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{{Short description|American politician and military officer (born 1970)}}{{pp-move|small=yes}}{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2018}}

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Red Oak, Iowa>Red Oak, Iowa, U.S.| death_date = | death_place = Republican Party (United States)>RepublicanGail ErnstJanuary 2019|end=divorced}}FIRST=EMERWORK=HEAVYACCESS-DATE=SEPTEMBER 19, 2020, HTTPS://ABCNEWS.GO.COM/POLITICS/JONI-ERNST/STORY?ID=40278077>TITLE=JONI ERNST: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOWLAST=ROGIN DATE=JULY 18, 2016, Iowa State University (Bachelor of Arts>BA)Columbus State University (MPA)ernst.senate.gov|Senate website}}| allegiance = United States| branch = United States ArmyIowa Army National GuardTITLE=JONI ERNST RETIRES FROM THE MILITARY ACCESS-DATE=DECEMBER 3, 2015 DATE=DECEMBER 1, 2015, Lieutenant colonel (United States)>Lieutenant ColonelDATE=APRIL 5, 2015 URL=HTTPS://WWW.NEWSPAPERS.COM/CLIP/113850990/EXAMINING/ LOCATION=DES MOINES, IA A9 >VIA=NEWSPAPERS.COM, 185th Combat Sustainment Support BattalionJANUARY 3, 2015 >TITLE=FIRST FEMALE VETERAN, JONI ERNST, SWORN INTO U.S. SENATE WORK=CENTENNIAL.LEGION.ORG LOCATION=INDIANAPOLIS, IN, September 21, 2023, | battles_label = Wars| battles = Iraq WarMeritorious Service Medal (United States)>Meritorious Service MedalArmy Commendation MedalArmy Achievement Medalpos=centerfilename=Joni Ernst on Federal Regualtions.oggtype=speech|description=Joni Ernst speaks on Federal RegulationsRecorded March 7, 2023}}| signature = Joni-Ernst-Signature-01.svg}}Joni Kay Ernst (née Culver; born July 1, 1970)WEB, Ernst, Gail, Joni Kay Ernst – Plaza of Heroines at Iowa State University,www.las.iastate.edu/archive/plaza/one_name.php?id=378, November 5, 2014, March 4, 2016,www.las.iastate.edu/archive/plaza/one_name.php?id=378," title="web.archive.org/web/20160304220219www.las.iastate.edu/archive/plaza/one_name.php?id=378,">web.archive.org/web/20160304220219www.las.iastate.edu/archive/plaza/one_name.php?id=378, dead, is an American politician and former military officer serving as the junior United States senator from Iowa since 2015.WEB, Jennifer, Jacobs, Joni Ernst wins Iowa GOP U.S. Senate race,www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/elections/2014/06/03/joni-ernst-victory/9939911/, The Des Moines Register, June 3, 2014, June 4, 2014, dead,www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/elections/2014/06/03/joni-ernst-victory/9939911/," title="archive.today/20140604031755www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/elections/2014/06/03/joni-ernst-victory/9939911/,">archive.today/20140604031755www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/elections/2014/06/03/joni-ernst-victory/9939911/, June 4, 2014, A member of the Republican Party, she previously served in the Iowa State Senate from 2011 to 2014 and as auditor of Montgomery County from 2004 to 2011. As Chair of the Senate Republican Policy Committee since 2023, Ernst is the fourth-ranking Republican in the Senate.After graduating from Iowa State University, Ernst joined the United States Army Reserve. She served in the Iowa Army National Guard from 1993 to 2015, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. During the Iraq War, she served as the commanding officer of the 1168th Transportation Company in Kuwait and later commanded the 185th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion at Camp Dodge, the Iowa Army National Guard’s largest battalion. Ernst also holds a Master of Public Administration from Columbus State University.In 2004, Ernst was elected Montgomery County Auditor.WEB,www.newspapers.com/image/130852789/, 4 November 2004, 6, National Guard member is new Montgomery auditor, The Des Moines Register, Newspapers.com, She was reelected in 2008.NEWS,www.kmaland.com/news/schoonover-named-to-workforce-development-post/article_c2f5dd1c-87e8-11e5-b2ae-df0566f9362b.html, Schoonover named to workforce development post, Mike, Peterson, KMAland.com, November 10, 2015, 21 September 2023, In 2011, Ernst was elected to the Iowa State Senate in a special election and reelected in 2012. She represented District 12, in southwestern Iowa. Ernst ran for the United States Senate in 2014 and won, succeeding longtime Democratic Senator Tom Harkin and becoming the first Republican to win that seat since 1978. Having been strongly critical of President Barack Obama, she has been characterized as a reliable ally of President Donald Trump, and was thought to be a possible running mate in his 2016 campaign. Ernst was elected vice chair of the Senate Republican Conference in November 2018. She was reelected in 2020, defeating Democratic nominee Theresa Greenfield by 6.6 points.WEB, 2020-11-03, Iowa GOP Sen. Ernst elected to 2nd term after heated race,apnews.com/article/election-2020-virus-outbreak-senate-elections-iowa-elections-1a4b6c7a8230002ee37d94aa265c6be3, 2022-01-19, AP NEWS, en, Ernst opposes legalizing abortion, and has supported a fetal personhood amendment and introduced legislation to defund Planned Parenthood. She opposes the Affordable Care Act and has called for reforms to Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. During the Trump administration, she expressed concern about, although not opposition to, Trump’s trade war with China and criticized some aspects of his foreign policy. Ernst voted for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. While supporting both Trump’s nominees for EPA administrator, she expressed concern over their commitment to the Renewable Fuel Standard. She rejects the scientific consensus on climate change. Ernst has opposed a federal minimum wage and advocated for the elimination of federal departments such as the Internal Revenue Service, Department of Education and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Early life and career

