Biography
Joni Ernst assumed office in the U.S. Senate in 2015, the first woman from Iowa elected to either house of Congress and the Senate's first female combat veteran. Ernst announced on September 2, 2025, that she would not seek re-election for a third term in 2026.
Ernst was born on July 1, 1970, in Red Oak, Iowa. She earned a bachelor's degree from Iowa State University in 1992 and has a master's degree from Columbus College (now Columbus State University) in 1995.
Ernst served a combined 23 years with the United States Army Reserve and the Iowa Army National Guard, attaining the rank of lieutenant colonel. From 2003 to 2004, she served as a company commander during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Ernst served as the Montgomery County auditor from 2005 to 2011. She was elected to the Iowa state Senate for District 12 in a special election in 2011 and re-elected in 2012.
For information on Ernst's policy subject areas, committee appointments and sponsored/co-sponsored legislation in the U.S. Senate, please visit her profile on https://www.congress.gov.
Sources:
Biographical Directory of the United States Congress (n.d.) Ernst, Joni (1970-). Retrieved on May 1, 2020, from https://bioguideretro.congress.gov/Home/MemberDetails?memIndex=E000295.
Ernst, J. (n.d.) Meet Joni. Retrieved on May 1, 2020, from https://www.ernst.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/meet-joni.
Speeches
- She Will Not Seek Reelection In 2026
- Barrett Supreme Court Confirmation Hearing Opening Statement – Oct. 12, 2020
- Republican National Convention Remarks - Aug. 26, 2020
- Class of 2020 Commencement Address - May 23, 2020
- All Hands on Deck to Address COVID-19 - March 17, 2020
- Tackling the Coronavirus - March 10, 2020
- Suicide Prevention Awareness Month - September 20, 2017
- Call for Passage of Bill to Protect U.S. Athletes from Sexual Abuse - March 28, 2017
- Remarks to General Nicholson on Military Operations in Afghanistan - Feb. 12, 2017
- Flood Mitigation Highlights - February 8, 2017
- Comments on Betsy DeVos - February 7, 2017
- Committee Vote on Pruitt Comments - February 1, 2017
- Honoring the Life of Sarah Root - January 31, 2017
- March for Life - January 27, 2017
- Defense Experts on Kosovo, ISIS - January 24, 2017
- Questioning Ms. McMahon during SBA Confirmation Hearing - Jan. 24, 2017
- Commencement Address at Iowa State University - Dec. 17, 2016
- Remarks at the 2016 Republican National Convention - July 18, 2016
- Weekly Republican Address - May 28, 2016
- Address at SBL List Campaign for Life Gala - April 21, 2016
- Remarks at CPAC 2016 - March 3, 2016
- Remarks at 2016 March for Life- Jan. 1, 2016
- Iowans' Struggle with Obamacare - Dec. 2, 2015
- Call for Support of the 5-Month Abortion Plan- Sept. 15, 2015
- Consider Alternatives to Iran Nuclear Agreement - Aug. 4, 2015
- Defund Planned Parenthood - Aug. 3, 2015
- First Senate Floor Speech - March 23, 2015
- Remarks at CPAC 2015 - Feb. 26, 2015
- Iowa Freedom Summit - Jan. 24, 2015
- State of the Union Response - Jan. 20, 2015
- Senate Victory Speech - Nov. 4, 2014
- First Iowa U.S. Senate 2014 Debate - Sept. 28, 2014
- Weekly Republican Address - July 12, 2014
- Primary Victory Speech - June 3, 2014
- First Campaign Speech- July 15, 2013
Political Ads
- KEEP FIGHTING - Oct. 31, 2020
- What a Mom Can Do - Oct. 30, 2020
- Never Ever - Oct. 24, 2020
- SARAH :30 - Oct. 24, 2020
- HARD ENOUGH - Oct. 23, 2020
- Cow Chips :15 - Oct. 21, 2020
- Farmers - Oct. 21, 2020
- Farmers :15 - Oct. 21, 2020
- Sarah - Oct. 19, 2020
- Grassley - Oct. 9, 2020
- Sister - Oct. 8, 2020
- No Place - Oct. 7, 2020
- Jill - Sept. 21, 2020
- Nothing :15 - Sept. 16, 2020
- Remember This :15 - Sept. 16, 2020
- Remember This :30 - Sept. 16, 2020
- Aunt Joni - Sept. 11, 2020
- Challenges - August 27, 2020
- Invisible Wounds - July 29, 2020
- Together - July 28, 2020
- All Over - July 6, 2020
- Service - Nov. 8, 2019
- Crossroads- Oct. 29, 2014
- Grassley- Oct 27, 2014
- Difference- Oct. 22, 2014
- Lot- Oct. 22, 2014
- Biscuit- Oct. 15, 2014
- Own Words- Oct. 10, 2014
- Drive- Oct. 7, 2014
- Momentum- Oct. 2, 2014
- Chris- Sept. 25, 2014
- Radio Ad Soldier -Sept. 25, 2014
- Will -Sept. 25, 2014
- About- Sept. 15, 2014
- Generation - Aug. 25, 2014
- Service - Aug. 13, 2014
- Red Oak- Aug. 2, 2014
- Values - June 12, 2014
- Long Way - May 27, 2014
- Shot - May 4, 2014
- Squeal - March 24, 2014