Joni Ernst facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joni Ernst
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Official portrait, 2020
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| Chair of the Senate Small Business Committee | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2025 |
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| Preceded by | Jeanne Shaheen |
| Ranking Member of the Small Business Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2023 – January 3, 2025 |
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| Preceded by | Rand Paul |
| Succeeded by | Ed Markey |
| Chair of the Senate Republican Policy Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2023 – January 3, 2025 |
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| Leader | Mitch McConnell |
| Preceded by | Roy Blunt |
| Succeeded by | Shelley Moore Capito |
| Vice Chair of the Senate Republican Conference | |
| In office January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2023 |
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| Leader | Mitch McConnell |
| Preceded by | Roy Blunt |
| Succeeded by | Shelley Moore Capito |
| United States Senator from Iowa |
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| Assumed office January 3, 2015 Serving with Chuck Grassley
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| Preceded by | Tom Harkin |
| Member of the Iowa Senate from the 12th district |
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| In office January 5, 2011 – November 28, 2014 |
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| Preceded by | Kim Reynolds |
| Succeeded by | Mark Costello |
| Montgomery County Auditor | |
| In office 2005 – January 5, 2011 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Joni Kay Culver
July 1, 1970 Red Oak, Iowa, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Gail Ernst
(m. 1992; div. 2019) |
| Children | 1 |
| Education |
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| Signature |  |
| Website | |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | |
| Years of service |
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| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Unit |
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| Wars | Iraq War |
| Awards |
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Joni Kay Ernst (born July 1, 1970) is an American politician and a retired military officer. She has served as a U.S. Senator for Iowa since 2015. She is a member of the Republican Party. Before becoming a senator, she was part of the Iowa State Senate from 2011 to 2014. She also worked as the auditor for Montgomery County from 2005 to 2011.
Joni Ernst graduated from Iowa State University. She then joined the United States Army Reserve. From 1993 to 2015, she served in the Iowa Army National Guard, reaching the rank of lieutenant colonel. During the Iraq War, she led the 1168th Transportation Company in Kuwait. Later, she commanded the 185th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion.
After her time as Montgomery County Auditor and in the Iowa State Senate, Ernst was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2014. She was the first Republican to win that seat since 1978. She was reelected in 2020.
During her time in the Senate, Ernst has talked about making changes to programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. She has also shared her views on trade, foreign policy, and environmental issues.
Early Life and Career
Joni Kay Culver was born in Montgomery County, Iowa. She was the top student in her class at Stanton Community School District High School. She earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from Iowa State University in 1992. In 1995, she received a master's degree in Public Administration from Columbus State University.
Military Service
Ernst joined the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program at Iowa State University when she was 20. After graduating, she joined the United States Army Reserve. She worked as a logistics officer. She became a lieutenant colonel in the Iowa National Guard.
From 2003 to 2004, she spent 12 months in Kuwait. She was the commander of the 1168th Transportation Company during the Iraq War. Later in her military career, she led the 185th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion. This was the largest battalion in the Iowa Army National Guard. She retired from the military in 2015 after 23 years of service.
Iowa Politics
Ernst was elected as the Montgomery County Auditor in 2004. She was reelected in 2008. In 2011, she was elected to the Iowa State Senate in a special election. She was reelected in 2012. She represented District 12 in southwestern Iowa.
After being elected to the U.S. Senate, Ernst left her position in the Iowa State Senate on November 28, 2014.
U.S. Senate
Elections
2014 Election
In July 2013, Ernst announced she would run for the Senate seat. This seat was held by Senator Tom Harkin, who was retiring. She gained support from important political figures.
Her campaign became widely known because of a TV advertisement in March 2014. In the ad, she humorously compared her experience with pigs to her goal of cutting wasteful spending in Congress. This ad helped her gain more attention and support.
In the 2014 election, Ernst won by over 94,000 votes. She became the first woman from Iowa elected to either house of Congress.
2020 Election
Ernst ran for reelection in 2020. She won the Republican primary without opposition. In the general election, she faced Theresa Greenfield. Ernst won the election by over 110,000 votes.
Time in Office
Joni Ernst officially became a U.S. Senator on January 3, 2015. She was the first new U.S. Senator from Iowa since 1985. She gave the Republican response to the State of the Union address on January 20, 2015.
In 2016, Ernst was considered a possible running mate for Donald Trump during his presidential campaign. However, Trump chose Mike Pence instead.
She was elected vice chair of the Senate Republican Conference in November 2018.
In 2019, Ernst became the first Republican woman to be appointed to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
In August 2020, Ernst questioned the accuracy of COVID-19 case numbers in Iowa. She later clarified her statements.
After Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed away in September 2020, Ernst supported Trump nominating a new justice before the November presidential election. This was a change from her previous stance in 2016.
During the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol, Ernst called the event "a protest turned anarchy." She voted to support the certification of the 2020 election results. She opposed impeaching Donald Trump for the attack.
In September 2021, Ernst criticized President Joe Biden's "Path Out of the Pandemic" initiative. She said it was "leading by coercion" and a "diversion" from other issues.
In March 2024, Ernst announced she would run for Senate Republican Conference chair in 2025.
Committee Roles
Joni Ernst serves on several important committees in the Senate:
- Committee on Armed Services
- Subcommittee on Airland
- Subcommittee on Cybersecurity
- Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities (Ranking Member)
- Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry
- Subcommittee on Commodities, Risk Management, and Trade
- Subcommittee on Food and Nutrition, Specialty Crops, Organics, and Research
- Subcommittee on Rural Development and Energy
- Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship (Ranking Member)
Groups She Belongs To
- Republican Main Street Partnership
- Senate Taiwan Caucus
Political Views
Joni Ernst generally votes in line with the Republican Party's positions. She is considered a conservative politician.
