Joni Ernst’s Leadership Role in Jeopardy

According to Axios, Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, may lose the opportunity for a Senate leadership role to Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., who has already announced his campaign for the third-ranking position in the Senate GOP.

Ernst, the highest-ranking Republican woman in the Senate and the fourth-highest ranking member of the GOP as Republican Policy Committee chair, had announced her candidacy for Senate Republican Conference chair earlier.

Cotton, who announced his campaign for the same position about a week before Ernst, has gained significant support from within the GOP conference, leading sources to believe that he will secure the post.

Despite this, Ernst is still working to rally support from her colleagues, showing determination in the face of a challenging campaign.

In an interview with Politico, Ernst emphasized her outsider status and noted the lack of heads-up given by Cotton before his announcement, calling it a lapse in common courtesy.

There is speculation that Ernst may lose her current leadership role to Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., with sources indicating that it is unlikely for Ernst to try to retain her current position.