Pressure piles on Iowa GOP Sen. Joni Ernst over Pete Hegseth confirmation fight

DES MOINES, Iowa ? The pressure campaign against U.S. Sen. 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.

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird penned a column in the conservative website Breitbart urging the Senate to confirm Trump's Cabinet nominees. Although it doesn't call out Ernst by name, she castigates "D.C. politicians" who "think they can ignore the voices of their constituents and entertain smears from the same outlets that have pushed out lies for years."

Ernst, a member of the Senate Committee on Armed Services, has been a key hurdle in Hegseth's path to confirmation as he battles allegations of sexual assault, which he has denied, as well as allegations of alcohol abuse and mismanagement of a nonprofit he led. He also has opposed women serving in combat roles in the military.

"What we’re witnessing in Washington right now is a Deep State attempt to undermine the will of the people," Bird wrote. "We must not let Washington kill nominations before the Constitutional confirmation process even begins."

More: Trump allies doubt Hegseth can secure Defense secretary nomination

Bird's spokesperson, Alyssa Brouillet, said in a statement the article was meant generally to encourage "the entire U.S. Senate" to confirm Trump's appointees. She accused the Des Moines Register, part of the USA TODAY Network, of "always trying to pit Republicans against each other."

"President Trump needs his team in the field to ensure Washington works for America — not the other way around," Brouillet said.

More: Pete Hegseth controversy explained: What to know amid backlash to Trump's Defense pick

Steve Deace, an Iowa conservative commentator and media personality, posted on the social media website X that he would be willing to run against Ernst in a Republican primary if she seeks reelection in 2026.

"Defeating an incumbent US Senator takes high name ID, connections, and funding potential," he wrote. "I'm one of the few people in Iowa with all three. I don't want to be a Senator, but I am willing to primary her for the good of the cause if I'm assured I have Trump's support going in. Or I am willing to throw my support and network behind someone else President Trump prefers to primary Joni Ernst instead."

More: Trump considering DeSantis to replace Hegseth for defense secretary post

Ernst is the first female combat veteran to serve in the U.S. Senate, and she has a staunch legislative record of addressing sexual assault and harassment in the military.

She sat down with Hegseth earlier this week and said on the social media site X that they had a "frank and thorough" conversation. But in a Fox News interview the next day, she said she has not gotten to a "yes" on his confirmation.

More: Pivotal GOP Sen. Joni Ernst suggests she doesn't yet support Pete Hegseth as Trump defense secretary

Friday afternoon, she posted to X that she intends to meet with Hegseth again next week.

"Pete Hegseth and I will continue our constructive conversations as we move forward together in this process," she wrote. "We plan to meet again next week. At a minimum, we agree that he deserves the opportunity to lay out his vision for our warfighters at a fair hearing."

Ernst says she doesn't want top Pentagon job

She told Real Clear Politics that she is not working behind the scenes to try to tank Hegseth's nomination but is focused on ensuring a thorough and fair confirmation process.

“And believe me, I have been feeling this,” she said. "There is absolutely no campaign against Pete.”

More: Iowa Republican US Sen. Joni Ernst defeated in Senate leadership race

Ernst also worked to dispel rumors that she is attempting to block Hegseth's nomination because she wants the post herself. Ernst has been floated as a possible defense secretary pick.

"I am not seeking to be secretary of defense," she told Real Clear Politics.

Donald Trump Jr. takes aim

Iowa Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson defended Ernst in a call with Iowa reporters Friday morning, calling her a "fierce conservative fighter."

"She has dedicated her life to serving our Iowans and her country, and it is her constitutional duty to vet all of these nominees thoroughly, and I think that's what she is doing," Hinson said. "That's what she has pledged to do."

In a statement Friday evening, Hinson said Hegseth is a strong pick to lead the Department of Defense.

More: Who is Penelope Hegseth? What to know after Pete Hegseth's mother addresses leaked email

"I was able to hear him speak earlier this week and think he will be a disruptor, end woke DEI infecting our military, and cut through the endless bureaucracy at the Pentagon," she said. "I’m counting down the days until Trump is in the White House and we can get to work to Make America Great Again.”

In the hours since Ernst's Fox News interview, there has been intense blowback online from the right.

More: 'Yes, I do': Donald Trump sticks by Pete Hegseth in interview as allies cast doubts

In Iowa, the right-wing Iowa Standard blog has been vocal about calling for a primary challenge to Ernst, highlighting past stances she's taken that were in opposition to Trump.

And Donald Trump Jr. posted on X a list of Republican senators, including Ernst, who voted for Democratic President Joe Biden's defense secretary pick, Lloyd Austin, saying it's "a disgrace" for any of those senators to now withhold support from Hegseth.

"What a disgrace. If you're a GOP Senator who voted for Lloyd Austin, but criticize @PeteHegseth, then maybe you're in the wrong political party!" he wrote.

On X, the phrase "She's a Democrat" appeared briefly to be trending on Friday morning, with users highlighting past interviews and stances Ernst has had over the years that they say undermine her conservative credentials.

Brianne Pfannenstiel is the chief politics reporter for the Des Moines Register, part of the USA TODAY Network. She is also covering the 2024 presidential race for USA TODAY as a senior national campaign correspondent. Reach her at [email protected] or 515-284-8244. Follow her on Twitter at @brianneDMR.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sen. Joni Ernst gets accusations and primary threats over Hegseth