Joni Ernst

Joni Ernst
Born	Joni Kay Culver 1 7, 1970
Birthplace	Red Oak, Iowa, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, retired military officer
Known for	First woman elected to represent Iowa in the United States Congress
Education	Iowa State University (B.S.) Columbus College (M.P.A.)
Children	1
Awards	America's Fuel Award (2026)
Website	[Official U.S. Senate website Official site]

Joni Kay Ernst (née Culver; born July 1, 1970) is an American politician and retired United States Army officer who has served as the junior United States senator from Iowa since January 2015. A member of the Republican Party, Ernst made history as the first woman elected to represent Iowa in the United States Congress. Before entering federal politics, she served as auditor of Montgomery County from 2005 to 2011 and represented Iowa's 12th district in the Iowa State Senate from 2011 to 2014. A veteran of the Iraq War, Ernst retired from the Iowa Army National Guard in 2015 at the rank of lieutenant colonel, having served over two decades in military service that included commanding a transportation company deployed to Kuwait. In the Senate, Ernst rose through Republican leadership ranks, serving as Vice Chair of the Senate Republican Conference from 2019 to 2023 and as Chair of the Senate Republican Policy Committee from 2023 to 2025, making her the fourth-ranking Republican in the chamber. She has chaired the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship since January 2025. On September 2, 2025, Ernst announced that she would not seek reelection in 2026.

Early Life

Joni Kay Culver was born on July 1, 1970, in Red Oak, Iowa, a small community in the southwestern part of the state. She grew up on a farm in Montgomery County, where her upbringing in a rural agricultural setting shaped many of the political positions she would later adopt. Growing up in a farming family, Ernst developed an early familiarity with the economic challenges facing Iowa's agricultural communities, a theme that would become central to her political career.

Ernst's early life in Red Oak provided the foundation for her later public service. Montgomery County, located in Iowa's rural heartland, is a predominantly agricultural area, and Ernst's experiences growing up there informed her perspectives on issues ranging from federal regulation to farm policy.

Education

Ernst attended Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree. She later earned a Master of Public Administration degree from Columbus College (now Columbus State University) in Columbus, Georgia. Her graduate education coincided with her military service, as Columbus is located near Fort Benning (now Fort Moore), a major U.S. Army installation.

Career

Military Service

After graduating from Iowa State University, Ernst joined the United States Army Reserve. She subsequently transferred to the Iowa Army National Guard, where she served from 1993 to 2015. During the Iraq War, Ernst was deployed to the Middle East, where she served as the commanding officer of the 1168th Transportation Company stationed in Kuwait. Her unit was responsible for logistics and transportation operations in support of coalition forces during the conflict.

Following her deployment, Ernst continued her National Guard service in Iowa, where she commanded the 185th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion at Camp Dodge in Johnston, Iowa. She retired from the Iowa Army National Guard in 2015 at the rank of lieutenant colonel, having completed more than two decades of military service. Her military background became a significant element of her political identity and campaign messaging.

Montgomery County Auditor

Ernst's first elected office was as auditor of Montgomery County, a position she held from January 2005 to January 5, 2011. As county auditor, she was responsible for overseeing elections, maintaining financial records, and managing various administrative functions for the county government. The role provided her with experience in local government administration that she would later draw upon in her bids for higher office.

Iowa State Senate

Ernst was elected to the Iowa State Senate, representing the 12th district, and took office on January 5, 2011, succeeding Kim Reynolds, who had been elected Lieutenant Governor of Iowa. During her time in the Iowa Senate, Ernst established a conservative legislative record.

While serving in the state legislature, Ernst took positions on several notable policy issues. She co-sponsored a proposed amendment to the Iowa Constitution that would have recognized the right to keep and bear arms. She also expressed support for allowing states to set their own minimum wage levels rather than adhering to a federal standard.

Ernst served in the Iowa Senate until November 28, 2014, when she resigned following her election to the United States Senate. She was succeeded in the state senate by Mark Costello.

2014 U.S. Senate Campaign

On July 10, 2013, Ernst announced her candidacy for the United States Senate seat being vacated by the retiring Democratic senator Tom Harkin. She received an early endorsement from Iowa Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds, her predecessor in the state senate.

During the Republican primary campaign, Ernst positioned herself as a conservative candidate. She spoke at local Republican gatherings, including an event in Newton, Iowa, where she outlined her policy positions. Her campaign attracted national attention with a television advertisement in which she referenced her experience castrating hogs on her family's farm, pledging to "make 'em squeal" in Washington — a message aimed at conveying her intent to cut government spending.

