Kristi Noem facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kristi Noem
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Official portrait, 2025
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| 8th United States Secretary of Homeland Security | |
| Assumed office January 25, 2025 |
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| President | Donald Trump |
| Deputy | Troy Edgar |
| Preceded by | Alejandro Mayorkas |
| 33rd Governor of South Dakota | |
| In office January 5, 2019 – January 25, 2025 |
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| Lieutenant | Larry Rhoden |
| Preceded by | Dennis Daugaard |
| Succeeded by | Larry Rhoden |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Dakota's at-large district |
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| In office January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Stephanie Herseth Sandlin |
| Succeeded by | Dusty Johnson |
| Member of the South Dakota House of Representatives from the 6th district |
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| In office January 9, 2007 – January 3, 2011 |
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| Preceded by | Art Fryslie |
| Succeeded by | Burt Tulson |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Kristi Lynn Arnold
November 30, 1971 Watertown, South Dakota, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Bryon Noem
(m. 1992) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | South Dakota State University (BA) |
| Signature |  |
Kristi Lynn Noem (born November 30, 1971) is an American politician. In 2025, she became the 8th United States Secretary of Homeland Security. She is a member of the Republican Party.
Before her role in the president's cabinet, Noem was the 33rd governor of South Dakota from 2019 to 2025. She was the first woman to be governor of the state. She also served in the U.S. House of Representatives for South Dakota from 2011 to 2019.
Noem is also a farmer and rancher. She has written two books about her life. Her second book, No Going Back (2024), caused a lot of discussion. This was because it included a story about her putting down her family's dog. The book also had some claims that later had to be corrected.
Contents
Early Life and School
Kristi Lynn Arnold was born in Watertown, South Dakota. She grew up on her family's farm and ranch in rural Hazel, South Dakota. After graduating from high school in 1990, she started college at Northern State University.
In 1994, her father died in a farm accident. Noem left college to help run the family farm. She and her siblings worked together to expand the family business. They even added a hunting lodge to their property.
Later, while serving in the U.S. Congress, Noem finished her college education. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from South Dakota State University in 2012.
Start of Her Political Career
South Dakota House of Representatives (2007–2011)
In 2006, Noem was elected to the South Dakota House of Representatives. She represented the 6th district as a Republican. She served for four years, from 2007 to 2010. During her second term, she was an assistant majority leader.
U.S. House of Representatives (2011–2019)
In 2010, Noem was elected to the United States House of Representatives. She represented all of South Dakota. She was reelected three times and served in Congress until 2019.
In Washington, D.C., she was chosen by other new Republican members to be a link to the party's leadership. She focused on issues like government spending, energy, and farming. Noem was against the Affordable Care Act and voted to repeal it. She supported the Keystone XL Pipeline and wanted to lower taxes.
Governor of South Dakota (2019–2025)
In 2018, Noem was elected the first female governor of South Dakota. She was reelected in 2022 by a large margin.
COVID-19 Pandemic
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Noem took a different approach than many other states. She did not issue statewide orders for people to stay home or wear face masks. She encouraged large events, like the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, to continue.
Her decisions were often discussed in the national news. She used some of the pandemic relief money from the federal government to create a tourism ad for South Dakota.
Disagreements with Native American Tribes
In 2024, Noem made comments about problems on tribal reservations. She suggested that some tribal leaders were connected to illegal activities. These comments upset the leaders of the nine tribes in South Dakota.
As a result, most of the tribes banned her from entering their lands. Later, Noem apologized for the misunderstanding. The Flandreau Santee Sioux tribe then removed its ban and supported her nomination for Secretary of Homeland Security.
Daughter's Real Estate License
A state board denied a real estate license to Noem's daughter, Kassidy. After this, Noem called the head of the board, Sherry Bren, into a meeting at the governor's mansion. Noem's daughter was also at the meeting.
Soon after, Bren was asked to resign. She later received a $200,000 settlement from the state to withdraw a complaint she had filed. The situation was looked into by state lawmakers.
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Secretary of Homeland Security (2025–present)
In November 2024, President-elect Donald Trump chose Noem to be his Secretary of Homeland Security. The U.S. Senate voted to confirm her in January 2025. The Department of Homeland Security is in charge of keeping the country safe. This includes border security, immigration, and protecting against threats.
As Secretary, Noem has focused on increasing border security and deportations. She has also changed rules for immigrants seeking protection in the U.S.
Presidential Politics
Noem has been a strong supporter of Donald Trump. She supported him in the 2020 election and claimed there were problems with the results, though no widespread issues were found.
During the 2024 presidential campaign, many people thought she might be chosen as Trump's vice-presidential running mate. She said she would accept the role if offered. However, she was not chosen in the end.
Personal Life
Kristi married Bryon Noem in 1992. They have three children. Her family lives on a ranch near Castlewood, South Dakota. She is a Protestant and a grandmother.
Electoral history
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican |  Kristi Noem (Incumbent) |
217,035 | 61.9 | ||
| Democratic | Jamie Smith | 123,148 | 35.1 | ||
| Libertarian | Tracey Quint | 9,983 | 2.8 | ||
| Total votes | 350,166 | 100.0 | |||
| Republican hold | |||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Kristi Noem |
172,912 | 51.0 | |
| Democratic | Billie Sutton | 161,454 | 47.6 | |
| Libertarian | Kurt Evans | 4,848 | 1.4 | |
| Total votes | 339,214 | 100.0 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
Images for kids
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Noem meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, Israel, May 25, 2025.
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Noem speaking to law enforcement agents during an ICE raid, 2025.
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Noem at a security prison in El Salvador.
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Noem meeting with Karol Nawrocki in Jasionka, Poland, May 27, 2025.
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Autobiographies
- Noem, Kristi (2022). Not My First Rodeo: Lessons from the Heartland. Twelve. ISBN 978-1-5387-0715-8. OCLC 1322224707.
- Noem, Kristi (2024). No Going Back: The Truth on What's Wrong with Politics and How We Move America Forward. Center Street. ISBN 978-1-5460-0812-2. OCLC 1427539865.
See also
In Spanish: Kristi Noem para niños
- List of female governors in the United States
- Women in conservatism in the United States
- Women in the United States House of Representatives
