Governor Kristi Noem

Governor Kristi Noem
Name	Kristi Noem
Caption	Noem in 2020
Office	33rd Governor of South Dakota
Term start	January 5, 2019
Predecessor	Dennis Daugaard
Birth name	Kristi Lynn Noem
Birth date	November 30, 1971
Birth place	Watertown, South Dakota, U.S.
Party	Republican Party
Spouse	Bryon Noem
Alma mater	South Dakota State University

Governor Kristi Noem is an American politician who has served as the 33rd governor of South Dakota since 2019 and represented South Dakota's at-large congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 2011 to 2019. A member of the Republican Party, she rose from state legislative service to national prominence through high-profile positions on issues including agriculture, gun rights, and pandemic response. Her tenure has drawn attention from national figures including Donald Trump, Mitch McConnell, and Nancy Pelosi, and she has been a frequent subject of coverage by outlets such as The New York Times, Fox News, and The Washington Post.

Early life and education

Noem was born in Watertown, South Dakota and raised on a ranch near Castlewood, South Dakota, the daughter of a small-business owner and a homemaker. She attended De Smet High School and worked in family agriculture alongside connections to organizations like the South Dakota Farm Bureau and National FFA Organization. After high school she studied at South Dakota State University, where she participated in programs connected to Smithsonian Institution-affiliated exhibits and engaged with U.S. Department of Agriculture initiatives before leaving college to manage the family ranch and small businesses such as a restaurant and a rental property.

Early political career and U.S. House of Representatives

Noem's elected career began with service in the South Dakota House of Representatives, where she was first elected in 2006 and served on committees including those related to South Dakota Department of Transportation and South Dakota Board of Regents matters. In 2010 she ran for the open at-large seat vacated by Stephanie Herseth Sandlin and won, joining the 112th United States Congress as part of a Republican freshman class that included members who worked with leaders such as John Boehner, Eric Cantor, and Paul Ryan. During her four terms in the United States House of Representatives, she served on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Agriculture Committee, and she co-sponsored legislation with colleagues like Steve King and Lindsey Graham on issues tied to Department of Defense funding, Federal Aviation Administration oversight, and rural development programs administered by the United States Department of Agriculture.

Governorship (2019–present)

Noem was elected governor of South Dakota in 2018, succeeding Dennis Daugaard, and inaugurated in January 2019. As governor she has interacted with state institutions including the South Dakota Department of Health, the South Dakota Legislature, and the South Dakota National Guard while coordinating with federal agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Federal Emergency Management Agency during natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic. Her administration has promoted initiatives involving the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks department, the South Dakota Department of Education, and economic partnerships with entities like Amazon (company), Cargill, Inc., and regional tribal governments including the Oglala Sioux Tribe and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe.

Policies and political positions

Noem's policy positions align with conservative priorities advocated by the Republican National Committee and figures including Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump. She has emphasized support for gun rights, agricultural interests represented by the National Farmers Union and the American Farm Bureau Federation, and deregulation measures consistent with the Heritage Foundation and the Cato Institute. On healthcare she opposed aspects of the Affordable Care Act and promoted state-level alternatives engaging with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. During the COVID-19 pandemic she favored limited mandates and prioritized reopening with positions debated by public health experts at the World Health Organization and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Noem has taken stances on energy and public lands involving the Bureau of Land Management, supported tax policies resonant with the Tax Foundation, and articulated immigration views in line with members of the House Homeland Security Committee.

Elections and campaigns

Noem's electoral history includes victories in state legislative races, four successful campaigns for United States House of Representatives (2010, 2012, 2014, 2016), and the 2018 gubernatorial election. In 2020 and 2022 her profile rose during national Republican events such as the Republican National Convention, leading to speculation about higher office and interactions with national figures like Mike Pence, Ted Cruz, and Nikki Haley. Her campaigns have used strategists connected to firms that worked for candidates including George W. Bush and Mitt Romney, and have been financed by donors from sectors including agriculture, energy, and tech with reporting by organizations like OpenSecrets and the Federal Election Commission.

Controversies and legal issues

Noem's tenure has involved controversies that drew scrutiny from media outlets such as ProPublica and The Wall Street Journal and inquiries by state ethics bodies including the South Dakota Secretary of State and ramifications connected to the South Dakota Attorney General. Criticisms have addressed issues such as use of state resources, interactions with influencer events linked to corporations like Smithfield Foods and Sturgis Motorcycle Rally stakeholders, and disputes with tribal leaders from the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and the Yankton Sioux Tribe. Legal analyses by scholars at institutions like Harvard Law School and Yale Law School have debated constitutional questions arising from executive actions during emergencies and from campaign finance reporting examined by the Federal Election Commission.

Personal life and public image

Noem is married to Bryon Noem and has three children; the family maintains ties to ranching communities near Hamlin County, South Dakota and engages with organizations such as the South Dakota Stockgrowers Association and the American Legislative Exchange Council. Her public image has been shaped by appearances on programs including Fox & Friends, interviews with hosts from MSNBC and CNN, and profiles in publications like TIME (magazine) and The Atlantic; supporters compare her to leaders such as Sarah Palin and Margaret Thatcher while critics draw parallels to contentious governors including Ron DeSantis. Noem has received awards and honors from state groups and national associations including the National Rifle Association and agricultural commodity organizations, and she continues to be a prominent figure in contemporary Republican politics.

Category:Governors of South Dakota Category:Members of the United States House of Representatives from South Dakota