An Iowa Democratic state lawmaker is bowing out of the 2026 U.S. Senate primary race and endorsing a colleague as the “best hope” to unseat Republican U.S. Sen.

Former Iowa state Sen. Jim Carlin is targeting U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst for ouster, claiming that she "may be a Republican, but she doesn't vote like one."

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.