Ernst was born Joni Kay Culver in Montgomery County, Iowa, the daughter of Marilyn and Richard Culver. She was valedictorian of her class at Stanton Community School District High School.WEB,www.las.iastate.edu/archive/plaza/one_name.php?id=378, Joni Kay Ernst, Gail, Ernst, May 16, 1994, July 13, 2014, March 4, 2016,www.las.iastate.edu/archive/plaza/one_name.php?id=378," title="web.archive.org/web/20160304220219www.las.iastate.edu/archive/plaza/one_name.php?id=378,">web.archive.org/web/20160304220219www.las.iastate.edu/archive/plaza/one_name.php?id=378, dead, She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Iowa State University in 1992,WEB, Meet the Candidate: Iowa’s U.S. Senate seat: Joni Ernst, Republican,www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2014/05/09/iowa-election-joni-ernst-bio-issues/8929395/, Des Moines Register, November 25, 2014, and a Master of Public Administration degree from Columbus State University in 1995.NEWS,theiowarepublican.com/2010/joni-ernst-announces-bid-for-kim-reynolds-iowa-senate-seat/, Joni Ernst Announces bid for Kim Reynolds Iowa Senate Seat, November 18, 2010, The Iowa Republican, July 13, 2014,theiowarepublican.com/2010/joni-ernst-announces-bid-for-kim-reynolds-iowa-senate-seat/," title="web.archive.org/web/20150115181318theiowarepublican.com/2010/joni-ernst-announces-bid-for-kim-reynolds-iowa-senate-seat/,">web.archive.org/web/20150115181318theiowarepublican.com/2010/joni-ernst-announces-bid-for-kim-reynolds-iowa-senate-seat/, January 15, 2015, dead, In college, she took part in an agricultural exchange to the Soviet Union.

Military career

Ernst joined Iowa State University’s ROTC program at age 20 and the United States Army Reserve after graduating. She served as a logistics officer and attained the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Iowa National Guard. In 2003–2004, she spent 12 months in Kuwait as commander of the 1168th Transportation Company, during the Iraq War.WEB,www.legis.iowa.gov/Legislators/legislator.aspx?GA=85&PID=11232, The Iowa Legislature: Senator Joni Ernst, dead,web.archive.org/web/20130918014143/https://www.legis.iowa.gov/Legislators/legislator.aspx?GA=85&PID=11232, September 18, 2013, May 6, 2013, WEB,joniernst.com/, Joni Ernst: Iowa Senate, joniernst.com, March 3, 2011, WEB,www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/elections/2014/11/04/joni-ernst-wins-iowa-us-senate-seat/18490851/, Joni Ernst wins Iowa U.S. Senate seat, Jacobs, Jennifer, Des Moines Register, November 4, 2014, November 15, 2014, WEB,www.omaha.com/news/politics/iowa-elects-republican-ernst-to-senate-over-braley/article_d95d16a4-644b-11e4-8b55-001a4bcf6878.html, Joni Ernst’s Senate victory makes her first woman to represent Iowa in Congress, November 5, 2014, Omaha.com, November 15, 2014, Near the end of her career, she served as the commanding officer of the 185th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion at Camp Dodge, the Iowa Army National Guard’s largest battalion.NEWS, Jacobs, Jennifer, Republican Joni Ernst joins U.S. Senate race,blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2013/07/10/republican-joni-ernst-joins-u-s-senate-race/article, July 14, 2014, Des Moines Register, July 10, 2013, dead,blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2013/07/10/republican-joni-ernst-joins-u-s-senate-race/article," title="archive.today/20130711132953blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2013/07/10/republican-joni-ernst-joins-u-s-senate-race/article,">archive.today/20130711132953blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2013/07/10/republican-joni-ernst-joins-u-s-senate-race/article, July 11, 2013, NEWS, Jacobs, Jennifer, Ernst mobilizes to crash Washington’s ‘boys club’,www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2014/05/30/ernst-mobilizes-crash-washington-boys-club/9754995/, July 14, 2014, Des Moines Register, May 29, 2014, Upon her retirement from the military in 2015, Ernst had served 23 years in the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard. Her awards included the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.In an interview with Time Magazine in 2014, Ernst said that she was sexually harassed in the military, saying, “I had comments, passes, things like that” that she was able to stop, and said she would support removing investigation and prosecution of sexual assault cases from the chain of command.NEWS, Newton-Small, Jay, Ernst Says She Was Sexually Harassed in the Military,time.com/3119176/ernst-says-she-was-sexually-harassed-in-the-military/, Time, August 15, 2014, August 17, 2014,

Iowa politics

Ernst was elected Montgomery County Auditor in 2004 and reelected in 2008.WEB,www.omaha.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20130710%2FNEWS%2F307109852, Iowa GOP lawmaker Joni Ernst enters 2014 Senate race, omaha.com, July 10, 2013, April 24, 2014, April 24, 2014,www.omaha.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20130710%2FNEWS%2F307109852," title="web.archive.org/web/20140424125658www.omaha.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20130710%2FNEWS%2F307109852,">web.archive.org/web/20140424125658www.omaha.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20130710%2FNEWS%2F307109852, dead, She was elected to the Iowa State Senate in a special election in 2011 and reelected in 2012. She represented District 12, in southwestern Iowa.WEB,www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=128583, Senator Joni Ernst (IA), Project Vote Smart, March 3, 2011, WEB,www.joniforiowa.com/bio/, About Joni,www.joniforiowa.com/bio/," title="web.archive.org/web/20140404000116www.joniforiowa.com/bio/,">web.archive.org/web/20140404000116www.joniforiowa.com/bio/, April 4, 2014, Joni Ernst for Iowa, Following her election to the U.S. Senate, Ernst resigned from the Iowa State Senate, effective November 28, 2014.WEB, Ernst Resigns From Iowa Senate, Special Election Announced,whotv.com/2014/12/01/ernst-resigns-from-iowa-senate-special-election-announced/, WHO-TV, December 1, 2014, December 3, 2014,

