Sen. Joni Ernst’s hopes for a second term may be consumed by the GOP-led race to confirm a new Supreme Court justice before Election Day.
Ernst, who took office in 2015, was one of the Republicans who argued against the consideration of Obama-nominated Judge Merrick Garland, saying the replacement of the late Justice Antonin Scalia’s seat in 2016 should wait since that year’s election was months away.
In 2018, the Iowa Republican told the Des Moines Register she didn’t believe a sitting president should nominate justices to the high court in an election year. When it came to President Trump, Ernst said he should wait to nominate someone until after he is reelected.
“It’s precedent set,” Ernst said. “So come 2020, if there’s an opening, I’m sure you’ll remind me of that.”
But, since the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Sept. 18 sparked an acrimonious battle to fill the seat, Ernst changed her tune. Ernst has vowed to do her “duties” as a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which confirms judges to federal courts, including the Supreme Court.
Ernst defended her new position, saying voters see the need to fill the seat as “push back against the radicalization of our Supreme Court.”
Ernst’s flipped stance comes as she faces a competitive challenge to hold on to her seat against Democrat Theresa Greenfield, a real estate executive from Des Moines.
She’s used the Supreme Court as a way to paint Greenfield as an extremist, accusing her opponent of supporting efforts to pack the court, or increase the number of judges on the bench. Greenfield has not specifically taken a stance on that issue, but a spokesperson from her office said she doesn’t support the move.
The race is one of the most competitive in the country, with Democrats eager to flip Ernst’s seat in hopes of taking back the Senate come November.
Democrats need to net four seats total to retake the majority. Currently, Republicans hold 53 seats, and 47 senators are members of the Democratic Caucus, including two Independents. The Iowa race is viewed by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report as a toss-up.
Ernst, an Iraq War veteran, made history with her first victory, becoming the first woman from Iowa elected to Congress.
Ernst’s campaign has been aggressive on the ground, touring of all 99 counties in Iowa by September. In Iowa, it’s known as a “full Grassley,” in reference to Iowa’s other senator, Chuck Grassley, a Republican elected in 1980.
But the coronavirus pandemic, which has infected over five million people in the United States, may be a sore spot for the senator who has come under fire for comments she made.
Medical professionals have referred to Ernst’s comments as dangerous, while Greenfield has taken her controversial views as an opening to paint herself as an alternative, pro-science candidate.
During a campaign in Waterloo, Ernst said she was “so skeptical” about the COVID-19 death toll, and disputed data that showed over 193,000 people in the U.S. died as a result of the virus. Ernst has since walked back her comments.
In a video, Greenfield attacked Ernst on her views and called for a statewide mask mandate.
“She should also apologize to our healthcare heroes and explain why she supports these lies,” Greenfield said.
During a Senate debate, the two candidates also discussed racial injustice and law and order, issues that have also come to the national forefront after multiple incidents of black people being shot and sometimes killed at the hands of police over the summer.
Both candidates supported efforts to improve racial justice but sparred over their views on law enforcement. Ernst accused her opponent of accusing all officers of being racist.
Greenfield defended herself, saying she comes from “a long line of police officers” and that her comments were a lie. However, the Democrat added she believes there is systemic racism in U.S. institutions that needs to be addressed.
