William Petroski

bpetrosk@dmreg.com

U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, the first Iowa woman elected to Congress, said Monday she will vote for Donald Trump as long as he is the Republican Party's nominee for president.

"I will vote for the Republican ticket. If Donald Trump is at the top of that, yes, I will be supporting the Republican ticket," Ernst told The Des Moines Register on Monday in Des Moines.

"People need to understand: In my statement I that put it out, I am appalled at what he said, his words and the way that he objectified women. But I am fighting for my country. I am not fighting for Donald Trump. I am fighting for my country and I don't agree with Hillary Clinton, and so I will support the Republican ticket."

Her commitment to Trump comes just days after the release of a 2005 video in which Trump made lewd remarks about women. On Saturday, Ernst denounced Trump's comments, calling them insulting and inexcusable. But Ernst, a Red Oak Republican, avoided questions from reporters on Saturday night while attending an Iowa GOP dinner whether she would still support Trump's presidential candidacy. She is now the only female member of the Senate who says she will vote for Trump.

Branstad defends Trump, warns of ISIS threat to Iowans

Ernst, a former state senator and a retired Iowa National Guard battalion commander, was elected to the Senate in 2014, defeating former Democratic Rep. Bruce Braley in a historic election for Iowa, which had never had a female elected to the U.S. House or Senate.