Speaking about Senator Ernst’s Heritage Foundation rating of just 42%, being more liberal than Senator Bernie Sanders’ 46%, Carlin finds that unacceptable for a Republican seat holder. Carlin has a record in the State Senate of Iowa of being instrumental in passing Iowa’s Heartbeat Bill, ending the availability of abortions after a heartbeat can be detected in the womb. His legislation prevented any increases in property taxes for senior Iowans, allowing them to stay in their homes without a crushing property tax bill increase year after year. He also has a record of protecting girls and women, requiring that bathroom use be determined by sex at birth as opposed to “identity.” Carlin states:
“I don’t believe you—or the ones you love—are being represented in Washington, D.C. That’s why I’m stepping up to run in the Republican primary …I’m proud to be an unapologetic supporter of President Donald Trump. I saw long ago that America was headed for an iceberg. Today, that’s no longer a warning—it’s a collision we’re living through. A $36 trillion national debt. 20% inflation. Healthcare costs have tripled. Open borders. Hundreds of billions sent to Ukraine while our own citizens are struggling.”
Carlin has a planned event to make his run official on June 12, 2025, at Calvary Community Church in Cedar Rapids, IA, starting at 5:30 pm.
There are two other republicans, including Joshua Smith from Indianola, a Navy Veteran and a father of 7. Smith formerly worked for Dr. Ron Paul on his Senate Campaign in 2008 and states he intends to take liberty policies to Washington and fight for the “plight of everyday Americans.“
The other announced Republican is John Berman from Cedar Rapids, who graduated from Oberlin College with a Bachelor’s Degree in 1979 and Stanford with a Master’s degree in 1990. There is no campaign website or much information available at this time. There are two announced candidates on the Democratic side: Nathan Sage of Mason City, also a veteran of multiple deployments, and state Rep. J.D. Scholten (D-Sioux City), an Army and Marine Corps veteran, announced June 2, 2025.
Ernst originally ran for the US Senate in 2014. During the 2014 debate, she stated she would only serve for “12 years” and included that she would like to see a Constitutional “amendment” for term limits. Contrary to her statement in her inaugural run, if she chooses to run again, it will be for a third time.
