Joni Ernst

Joni Kay Ernst (née Culver), born on July 1, 1970, is a prominent American politician and retired military officer who has represented Iowa as a junior United States senator since 2015. A member of the Republican Party, she previously held the position of auditor for Montgomery County from 2005 to 2011 and served in the Iowa State Senate from 2011 to 2014. In 2023, she became the Chair of the Senate Republican Policy Committee and had been the vice chair of the Senate Republican Conference since 2019, making her the fourth-highest-ranking Republican senator.

Ernst is a proud graduate of Iowa State University and began her military career in the United States Army Reserve. She dedicated over two decades to the Iowa Army National Guard, culminating in her retirement as a lieutenant colonel in 2015. Notably, she commanded the 1168th Transportation Company in Kuwait during the Iraq War and later led the 185th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion at Camp Dodge.

In 2014, Ernst made history by becoming the first Republican to secure a U.S. Senate seat from Iowa since 1978, and she successfully won reelection in 2020. Throughout her senatorial career, she has advocated for reforms in Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. While she supported some of President Trump’s initiatives, including his nominees for the Environmental Protection Agency, she raised concerns over trade policies and the administration's handling of foreign affairs. Despite her significant political influence, Ernst has been noted for her skepticism regarding climate change science.