Joni Ernst

Joni Ernst (born July 1, 1970, Red Oak, Iowa) is a Republican politician, legislator, veteran and candidate for the United States Senate from the state of Iowa.

Career
Ernst was elected to the Iowa Senate in 2011 and re-elected in 2012. She represents District 12, which serves the southwest part of the state. In the Iowa Senate, Ernst is a ranking member of the Education Standing Committee, and also serves on the Veteran Affairs, Appropriations, Rules & Administration and Human Resources Standing Committees. Ernst is also a member of the Administration & Regulation Budget Subcommittee.

During the 2013 legislative session, Senator Ernst cofounded the Iowa Prayer Caucus, a bi-partisan caucus devoted to protecting the religious liberties of Iowans.

Before being elected to the state senate, Ernst was elected the Montgomery County, Iowa County Auditor in 2004 and re-elected in 2008. Ernst has served a combined 21 years in the US Army Reserves and the Iowa Army National Guard. She spent 14 months mobilized and overseas in Kuwait from 2003-2004 as a company commander at the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Her unit was responsible for running logistical convoys in Kuwait and into southern Iraq. A Lt. Colonel, Ernst currently commands the largest battalion in the Iowa Army National Guard.

Personal
Born and raised in Montgomery County, Iowa, Senator Ernst resides in Red Oak, Iowa with her husband of 21 years, Gail, a Command Sergeant in the Army Rangers (retired) and their daughter.

Ernst is a member of the Montgomery County Republican Women, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2265 (Life Member), Montgomery County Court of Honor, Altrusa, PEO Chapter HB, National Rifle Association (Lifetime Member) and the Montgomery County Farm Bureau. She is a member of the Mamrelund Lutheran Church of Stanton, Iowa.

Ernst is a graduate of Iowa State University and earned a Master's in Public Administration from Columbus College.