In the upcoming race for the Senate Republican Conference chair, Iowa Senator Joni Ernst has entered the fray, setting the stage for a high-stakes battle against Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton.
Both senators are vying for the No. 3 position in party leadership in the next Congress, according to Politico.
Joni Ernst, a second-term Republican senator from Iowa, has positioned herself as an outsider, independent thinker, and voice of reason within the party.
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Her decision to run for Senate Republican Conference chair reflects her desire to take on a more significant leadership role and be part of the “new era” in the Republican Party, she told Politico.
“Republicans want to see someone that doesn’t just get told how to vote, but someone that can be an independent thinker and provide a voice to reason and to truth … I’m ready to take that on,” Ernst said.
Ernst’s current role as Republican Policy Committee chair, the No. 4 position in the GOP hierarchy, has prepared her for the challenges of the conference chair position. While she could have chosen to stay in her current role, Ernst recognized the opportunity to become the party’s chief messenger and advocate for independent thinking.
Tom Cotton, the junior senator from Arkansas, poses a formidable challenge to Joni Ernst in the race for Senate Republican Conference chair. Cotton, like Ernst, is a veteran senator and close ally of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Both senators were part of the influential 2014 class of GOP senators known as the “bear den” that played a key role in shaping Republican strategy.
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While Ernst has built a reputation as an approachable and outspoken senator, Cotton tends to be more reserved in his interactions with the media. Ernst’s willingness to engage with reporters and her use of game show props on the Senate floor to illustrate her points have made her a familiar face in weekly leadership press conferences.
“Absolutely, this is winnable for me. And we shouldn’t be afraid of elections for heaven’s sake,” Ernst said “I’ve never been the establishment’s chosen candidate. I’ve always been that outsider.”
Ernst and Cotton also differ in their policy positions. Cotton has been more resistant to bipartisan deals in Congress, including foreign aid packages and cross-aisle agreements during the early years of Joe Biden’s presidency.
In contrast, Ernst has supported bipartisan legislation, such as a foreign aid package that included funding for Ukraine, a gun safety law, and a marriage equality bill.
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