Decision Maker

Joni Ernst

U.S. Senate - Iowa

Iowa, Iowa

Joni Kay Ernst, born in 1970, is an American politician and former military officer currently serving as the junior United States Senator from Iowa, a position she has held since 2015. A dedicated member of the Republican Party, Ernst has been influential in Senate leadership as the Chair of the Senate Republican Policy Committee since 2023. Previously, she served as the vice chair of the Senate Republican Conference from 2019 to 2023. Her political career began as the auditor of Montgomery County from 2004 to 2011, followed by a tenure in the Iowa State Senate from 2011 to 2014. Ernst holds a Master's degree in Public Administration from Columbus State University and a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Iowa State University. She also served as an officer in the Iowa Army National Guard and the United States Army Reserves.