Considering the Senate race will be the first seat on the ballot, it won't make all that much of a factor. Even if it did, it wouldn't help her much since Branstad isn't as popular as he used to be given his corruption scandals and the fact that he's facing a weak Democrat can be bypassed for the fact that just below Branstad are popular Democratic incumbents Tom Miller and Michael Fitzgerald who will coast to re-election.
Now Branstad or Reynolds could certainly hold a few fundraisers with Ernst maybe, but otherwise, she's on her own here, and will only be able to beat Braley on the basis of his flop of a campaign. Besides, people aren't going to vote for Ernst because they voted for Branstad. Senate and Governor races are two different things.
^Everything he/she just said, mainly the first sentence
