Pete Hegseth’s bid for Pentagon chief may just be in the hands of female combat veteran Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, who is also a staunch advocate of military sexual assault survivors.
Thursday on Fox News, she yielded a relatively strong indication of being a possible “no” by responding to the outlet’s inquiry about whether she was ready to vote for Hegseth.
Ernst has been viewed as the swing vote in Hegseth’s confirmation with her party loyalty and loyalty to Donald Trump, with her long-standing personal advocacy against military sexual assault at the forefront.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Hegseth can only afford to lose three Republican votes, assuming a unanimous decision by Democrats in opposition.
Hegseth has campaigned through his female family members, including his wife and mother. Still, it appears Ernst may be bound to her convictions given her track record on military sexual assault, which has granted her a certain “influence and credibility,” according to Politico.
Ernst met with Hegseth on Wednesday and reportedly said it was “frank and thorough.” On Fox News on Thursday, she elaborated further.
A number of our senators, they want to make sure that any allegations have been cleared and that’s why we have to have a very thorough vetting process. The vetting will continue, I am certain, through the next month or so until we approach that hearing date.
Hegseth is seemingly the diametric opposite of Ernst. He is a retired Iowa National Guard major facing allegations of sexual misconduct and excessive drinking while harboring the opinion that women should not be in combat.
Meanwhile, Ernst has a record of standing her ground on her beliefs. In 2019, she opposed a Pentagon nominee amid allegations of sexual misconduct. Ernst was the only Republican to vote against then-Air Force Gen. John Hyten as vice chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Hyten was ultimately confirmed as the allegations were deemed unsubstantiated.
Trump has considered national security advisor pick Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla., or Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as a possible replacement.
According to Politico, allies of the president-elect have vowed to stand by Hegseth with possible repercussions for Ernst in the 2026 reelection.
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“If Joni votes no, she’s going to have a hard time with her reelection campaign,” one Republican senator said, adding that during any floor vote Hegseth, Trump “will be taking names.”
