DES MOINES, Iowa – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, announced that her annual Roast and Ride will return in 2022 after a two-year hiatus.
“We are not doing the roast and ride this year. But I certainly appreciate you all asking about it. We are going to be back next year and 2022 and it’s because of all of you and your great support that makes the roast and ride a great event. So I can’t wait to see you next year,” Ernst said in a video on Twitter.
🚨An update on Roast and Ride 🐷🏍
Stay tuned for 2022! pic.twitter.com/RD1xSs1wNE
— Joni Ernst (@joniernst) August 25, 2021
The Roast and Ride has featured prominent Republicans. Ernst’s inaugural Roast and Ride in 2015 featured a number of candidates in the 2016 Republican presidential field including Mike Huckabee, Ben Carson, Marco Rubio, Lindsey Graham, Carly Fiorina, and Rick Perry. It filled in the void left by the cancellation of the Iowa Straw Poll. Former President (then-candidate) Donald Trump appeared at her second event in 2016. Her 2017 Roast and Ride featured Vice President Mike Pence and U.S. Senator Tim Scott, R-S.C. Former U.S. Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., appeared at her 2018 event. In 2019, former U.N. Ambassador and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley headlined the event.
In 2020, Ernst held a two-day motorcycle ride across Iowa in October instead of one big event due to COVID-19. She did not announce why the event wouldn’t be held this year.
