An Iowa Democratic state lawmaker bowed out of the 2026 U.S. Senate primary race on Monday and endorsed a fellow legislator as the “best hope” to unseat Republican U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, who has yet to formally announce her bid for a third term.

Outside of Iowa, Democrats view the Maine seat held by Senator Susan Collins and the open North Carolina seat as their best opportunities to pickup a win in a GOP-held seat next November. Maine backed former Vice President Kamala Harris by about seven points, while North Carolina backed Trump by about three points last November.