U.S. Senate

Elections

2014

File:Joni Ernst by Gage Skidmore 5.jpg|right|thumb|Ernst speaking at the Conservative Political Action ConferenceConservative Political Action ConferenceIn July 2013, Ernst announced that she would seek the Senate seat held by retiring Democratic Senator Tom Harkin. Iowa Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds endorsed her in October 2013.NEWS, Henderson, O. Kay, Lieutenant Governor Reynolds endorses Ernst in U.S. Senate race,www.radioiowa.com/2013/10/07/lieutenant-governor-reynolds-endorses-ernst-in-u-s-senate-race/, January 23, 2014, Radio Iowa, October 7, 2013, In March 2014, Ernst was endorsed by former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin,WEB, Joseph, Cameron,thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/senate-races/201798-palin-endorses-joni-ernst-in-iowa/, Palin endorses Joni Ernst in Iowa Senate race, The Hill, March 26, 2014, September 19, 2020, NEWS,www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/03/26/sarah-palin-endorses-joni-ernst-in-iowa-senate-race/, Sarah Palin endorses Joni Ernst in Iowa Senate race, The Washington Post, March 26, 2014, October 26, 2014, Sullivan, Sean, to whom she has drawn comparisons.WEB, Jones, Allie, Senate Candidate Joni Ernst’s Sarah Palin Schtick is Now Beyond Parody,www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/05/senate-candidate-joni-ernsts-sarah-palin-schtick-is-now-beyond-parody/361702/, The Atlantic, 5 May 2014, WEB, Joni Ernst: is this pig-castrating gun-lover the new Sarah Palin?,www.theweek.co.uk/people/58605/joni-ernst-is-this-pig-castrating-gun-lover-the-new-sarah-palin, The Week, en, May 20, 2014, In May 2014, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a lobbying group, endorsed her.NEWS, National business group picks Joni Ernst over GOP rivals in Iowa U.S. Senate race, Jacobs, Jennifer,www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/elections/2014/05/13/joni-ernst-chamber-endorsement/9001911/, May 13, 2014, Des Moines Register, May 13, 2014, NEWS, The magic number for the Republican Party on Tuesday is 35 percent. And Joni Ernst is right there, Sullivan, Sean,www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/06/02/the-magic-number-for-the-republican-party-on-tuesday-is-35-percent-and-joni-ernst-is-right-there/, June 2, 2014, The Washington Post, June 2, 2014, Little known at the start of her campaign, Ernst was boosted in the Republican primary by the Koch brothers with “hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of television ads [...] and tens of thousands of dollars in direct campaign contributions”.WEB, Vogel, Kenneth P., How the Kochs launched Joni Ernst,www.politico.com/story/2015/11/the-kochs-vs-the-gop-215672, POLITICO, en, November 12, 2015, WEB, Nichols, John, Joni Ernst Will Provide a Koch Brothers Rebuttal to the State of the Union,www.thenation.com/article/archive/joni-ernst-will-provide-koch-brothers-rebuttal-state-union/, The Nation, 20 January 2015, A Koch-backed group launched an “advertising blitz”, including a $257,000 campaign against Ernst’s biggest Republican rival, Mark Jacobs, who had supported a proposal to limit carbon emissions that Koch Industries opposed. Ernst privately credited the Kochs and their allies for having “really started my trajectory” after her primary victory.Ernst received widespread attention for a campaign advertisement she released in March 2014, in which she made a tongue-in-cheek comparison between her experience castrating pigs and her ability to “cut pork” in Congress.NEWS, Iowa Senate Candidate Says Castration Gives Her Conservative Cred,time.com/36955/iowa-senate-candidate-says-castration-gives-her-conservative-cred/, Scherer, Michael, April 15, 2014, Time, March 25, 2014, NEWS, In Politics, Hog Castration Cuts Through The Ad Clutter, James, Frank,www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2014/03/28/295949340/in-politics-hog-castration-cuts-through-the-ad-clutter, April 15, 2014, NPR, March 28, 2014, Many found the ad humorous,NEWS, How did John Boehner’s opponent get his campaign ad to go viral? Humor. (+video), Feldmann, Linda,www.csmonitor.com/USA/DC-Decoder/Decoder-Buzz/2014/0415/How-did-John-Boehner-s-opponent-get-his-campaign-ad-to-go-viral-Humor.-video, April 20, 2014, The Christian Science Monitor, April 15, 2014, and it was spoofed by late-night comedians, including Jimmy Fallon and Stephen Colbert.NEWS, Jimmy Fallon cringes at Joni Ernst’s hog-castration ad,www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2014/03/25/jimmy-fallon-cringes-at-joni-ernsts-hog-castration-ad/6897513/, Jacobs, Jennifer, April 19, 2014, Des Moines Register, March 25, 2014, NEWS, Colbert: I’m pulling for Joni Ernst ‘whole hog, or whatever’s left’,www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2014/03/27/colbert-im-pulling-for-joni-ernst-whole-hog-or-whatevers-left/6955697/, April 15, 2014, Jacobs, Jennifer, Des Moines Register, March 27, 2014, NEWS, How Joni Ernst’s ad about ‘castrating hogs’ transformed Iowa’s U.S. Senate race, Philip, Rucker, Dan, Balz,www.washingtonpost.com/politics/how-joni-ernsts-ad-about-castrating-hogs-transformed-iowas-us-senate-race/2014/05/11/c02d1804-d85b-11e3-95d3-3bcd77cd4e11_story.html, May 15, 2014, The Washington Post, May 12, 2014, NEWS, Joni Ernst ‘Castrating Hogs’ Ad: Republican Iowa Senate Candidate Stirs Controversy With Offbeat Campaign Spot [VIDEO],www.ibtimes.com/joni-ernst-castrating-hogs-ad-republican-iowa-senate-candidate-stirs-controversy-offbeat-campaign, Koplowitz, Howard, March 25, 2014, April 15, 2014, International Business Times, Before the ad aired, Ernst had struggled to raise money,NEWS, Sarah Palin endorses ‘hog castrator’ Jodi Ernst in Iowa Senate race,www.cbsnews.com/news/sarah-palin-endorses-hog-castrator-jodi-ernst-in-iowa-senate-race/, April 20, 2014, CBS News, Conroy, Scott, March 26, 2014, NEWS, The Fix’s fourth-quarter fundraising winners and losers,www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/02/03/the-fixs-fourth-quarter-fundraising-winners-and-losers/, April 20, 2014, The Washington Post, Sullivan, Sean, February 3, 2014, and two polls of the Republican primary taken in February 2014 had shown her in second place, several points behind Mark Jacobs.NEWS, Sarah Palin endorses ‘pork-cutting’ Joni Ernst in Iowa,www.politico.com/story/2014/03/sarah-palin-endorses-joni-ernst-iowa-105059.html, April 17, 2014, Politico, Kopan, Tal, March 26, 2014, NEWS, Ernst Aims to Be Iowa’s First Female Senator,www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2014/03/09/ernst_aims_to_be_iowas_first_female_senator_121849.html, April 18, 2014, Gonzales, Jose R., RealClearPolitics, March 9, 2014, After it aired, a Suffolk University poll in early April showed her with a narrow lead and a Loras College poll showed her essentially tied with Jacobs.NEWS, Ernst Narrowly Leads GOP Field in Iowa Senate Race,www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2014/04/09/ernst_narrowly_leads_gop_field_in_iowa_senate_race_122223.html, O’Neal, Adam, April 9, 