"We all are going to die" backlash reshapes Iowa Senate race
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Sen. Joni Ernst posted a video statement, which was recorded at what appeared to be a cemetery, the day after her Iowa town hall meeting. Screenshot: Ernst's Instagram
Sen. Joni Ernst's "people will die" firestorm has shaken up her reelection campaign, prompted a GOP primary challenger and drawn national attention to a race once considered a lock for Republicans.
Why it matters: The incident has turned a sleepy 2026 Senate race into one to watch, offering Democrats a rare opportunity in deep-red Iowa.
Catch up quick: The controversy began when Ernst responded to a participant's concern during a May 30 town hall meeting in Parkersburg that "people will die" because of billions of possible Medicaid cuts in a House bill.
- Ernst replied, in part, that "we all are going to die," which drew groans from the crowd.
- She issued a sarcastic apology the next day from what appeared to be a cemetery, saying she assumed everybody knows "we are all going to perish from this Earth" and that she's glad she did not have to bring up the tooth fairy as well.
Driving the news: Several well-known GOP and Democratic candidates have announced campaigns against her in the days following the town hall, including state Rep. J.D. Scholten (D-Sioux City) on June 2 and, on Friday, former state Sen. Jim Carlin, a hardline conservative Republican who is also from Sioux City.
- Other Democrats like Des Moines School Board president Jackie Norris and state Sen. Zach Wahls of Coralville are also considering a run.
- The nonpartisan election forecaster Cook Political Report shifted the race from "Solid Republican" to "Likely Republican."
The intrigue: The moment exploded on social media, was parodied by critics and has since become a rallying cry for Democrats.
- A "We All Are Going to Die" T-shirt from Raygun became a top seller.
- Some Democratic operatives have dubbed her "Joni Hearse."
What they're saying: The apology video "felt like a very unforced error on top of an unforced error" and played into why Cook believes the race has the potential to become competitive, Jessica Taylor, the site's Senate and governors editor, tells Axios.
- Ernst's "baffling" response elicited national scrutiny and handed Democrats a rare talking point that could resonate in the election, said Karen Kedrowski, director of the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics at Iowa State.
The other side: In a statement to Axios on Monday, Ernst's campaign accused Democrats of fearmongering against efforts to strengthen the integrity of Medicaid and her efforts to protect Iowans' benefits from waste, fraud and abuse.
- In a WHO Radio interview last week, she said she regrets nothing and emphasized her concern for vulnerable populations.
What we're watching: How Ernst will navigate a dual challenge — fending off a primary from her right while trying to contain a controversy that continues to fuel Democratic momentum.