Ernst's policy positions during the campaign covered a range of issues. She expressed support for abolishing the Department of Education, a claim that was examined by PolitiFact, which reviewed statements made by the League of Conservation Voters about her positions. On the subject of Social Security, her positions were the subject of competing claims during the campaign; fact-checkers noted that Democrats had misrepresented aspects of her Social Security stance.

On foreign policy, Ernst made statements during the campaign suggesting that Iraq had possessed weapons of mass destruction, a position that drew scrutiny from political commentators.

On environmental policy, Ernst took on the Environmental Protection Agency over its Clean Water Act proposals, arguing that the regulations would have negative effects on Iowa farmers and landowners. On healthcare, Ernst expressed opposition to the Affordable Care Act and made comments suggesting that officials who implemented the law should face consequences, a statement that generated controversy during the campaign. Regarding Medicare, a campaign advertisement about Ernst's position on the program was assessed by fact-checkers.

In debates with her Democratic opponent, Bruce Braley, Ernst articulated differences on issues including healthcare, foreign policy, and the economy. Ernst won the general election in November 2014, becoming the first woman elected to represent Iowa in the United States Congress.

U.S. Senate

First Term (2015–2021)

Ernst took office on January 3, 2015, succeeding longtime Democratic Senator Tom Harkin. She served alongside Iowa's senior senator, Chuck Grassley, also a Republican. During her first term, Ernst established herself within the Republican caucus and was named Vice Chair of the Senate Republican Conference in January 2019, a position she held until January 2023.

During the Trump administration, Ernst expressed concern about the president's trade war with China, given the significant impact of Chinese retaliatory tariffs on Iowa's agricultural sector. As a senator from a major agricultural state, she monitored the effects of trade policy on Iowa's farmers and the commodities they produced.

Ernst also took positions on environmental and energy policy that reflected Iowa's status as a major producer of ethanol and other biofuels. While she supported both of President Trump's nominees for EPA administrator, she expressed concern about their commitment to the Renewable Fuel Standard, a federal policy of particular importance to Iowa's corn-based ethanol industry.

On foreign policy, Ernst adopted positions characterized as hawkish, and she at times criticized aspects of the Trump administration's foreign policy approach. Her military background informed her perspectives on national security and defense issues.

Ernst was reelected in 2020, winning a second six-year term.

Second Term and Leadership Roles (2021–present)

In January 2023, Ernst was elevated to the position of Chair of the Senate Republican Policy Committee, making her the fourth-ranking Republican in the Senate. She succeeded Roy Blunt in the role and served until January 2025. During this period, she also served as Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, succeeding Rand Paul.

In January 2025, following the Republican majority's reorganization, Ernst became Chair of the Senate Small Business Committee, succeeding Democrat Jeanne Shaheen. In this capacity, she launched initiatives to recognize small businesses across Iowa, with a stated goal of highlighting a small business in each of Iowa's 99 counties during the congressional session.

During her Senate tenure, Ernst has called for reforms to Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. In May 2025, Ernst held a town hall in Iowa where she faced intense questioning from constituents about Medicaid. The event drew significant media attention after attendees expressed concerns about potential cuts to the program, with NPR reporting that constituents shouted and booed in response to Ernst's comments.

Decision Not to Seek Reelection

In July 2025, Politico reported that Senate Republicans were bracing for the possibility that Ernst might not seek reelection, placing her on "retirement watch." On September 2, 2025, Ernst confirmed that she would not seek a third term in the 2026 election. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds issued a statement following the announcement, acknowledging Ernst's service.

In January 2026, Ernst endorsed U.S. Representative Ashley Hinson to succeed her, calling Hinson the best choice to continue representing Iowa in the Senate.

Personal Life

Ernst was born Joni Kay Culver in Red Oak, Iowa. She has one child. Ernst has been open about her experiences as a woman in both the military and in politics. Her 2014 Senate campaign emphasized her identity as a farm girl, soldier, and mother, themes she continued to reference throughout her political career.

Recognition

In February 2026, Ernst was honored with the America's Fuel Award by Growth Energy, a trade association representing the ethanol industry, at the organization's 17th annual Executive Leadership Conference. The award recognized her advocacy for biofuels and the Renewable Fuel Standard, issues of particular significance to Iowa's agricultural economy.

Ernst's election in 2014 was noted as a milestone in Iowa politics, as she became the first woman elected to represent the state in the United States Congress. Her rise through Republican Senate leadership — from Vice Chair of the Senate Republican Conference to Chair of the Senate Republican Policy Committee — placed her among the highest-ranking women in the Republican Senate caucus during her tenure.

Her military service record, which included commanding units during the Iraq War and rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Iowa Army National Guard, was frequently cited as a distinguishing aspect of her background among members of the Senate.