of our Air Force.’ ‘With Putin and his cronies invading Ukraine, China testing hypersonic missiles and threatening Taiwan, Iran enriching uranium, and the Taliban back in control of Afghanistan, it’s as critical as ever that we provide for a strong national defense,’ Ernst said in a statement.” [ProPublica, 3/4/25]
2022: Ernst Pushed Legislation To Improve The Pentagon’s Access To Critical Minerals Warning That The Air Force’s Premier Fighter Jet Was Made From Minerals sourced From Russia And China. According to ProPublica, “Two months later, she pushed legislation to improve the Pentagon’s access to critical minerals, warning ‘the Air Force’s premier fighter jet, the F-22, is made with layers of titanium alloy, much of which is sourced from Russia and China.’” [ProPublica, 3/4/25]
2023: After Finerty Left His Post, Ernst Introduced A Bill That Would Establish The Joint All Domain Command And Control Which Was On The List Of Priorities Finerty Texted One Of The Women On The Hill He Was Romantically Involved With. According to ProPublica, “In November 2023, several months after Finerty left his post, she introduced a bill to allow the Pentagon to connect weapons and technology across the various branches of the government, a concept known as Joint All Domain Command and Control — which was on the list of top priorities he texted to one of the women on the Hill he was romantically involved with.” [ProPublica, 3/4/25]
2019: Ernst Had A Previous Romantic Relationship With A Legislative Affairs Official For The Navy. According to ProPublica, “Three other sources told ProPublica that around 2019 Ernst had a previous romantic relationship with a legislative affairs official for a different branch of the military, the Navy.” [ProPublica, 3/4/25]
A Source Claimed That The End Of Ernst’s Relationship With The Navy Official Created Tension Between Their Offices And The Official’s Departure From His Post Was Partially Because Of The Relationship. According to ProPublica, “One source with knowledge of the situation said the relationship’s end created tension between Ernst’s office and the Navy legislative affairs office. Two sources said the Navy liaison was moved out of his post early. One of them said he was forced to depart his post earlier than expected because he had another romantic relationship with a Hill staffer and that Ernst was not cited by his boss when he was transferred. But the second source said senior officials were aware of the relationship with Ernst and that it played a role.” [ProPublica, 3/4/25]
Ernst, Now Ex-Husband, Claimed That She Admitted To An Affair While She Served In Iraq. According to ProPublica, “Ernst has once before been accused of being involved in a relationship that may have violated military rules. In a highly contentious divorce in 2019, her ex-husband alleged she admitted to an affair with one of her soldiers when she served as a company commander during the Iraq War. Ernst denied having an affair.” [ProPublica, 3/4/25]