2014, RealClearPolitics, April 9, 2014, NEWS, Poll: Joni Ernst Takes Lead in Iowa GOP Senate Primary,www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/poll-joni-ernst-takes-lead-iowa-gop-senate-primary_786717.html, John, McCormack, dead, April 17, 2014, Weekly Standard, April 9, 2014,www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/poll-joni-ernst-takes-lead-iowa-gop-senate-primary_786717.html," title="web.archive.org/web/20140411213739www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/poll-joni-ernst-takes-lead-iowa-gop-senate-primary_786717.html,">web.archive.org/web/20140411213739www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/poll-joni-ernst-takes-lead-iowa-gop-senate-primary_786717.html, April 11, 2014, NEWS, Jacobs, Ernst tied in inaugural Loras Poll,www.thonline.com/blogs/tri_state_politics/article_a13f2644-c3f2-11e3-a183-001a4bcf6878.html, April 17, 2014, TH Online, April 14, 2014, By May, she was being described in the media as the “strong front-runner”.During the primary, Ernst promoted a conspiracy theory that a United Nations sustainable development plan, Agenda 21, could lead to farmers being forced off their land and made to live in cities, but a few months later she said she did not consider the plan a “threat”.WEB, Shiner, Meredith, Will Joni Ernst’s flirtations with the political fringe haunt her in November?,news.yahoo.com/will-joni-ernst-s-flirtations-with-the-political-fringe-haunt-her-in-november-223054974.html, Yahoo! News, August 13, 2014, WEB, Murphy, Tim, How does this GOP Senate candidate keep getting away with such terrible gaffes?,www.motherjones.com/politics/2014/09/joni-ernst-bruce-braley-agenda-21-conspiracy-theory/, Mother Jones (magazine), Mother Jones, September 25, 2014, In a May 2014 Des Moines Register interview, Ernst said she was “extremely offended” by comments Jacobs made characterizing her as AWOL due to missing over 100 votes in the legislative session.NEWS, Joni Ernst: I was ‘extremely offended’ by AWOL attack, Noble, Jason,www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/elections/2014/05/09/joni-ernst-us-senate-des-moines-register-editorial-board/8901677/, May 14, 2014, Des Moines Register, May 9, 2014, Previously, in The Gazette, Ernst cited her National Guard duty to rebuff criticism about her missing votes,NEWS,www.thegazette.com/state-government/few-of-ernsts-missed-iowa-senate-votes-due-to-national-guard-duty/, Few of Ernst’s missed Iowa Senate votes due to National Guard Duty, The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa), The Gazette, Morelli, B.A., April 14, 2014, April 15, 2014, but The Gazette found that only 12 of the 117 missed votes came on days when she was on duty. The other 105 missed votes represented 57% of the Iowa Senate votes that session. Ernst’s spokesman said she had a better than 90% voting record during her Senate career and that she had never claimed Guard service was the only reason she had missed votes.NEWS,www.thegazette.com/2014/03/05/iowa-sen-ernst-juggles-busy-schedule-with-senate-work/, Iowa Sen. Ernst juggles busy schedule with Senate work, Boshart, Rod, The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa), The Gazette, April 1, 2014, April 15, 2014, In July, Ernst delivered the Republican Party’s weekly address, criticizing a health care scandal at the Department of Veterans Affairs and calling for a balanced budget and reform of Social Security and Medicare.NEWS, Miller, Jake, GOP Senate candidate: Reform the VA, balance the budget,www.cbsnews.com/news/gop-senate-candidate-joni-ernst-reform-the-va-balance-the-budget/, August 28, 2014, CBS News, July 12, 2014, Later that month, she suspended her campaign while participating in two weeks of National Guard duty.NEWS, Jacobs, Jennifer, Joni Ernst resumes campaign after 2 weeks of guard duty,www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/elections/2014/07/28/joni-ernst-first-campaign-event-after-two-weeks-on-duty/13280727/, August 28, 2014, Des Moines Register, July 28, 2014, In endorsing her for the Republican primary nomination, the Des Moines Register wrote: “Ernst is a smart, well-prepared candidate who can wrestle with the details of public policy from a conservative perspective without seeming inflexible.“WEB,www.desmoinesregister.com/story/opinion/editorials/2014/05/17/joni-ernst-senate-register-editorial-board-endorsement/9231191/, The Register’s Editorial: Joni Ernst offers Iowans strong credentials, Des Moines Register, May 17, 2014, 21 September 2023, On October 23, Ernst canceled a scheduled meeting with the Des Moines Register’s editorial board, citing the paper’s negative editorials about her.NEWS, Jacobs, Jennifer, Ernst cancels meeting with Register’s editorial board, Des Moines Register,www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/elections/2014/10/23/ernst-declines-meeting-with-register-editorial-board/17782955/, October 24, 2014, The editorial board ultimately endorsed Braley, citing Ernst’s calls to abolish the EPA, the Department of Education, and the federal minimum wage, as well as her support for partially privatizing Social Security and overturning the Affordable Care Act.WEB, October 25, 2014, The Register’s Editorial announces candidate endorsements,www.kcci.com/politics/the-registers-editorial-announces-candidate-endorsements/29342156, October 26, 2014, KCCI News, WEB, October 26, 2014, Endorsement: Bruce Braley is better choice,www.desmoinesregister.com/story/opinion/editorials/endorsement/2014/10/25/bruce-braley-endorsement-us-senate-better-choice/17907819/?from=global&sessionKey=&autologin=, October 26, 2014, Des Moines Register, Editorial Board, In the 2014 election, Ernst received $17,552,085 in “dark money”, which constituted 74% of non-party outside spending in her support;WEB, Outside Spending and Dark Money in Toss-Up Senate Races: Post-Election Update,www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/outside-spending-and-dark-money-toss-senate-races-post-election-update, Vandewalker, Ian, www.brennancenter.org, November 10, 2014, 21 August 2020, en, she had a $14 million outside spending advantage over her opponent. In an October 2014 debate, Ernst said she “believe[s] in political free speech” and did not see a need to change campaign finance laws.WEB, Hayworth, Bret, Braley, Ernst agree on 1 thing — negative political ads are grating,qctimes.com/news/local/braley-ernst-meet-in-final-debate/article_c6cb9bc4-86b1-584c-9572-be2650ff6d01.html, Sioux City Journal, October 16, 2014,web.archive.org/web/20170406092937/https://qctimes.com/news/local/braley-ernst-meet-in-final-debate/article_c6cb9bc4-86b1-584c-9572-be2650ff6d01.html, April 6, 2017, en, Ernst won the 2014 Senate race, 52.2% to 43.7%.WEB,www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/04/iowa-senate-election-results_n_5858508.html, Iowa Senate Election Results: Joni Ernst Wins Race Against Bruce Braley, The Huffington Post, Lachman, Samantha, November 4, 2014, November 15, 2014, She is the first woman elected to represent Iowa in either house of Congress.