Agriculture
In 2025, Ernst introduced the Food Security and Farm Protection Act. This bill aims to stop states from setting their own rules for how farm products are made if those products are sold across state lines. She believes such rules make it harder for farmers.
Economic Policy
Ernst does not support a federal minimum wage. She believes states should decide their own minimum wages. She has also suggested getting rid of the Internal Revenue Service.
She supports a simpler federal tax system and reducing government spending. In 2017, she voted for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Ernst also supports making changes to Social Security for younger workers, while keeping promises to older citizens.
Education
Ernst supports getting rid of the U.S. Department of Education. She believes that education decisions are best made at the state level. She voted to confirm Betsy DeVos as Education Secretary in 2017.
Environment
Ernst does not agree with the scientific consensus that human activity is the main cause of climate change. She believes any government rules about climate change should be very small. She has also called for eliminating the Environmental Protection Agency.
She supported Trump's decision in 2017 to leave the Paris climate accords. Ernst has also expressed concerns about the Renewable Fuel Standard.
Foreign Policy
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Afghanistan
In October 2015, Ernst said that President Obama did not have a clear plan in Afghanistan. In August 2021, she called the U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan "shameful."
Iran
Ernst was against the Iran nuclear deal made by the Obama administration. In January 2020, she supported the U.S. military's action against Iranian general Qasem Soleimani.
Iraq
Regarding the Iraq War, Ernst stated that the intelligence at the time suggested there were weapons of mass destruction. She later clarified that she meant Iraq had used such weapons in the past.
Israel
In October 2023, Ernst led a group of lawmakers to Israel. She said the visit was to show support for Israel and American families there. In July 2024, she called for U.S. actions to help Israel.
Korean Conflict
In June 2018, Ernst questioned Trump's decision to stop joint military exercises with South Korea. She believed the U.S. should continue these exercises.
Russia
In 2017, Ernst called Russia's actions, like taking over Crimea and interfering in U.S. elections, "totally unacceptable." In February 2024, Ernst voted for a foreign aid bill that included money to support Ukraine.
Syrian Civil War
In 2015, Ernst said the U.S. should stop allowing Syrian refugees into the country without a "thorough vetting process." In 2018, she expressed concern about withdrawing U.S. troops from Syria.
Yemen
In March 2018, Ernst voted against a resolution that would have required Trump to withdraw American troops from Yemen. In November 2018, she said Congress should consider action against Saudi Arabia after the death of a journalist.
Gun Policy
Ernst supports open carry legislation, which allows people to carry guns openly. She supports allowing people with concealed carry permits to carry their weapons in other states. She also supported a bill to improve background checks for gun purchases.
Health Care
Ernst is against the Affordable Care Act. She voted to repeal it in 2017. She has also supported changes to Medicare and Medicaid.
In August 2022, Ernst voted against putting a cap on the price of insulin. She has said that she has family members with diabetes.
In May 2025, during a town hall meeting, Ernst made a comment about people dying in response to a question about budget cuts. She later posted a video clarifying her remarks.
Immigration
In June 2018, Ernst and other senators wrote a letter expressing concern about using military lawyers for immigration cases. In July 2018, she supported Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
During the 2018–19 government shutdown, Ernst said that not all parts of the border need a physical wall. She suggested technology or Border Patrol agents could be used instead.
Internet
Ernst is against net neutrality, which prevents internet providers from blocking or slowing down certain content. She voted against bringing it back in 2018.
LGBTQ Rights
In a 2014 debate, Ernst said she believes same-sex marriage is a state's rights issue. She also said she would support a federal ban if one were proposed. In 2017, she opposed Trump's ban on transgender individuals serving in the armed forces.
Ernst was one of 12 Republican senators who voted for the Respect for Marriage Act. This bill passed the Senate in November 2022.
Nullification
As a state senator, Ernst supported resolutions that suggested "nullification" of federal laws. This means states would refuse to recognize federal laws they disagree with. Courts have consistently ruled that nullification is unconstitutional.
Trade
In 2018, Ernst expressed concerns about the impact of tariffs on farmers. She said that while she didn't like tariffs, they could bring countries to the negotiating table.
In January 2018, Ernst signed a letter asking Trump to keep and update the North American Free Trade Agreement. In 2019, she criticized House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for delaying the USMCA trade agreement.
Personal Life
Joni Ernst married Gail Ernst in 1992. They have one child. They divorced in January 2019.
Ernst is a member of several organizations, including the Montgomery County Republican Women, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2265, and the National Rifle Association of America. She attends Mamrelund Lutheran Church in Stanton, Iowa.
In 2018, a federal judge sentenced Joseph Dierks to six years in prison for threatening Ernst on Twitter.
In May 2020, she published her book, Daughter of the Heartland: My Ode to the Country That Raised Me.
Images for kids
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Official portrait, 2020
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Ernst speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference
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Ernst speaking at a campaign event for Marco Rubio in January 2016
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Ernst's freshman portrait
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Ernst (far right) at the signing of the INSPIRE Women Act at the White House, 2017
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Ernst speaking to Navy Vice Admiral Michael M. Gilday during an Armed Services Committee hearing in 2019
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Ernst with Republican Senators and Defense Secretary Ash Carter at the 2016 International Institute for Strategic Studies Asia Security Summit in Singapore
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Ernst speaking at the 2015 Conservative Political Action Conference
See also
In Spanish: Joni Ernst para niños
