Republican Joni Ernst of Iowa leads her Democratic opponent Bruce Braley in their race for the U.S. Senate, according to a new poll from USA Today and Suffolk University. Ernst, a state senator, has 47 percent support while three-term congressman Braley earns 43 percent.

Ernst has now led or tied Braley in 11 of the last 12 polls, and the Real Clear Politics average of polls gives her a 1.6-point lead.