2020

Ernst ran for reelection in 2020. She was unopposed in the Republican primary and faced Democratic nominee Theresa Greenfield, a businesswoman and former congressional candidate, in the general election. Ernst was seen as the strong favorite and eventually defeated her opponent, 52%-45%.WEB, Murphy, Erin, U.S. Senate race sets $234 million record in Iowa,www.thegazette.com/subject/news/government/greenfield-ernst-senate-money-election-20201101, The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa), The Gazette, en, NEWS, Broadwater, Luke, 2020-11-04, Joni Ernst Wins in Iowa, Frustrating Democrats’ Push for Senate Majority, en-US, The New York Times,www.nytimes.com/2020/11/04/us/politics/iowa-joni-ernst.html, 2020-11-05, 0362-4331, NEWS, Zhou, Li, Theresa Greenfield has won the Democratic Senate primary in Iowa,www.vox.com/2020/6/2/21278481/theresa-greenfield-wins-iowa-senate-primary-joni-ernst, 5 June 2020, Vox, June 2, 2020, In December 2019, the Associated Press reported that Ernst’s campaign had closely coordinated with a political nonprofit founded by a longtime consultant; such groups are tax-exempt and not required to disclose donors, but cannot make political campaigning their primary purpose and must separate their activities from candidates they support.WEB, Slodysko, Brian, ‘Dark money’ ties raise questions for Sen. Joni Ernst,eu.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2019/12/06/dark-money-ties-raise-questions-sen-joni-ernst/4352359002/, Des Moines Register, Associated Press, December 6, 2019, An Ernst campaign adviser said that any implication they had acted outside the “spirit of the law” was “fake news”. After the article’s publication, the nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission.WEB, Slodysko, Brian, Group backing Iowa’s Ernst hit with complaint after AP story,www.ap.org/ap-in-the-news/2019/group-backing-iowa-s-ernst-hit-with-complaint-after-ap-story, Associated Press, en, December 19, 2019, WEB, Pitt, David, Watchdog files lawsuit against group backing Iowa Sen. Ernst,apnews.com/article/campaign-finance-iowa-lawsuits-washington-elections-d0a5634b41087062e61832392274c213, Associated Press, February 16, 2021,

