Is Joni Ernst interested in being Defense Secretary?

Good morning.
Is U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst interested in being the next Secretary of Defense?
At least one news organization reported that Ernst is interested in the role in President-elect Donald Trump’s administration.
Here’s what Ernst’s spokesperson, Palmer Brigham, told me.
“Washington’s rumor mill will never stop churning, but Sen. Ernst is laser-focused on serving Iowans and her colleagues as conference chair and carrying out President Trump’s agenda in the Senate.”
Ernst, who is serving her second term in the Senate, is running for Senate Republican Conference Chair, the No. 3 position in Senate Republican leadership. She’s up against U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas.
Over the summer, Ernst told Iowa reporters she intends to seek reelection to a third term in the Senate in 2026, but that she would be open to serving in Trump’s administration.
“It would be such an honor to be asked to work in an administration,” she said June 1. “So, I would be open to whatever the president — if he asked, I would certainly be willing to respond.”
Read more in my story.
U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson says she’s not interested in serving as House GOP Conference Chair after the role came open Monday.
U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York will be vacating the leadership position after Trump announced he’d name her U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
But Hinson isn’t aiming for the job.
“I’m humbled that my colleagues would consider me for this important post, but I am not running for a leadership position,” Hinson said in a statement. “My focus is on serving Iowa’s Second Congressional District and working to ensure we carry out President Trump’s agenda.”
Sabine has the details in her story.
If any of you have tips about which Iowa Republicans could be in the running for jobs in the Trump administration, drop me a line at [email protected].