Joni Ernst
Joni Ernst | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2020 | |
| Chair of the Senate Small Business Committee | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Jeanne Shaheen |
| Ranking Member of the Senate Small Business Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2023 – January 3, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Rand Paul |
| Succeeded by | Ed Markey |
| Chair of the Senate Republican Policy Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2023 – January 3, 2025 | |
| 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 | |
| Leader | Mitch McConnell |
| Preceded by | Roy Blunt |
| Succeeded by | Shelley Moore Capito |
| United States Senator from Iowa | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2015 Serving with Chuck Grassley | |
| Preceded by | Tom Harkin |
| Member of the Iowa Senate from the 12th district | |
| In office January 5, 2011 – November 28, 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Kim Reynolds |
| Succeeded by | Mark Costello |
| 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 |
|
| Signature | |
| Website | Senate website Campaign website |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service |
|
| Years of service |
|
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Unit |
|
| Wars | Iraq War |
| Awards |
|
Joni Kay Ernst (née Culver; born July 1, 1970)[1] is an American politician and retired military officer serving since 2015 as the United States senator from Iowa. She is a member of the Republican Party.
After graduating from Iowa State University, Ernst joined the United States Army Reserve.[2] She served in the Iowa Army National Guard from 1993 to 2015, retiring as a lieutenant colonel.[3] During the Iraq War, she served as commanding officer of the 1168th Transportation Company in Kuwait and later commanded the 185th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion at Camp Dodge.[4][5]
Ernst served in the Iowa State Senate from 2011 to 2014 and as auditor of Montgomery County from January 2005 to January 5, 2011.[6][7] She was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2014 and reelected in 2020. As chair of the Senate Republican Policy Committee from 2023 to 2025, Ernst was the fourth-ranking Republican in the Senate. During her Senate tenure, she has called for reforms to Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. During the Trump administration, she expressed concern about Trump's trade war with China, and as a war hawk, criticized some of his foreign policy. While supporting both of Trump's nominees for EPA administrator, she expressed concern over their commitment to the Renewable Fuel Standard.
On September 2, 2025, Ernst announced that she would not seek reelection in 2026.[8]
- ^ Ernst, Gail. "Joni Kay Ernst – Plaza of Heroines at Iowa State University". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved November 5, 2014.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
abcnews.go.comwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Jacobs, Jennifer (December 1, 2015). "Joni Ernst retires from the military". The Des Moines Register. Retrieved December 3, 2015.
- ^ "First Female Veteran, Joni Ernst, Sworn into U.S. Senate". centennial.legion.org. Indianapolis, IN: American Legion. January 3, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
:5was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
04winwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Peterson, Mike (November 10, 2015). "Schoonover named to workforce development post". KMA Land. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
- ^ "Sen. Joni Ernst says she won't seek re-election in 2026". MSNBC.com. Retrieved September 2, 2025.