Tenure

File:Joni Ernst by Gage Skidmore 2.jpg|thumb|240px|Ernst speaking at a campaign event for Marco RubioMarco RubioErnst was sworn into the United States Senate on January 3, 2015, and thus became Iowa’s first new U.S. senator since Tom Harkin in 1985.NEWS, Ernst to deliver GOP State of the Union rebuttal, The Des Moines Register, Noble, Jason, January 15, 2015, January 15, 2015,www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2015/01/15/joni-ernst-state-union-rebuttal-sotu/21816953/, She delivered the official Republican response to the State of the Union on January 20.WEB, Kim, Seung Min, January 20, 2015,www.politico.com/story/2015/01/state-of-the-union-republican-response-joni-ernst-114409, Joni Ernst’s Response: Congress Is ‘Back to Work’, Politico, January 21, 2015, WEB,www.nytimes.com/2015/01/21/us/politics/republican-response-to-obamas-2015-state-of-the-union-address.html, Transcript of Republican Response to 2015 State of the Union Address, The New York Times, January 20, 2015, Senator Joni Ernst, the newly elected Republican from Iowa, gave the official G.O.P. response to President Obama’s State of the Union address on Tuesday., In May 2016, Chris Cilizza put Ernst on his short list of possible vice presidential running mates for Donald Trump to become the 45th President of the United States.NEWS, Corey, Dan, Sen. Ernst talks possible Vice President Run: Potential Donald Trump running mate,www.weareiowa.com/news/local-news/sen-ernst-talks-possible-vice-president-run, WOI-DT, WOI TV, Des Moines, May 5, 2016, May 5, 2016, NEWS, Cillizza, Chris, Chris Cillizza, Donald Trump is the presumptive GOP nominee. Here are 5 people who could be his VP.,www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/04/29/5-people-donald-trump-could-pick-to-be-his-vice-president/, Washington Post, Washington, D.C., May 3, 2016, May 5, 2016, Other media outlets also mentioned her as a possible benefit to Trump’s campaign.NEWS, Van Buren, Peter, Peter van Buren, Could This Be Donald Trump’s Vice Presidential Pick?,www.huffingtonpost.com/peter-van-buren/could-this-be-donald-trump_b_9813978.html, Huffington Post, New York, May 2, 2016, May 2, 2016, NEWS, Scott, Lauren, Sen. Joni Ernst responds to rumors of vice president nod,www.ketv.com/news/sen-joni-ernst-responds-to-rumors-of-vice-president-nod/39379074, KETV, Omaha, May 4, 2016, May 5, 2016, NEWS, Bacon, Perry Jr., Vice Presidential Picks Could Hold Clues to Strategies for Trump and Clinton,www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/vice-presidential-picks-could-hold-clues-strategies-trump-clinton-n562566, NBC news, May 4, 2016, May 5, 2016, On June 16, Ernst said no one had “reached out” to her and that she was content with this.NEWS,www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2016/06/16/joni-ernst-donald-trump-must-have-his-eyes-set-somebody-else-for-vice-president/85987422/, Ernst: Trump ‘must have his eyes set on somebody else’ for VP, Jason, Noble, Des Moines Register, June 16, 2016, On July 4, she and Trump met privately.NEWS,www.nytimes.com/2016/07/05/us/politics/joni-ernst-trump-vp.html?_r=0, Donald Trump Meets With Senator Joni Ernst, a Possible Running Mate, Haberman, Maggie, July 4, 2016, New York Times, September 19, 2020, Trump selected Governor Mike Pence of Indiana on July 15.NEWS,www.vox.com/2016/7/14/12189756/donald-trump-mike-pence-vp, Donald Trump chooses Mike Pence for VP, undermining everything unique about his campaign, Klein, Ezra, Vox, July 15, 2016, July 15, 2016, In 2016, Ernst and other Republican senators introduced “Sarah’s Law” in honor of Sarah Root, a 21-year-old student in Omaha who was killed in a street racing crash earlier that year.WEB,www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/07/22/the-story-of-sarah-root-who-trump-said-was-sacrificed-on-the-altar-of-open-borders/, The story of Sarah Root, who Trump said was sacrificed ‘on the altar of open borders’, Barbash, Fred, Washington Post, July 22, 2016, December 3, 2017, (File:Joni Ernst Official photo portrait 114th Congress.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Ernst’s freshman portrait)In 2017, Ernst asked Secretary of Defense nominee James Mattis whether he would pledge to cut wasteful spending and stop sexual assault in the military, to which Mattis agreed.NEWS,www.radioiowa.com/2017/01/12/senator-ernst-questions-nominee-for-secretary-of-defense/, Senator Ernst questions nominee for Secretary of Defense, Dar, Danielson, Radioiowa.com, January 12, 2017, In March, after photographs of nude female soldiers were posted on Facebook, Ernst said that this “type of activity creates a culture that leads to sexual assault.“NEWS, 14 March 2017,www.radioiowa.com/2017/03/14/ernst-absolutely-no-excuse-for-posting-naked-photos-of-female-marines/, Ernst: ‘absolutely no excuse’ for posting naked photos of female Marines, O. Kay, Henderson, Radio Iowa, At a press conference two weeks later, she asked Congress to pass a law requiring people to immediately report suspected sexual assault at government facilities.NEWS,www.kwwl.com/story/35017478/2017/03/tuesday/sen-ernst-calls-for-bill-to-protect-athletes-from-sexual-abuse/, live, Sen. Ernst calls for bill to protect athletes from sexual abuse, Scott, Albanese, March 28, 2017, KWWL (TV),web.archive.org/web/20170403112638/https://www.kwwl.com/story/35017478/2017/03/tuesday/sen-ernst-calls-for-bill-to-protect-athletes-from-sexual-abuse/, April 3, 2017, Ernst was elected vice chair of the Senate Republican Conference in November 2018.WEB, Bolton, Alexander, McConnell reelected as leader, Thune promoted to whip,thehill.com/homenews/senate/416616-mcconnell-re-elected-as-leader-thune-promoted-to-whip/, The Hill (newspaper), The Hill, November 14, 2018, 17 November 2018, File:President Donald Trump holds up a newly signed House Joint Resolution 321.jpg|thumb|240px|Ernst (far right) at the signing of the INSPIRE Women ActINSPIRE Women ActOn the initiation of the 116th United States Congress in 2019, Ernst became the first female Republican to be appointed to the Senate Judiciary Committee, along with Marsha Blackburn.NEWS,thehill.com/homenews/senate/423786-senate-gop-names-first-female-members-to-judiciary-panel/, Senate GOP names first female members to Judiciary panel, Carney, Jordain, January 3, 2019, The Hill, In March 2019, after the Special Counsel Investigation concluded and Attorney General William Barr released an abridged summary of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report, Ernst called for a release of the report’s full findings, saying, “as much of the report that can be made public should be”.NEWS,www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2019/03/25/mueller-report-chuck-grassley-joni-ernst-senate-iowa-release-william-barr-investigation-donald-trump/3266661002/, Sens. