Republican Carlin announces run against Ernst for US Senate seat

SERGEANT BLUFF — A Republican who ran against Chuck Grassley in the 2022 US Senate primary intends to run against Joni Ernst in 2026.

Jim Carlin is an attorney from Sergeant Bluff and a former state legislator. In 2022, he finished with 26% of the vote in the Republican primary. Carlin has planned a campaign kickoff coming up on Thursday in Cedar Rapids.

Another candidate has also declared for the Republican primary with Joshua Smith of Indianola, who is a veteran who ran as a Libertarian for a state senate seat last year.

Two candidates have declared for the Democratic nomination with current state legislator J.D. Scholten of Sioux City and Nathan Sage, a Mason City native who currently serves as the Chamber of Commerce director in Indianola.