Joni Ernst

Joni Ernst
Name	Joni Ernst
Caption	Official portrait, 2020
State	Iowa
Jr/sr	United States Senator
Alongside	Chuck Grassley
Term start	January 3, 2015
Predecessor	Tom Harkin
Party	Republican
Birth name	Joni Kay Culver
Birth date	1 July 1970
Birth place	Red Oak, Iowa
Spouse	Gail Ernst, 1992, 2019
Education	Iowa State University (BA, MA)
Branch	Iowa Army National Guard, United States Army Reserve
Serviceyears	1993–2015
Rank	Lieutenant Colonel
Battles	Iraq War

Joni Ernst is an American politician and retired military officer serving as the junior United States senator from Iowa since 2015. A member of the Republican Party, she previously served in the Iowa Senate and as Montgomery County Auditor. Ernst was the first female combat veteran elected to the U.S. Senate and the first woman to represent Iowa in Congress.

Early life and education

Joni Kay Culver was born in Red Oak, Iowa, and grew up on a family farm near Stanton. She graduated from Stanton High School and earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Iowa State University in 1992. She later received a Master of Arts in public administration from the same institution. During her time at Iowa State University, she was a member of the ROTC program, which initiated her path toward military service.

Military career

Ernst enlisted in the United States Army Reserve and was commissioned through the ROTC at Iowa State University in 1992. She served in the Iowa Army National Guard for over two decades, achieving the rank of lieutenant colonel. She commanded the 185th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion during a deployment to Kuwait in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Her military service included assignments with Joint Force Headquarters and logistics commands. She retired from the military in 2015 after 23 years of service.

Political career

Her political career began with her election as Montgomery County Auditor in 2004. She was elected to the Iowa Senate in 2011, representing District 12. In the Iowa Senate, she served as chair of the Iowa Senate Transportation Committee and worked on legislation related to tax reform and agriculture. She gained statewide recognition during her 2014 campaign for the U.S. Senate, emphasizing her rural roots and military background.

U.S. Senate

Ernst was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2014, defeating Bruce Braley to succeed retiring Democrat Tom Harkin. She delivered the Republican response to the State of the Union address in 2015. In the Senate Armed Services Committee, she has focused on military readiness and veterans affairs. She served as chair of the Senate Republican Policy Committee from 2019 to 2023 and was elected as Vice Chair of the Senate Republican Conference in 2023. She sits on the Senate Agriculture Committee and the Senate Small Business Committee.

Political positions

Ernst is a conservative who supports a strong national defense, having advocated for increased funding for the Department of Defense. She is a proponent of agricultural interests, supporting the Farm Bill and Renewable Fuel Standard. She has a strong anti-abortion voting record and is endorsed by organizations like Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America. On fiscal issues, she has supported the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 and advocated for a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution. She has been critical of China's trade practices and supported the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement.

Personal life

She was married to Gail Ernst from 1992 until their divorce in 2019; they have one daughter. Ernst is a member of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod. She has been open about experiencing domestic violence during her first marriage. Her memoir, Daughter of the Heartland, was published in 2020. She maintains a residence in Red Oak, Iowa.

Category:United States senators from Iowa Category:Members of the Iowa Senate Category:Iowa Army National Guard officers