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst call for a full release of the Mueller report findings, Robin, Opsahl, Des Moines Register, March 25, 2019, In August 2020, when Iowa had the most new COVID-19 infections per capita of any state in the preceding seven days, Ernst repeated a debunked conspiracy theory that the case numbers were greatly inflated and that health care providers might be falsifying them.NEWS, Gabriel, Trip, Joni Ernst, in a Tight Senate Race, Repeats a Debunked Coronavirus Theory,www.nytimes.com/2020/09/02/us/politics/joni-ernst-coronavirus.html, 14 September 2020, The New York Times, September 2, 2020, She later walked back her statements.NEWS, Shepherd, Katie, ‘So skeptical’: Sen. Joni Ernst echoes conspiracy theory questioning coronavirus death count,www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/09/02/coronavirus-joni-ernst-qanon/, 14 September 2020, The Washington Post, September 2, 2020, After Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death in September 2020, Ernst said she supported Trump nominating a new justice before the November presidential election.NEWS, Arkin, James, SCOTUS battle crashes into decisive Senate race in Iowa,www.politico.com/news/2020/09/30/scotus-battle-senate-race-iowa-423430, 7 October 2020, POLITICO, September 30, 2020, en, Eight months before the 2016 presidential election, Ernst opposed Senate consideration of Obama’s Supreme Court nominee, saying “the American people deserve to have a say” on a decision that would “impact the course of our country for years to come”.NEWS, Desjardins, Lisa, What every Republican senator has said about filling a Supreme Court vacancy in an election year,www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/what-every-republican-senator-has-said-about-filling-a-supreme-court-vacancy-in-an-election-year, September 27, 2020, PBS NewsHour, September 22, 2020, MAGAZINE, Villa, Lissandra, Here’s What GOP Senators Said About the 2016 Supreme Court Vacancy—And What They’re Saying Now,time.com/5892574/senate-republicans-supreme-court-vote/, Time (magazine), Time, September 24, 2020, In 2018, Ernst reiterated that Supreme Court nominees should not be heard during presidential election years, telling the Des Moines Register, “It’s precedent set. ... So come 2020, if there’s an opening, I’m sure you’ll remind me of that.“WEB, Cauterucci, Christina, 2020-10-15, Joni Ernst Hopes Some Performative Feminism Might Save Her Senate Seat,slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/10/joni-ernst-performative-feminism.html, 2020-10-30, Slate Magazine, en, Ernst was participating in the certification of the 2021 United States Electoral College vote count when Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol. She called the storming “a protest turned anarchy” and, citing that she served in the military to defend the right to peacefully protest, “a complete betrayal of those sacred ideals.“NEWS, Grove, Chantelle, U.S. Senators, Grassley And Ernst, Denounce Wednesday’s Violence But Call For Investigation Into 2020 Election,www.1380kcim.com/2021/01/07/u-s-senators-grassley-and-ernst-denounce-wednesdays-violence-but-call-for-investigation-into-2020-election/, 10 January 2021, CBC Online - Carroll Broadcasting, 7 January 2021, When Congress returned to the certification process, Ernst voted to support certification.NEWS, Gazette editorial: Iowa Republicans must face a reckoning,www.thegazette.com/subject/opinion/staff-editorial/gazette-editorial-iowa-republicans-must-face-a-reckoning-20210108, 10 January 2021, The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa), The Gazette, 8 January 2021, en, She opposed impeaching Trump for the attack on the Capitol, choosing to support a peaceful transfer of power and “healing our nation.“NEWS, Oates, Trevor, Rep. Axne will support impeaching President Trump again, Reps. Hinson, Feenstra will not,kwwl.com/2021/01/08/rep-axne-will-support-impeaching-president-trump-again-reps-hinson-feenstra-will-not/, live,web.archive.org/web/20230509161053/https://www.kwwl.com/news/politics/rep-axne-will-support-impeaching-president-trump-again-reps-hinson-feenstra-will-not/article_d540f205-1784-58d7-9d21-dc18ec181057.html, 9 May 2023, 10 January 2021, KWWL (TV), 8 January 2021, In response, The Gazette editorial board wrote that Ernst and Grassley “must reckon with why they did the wrong thing for so long” regarding their support of Trump during his presidency.in a September 2021 Fox News interview, Ernst accused President Joe Biden of overstepping presidential powers and “leading by coercion“NEWS, Ellington, Andre J., Senator Joni Ernst Says Biden’s Vaccine Mandate Is Timed as ‘Diversion Away From 9/11’,www.newsweek.com/senator-joni-ernst-says-bidens-vaccine-mandate-timed-diversion-away-9-11-1628069, 11 September 2021, Newsweek, 2021-09-10, with the newly announced “Path Out of the Pandemic“WEB, The White House, Path out of the Pandemic: President Biden’s COVID-19 Action Plan,www.whitehouse.gov/covidplan/, September 11, 2021, initiative, aimed at mitigating the rising threat of the COVID-19 Delta variant.NEWS, Vlamis, Kelsey, GOP Sen. Joni Ernst said Biden’s plan to get Americans vaccinated is a ‘diversion’ from the 20th anniversary of 9/11,www.businessinsider.com/joni-ernst-biden-vaccine-plan-is-diversion-from-911-anniversary-2021-9, 11 September 2021, Business insider, 2021-09-10, “Forcing these federal mandates was one way to divert us”, she said. “This is a diversion away from 9/11, away from the 20th anniversary and away from the debacle that was his Afghanistan withdrawal”. The previous week, Biden had signed an executive order declassifying 9/11 documents that the victims’ families had requested for many years; his agenda on September 11, 2021, included visits to three 9/11 crash sites in New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

