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Ernst Weighs In On the Supreme Court and Same-Sex Marriage

John Pemble
/
IPR

Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s oral arguments this week over same-sex marriage, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst says she hopes the high court rules in favor of giving states the right to determine who can marry.

The topic of same-sex marriage came up last weekend when nine GOP presidential hopefuls made stump speeches at a church in Waukee. The freshman Iowa Republican says she didn’t hear all of the candidates this weekend but she says she is holding her position that marriage should be between one man and one woman.

"I do support the freedom of states' rights. And I think we should let the state legislatures and their elected officials decide," Ernst said on a conference call with reporters Thursday. “I think this is a state issue and then what the states decides should be honored."  

Ernst says she has never attended a same-sex wedding in Iowa. In 2009 the state became the third nationwide to overturn a ban on same-sex marriage.

The Supreme Court is expected to rule in June, the same month Ernst will likely host Republican presidential contenders in Boone for her first 'Roast and Ride' fundraiser.

Clay Masters is the senior politics reporter for MPR News.