Committee assignments

• Committee on Armed Services
  • Subcommittee on Airland
  • Subcommittee on Cybersecurity
  • Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities (Ranking Member)
• Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry
  • Subcommittee on Commodities, Risk Management, and Trade
  • Subcommittee on Food and Nutrition, Specialty Crops, Organics, and Research
  • Subcommittee on Rural Development and Energy
• Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship (Ranking Member)

Caucus memberships

• Republican Main Street PartnershipWEB, MEMBERS,www.republicanmainstreet.org/members, 2021-03-01, RMSP, en,

Political positions

In 2019, Politico called Ernst “a reliable vote for most of Trump’s agenda”,WEB,politi.co/2ODG3On, One of the GOP’s brightest female stars is dogged by Trump in 2020, Levine, Marianne, POLITICO, March 31, 2019, en, 2019-05-18, and as of October 2020, she had voted in line with Donald Trump’s positions 91.1% of the time.WEB,projects.fivethirtyeight.com/congress-trump-score/, Tracking Congress In The Age Of Trump, Bycoffe, Aaron, 2017-01-30, FiveThirtyEight, en, 2020-01-20, The American Conservative Union’s Center for Legislative Accountability gives Ernst a lifetime conservative score of 81.69.WEB, Sen. Joni Ernst,ratings.conservative.org/people/E000295, May 5, 2021, American Conservative Union Foundation, The politically liberal Americans for Democratic Action gave Ernst a score of zero for 2019.WEB, ADA Voting Records {{!, Americans for Democratic Action|url=https://adaction.org/ada-voting-records/|access-date=2021-05-05|language=en-US}}

Abortion

Ernst opposes legalized abortion.WEB,www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2019/07/12/joni-ernst-abortion-born-alive-bill-kim-reynolds-senate-election-family-leadership-summit/1714010001/, Joni Ernst touts anti-abortion advocacy at Family Leadership Summit, Gruber-Miller, Stephen, Des Moines Register, en, 2020-04-22, In 2013, she voted for a fetal personhood amendment in the Iowa Senate and has said that she would support a federal personhood bill.WEB,www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/16/senate-candidate-endorses_n_5997126.html, Senate Candidate Joni Ernst Endorses Federal Personhood Bill For Fetuses, Bassett, Laura, October 16, 2014, The Huffington Post, October 17, 2014, Critics, such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, have expressed concern that such an amendment could restrict abortion even in cases of rape or incest, as well as certain forms of birth control, although Ernst has affirmed that she supports access to birth control.WEB, Noble, Jason, Exclusive: New ad knocks Ernst support of ‘Personhood amendment’,eu.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/elections/2014/09/04/joni-ernst-bruce-braley-personhood-amendment-tv-ad-us-senate-race/15051453/, Des Moines Register, September 4, 2014, In January 2020, she petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to reconsider Roe v. Wade, the landmark ruling that abortion bans are unconstitutional.WEB, Brennan, Paul, Ernst, Grassley and King sign legal brief encouraging the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade,littlevillagemag.com/ernst-grassley-and-king-sign-legal-brief-encouraging-the-u-s-supreme-court-to-overturn-roe-v-wade/, Little Village, 2 January 2020, WEB,iowastartingline.com/2020/01/03/joni-ernst-petitions-supreme-court-to-reconsider-roe-v-wade/, Joni Ernst Petitions Supreme Court To Reconsider Roe v. Wade, Hytrek, Nikoel, 2020-01-03, Iowa Starting Line, en-US, 2020-04-22, In 2017, Ernst introduced legislation allowing states to block Planned Parenthood from receiving Title X grants or reimbursements for treating Medicaid patients, although Planned Parenthood clinics provide multiple family planning services and the funding does not go to abortions except in rare circumstances.WEB, Smith, Jordan, Sen. Joni Ernst Puts Planned Parenthood — and Access to Birth Control — on the Chopping Block,theintercept.com/2017/02/10/sen-joni-ernst-puts-planned-parenthood-and-access-to-birth-control-on-the-chopping-block/, The Intercept, 10 February 2017, WEB, Desjardins, Lisa, Why the Senate voted to block funding for Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers,www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/senate-vote-block-abortion-funding-affects-planned-parenthood, PBS NewsHour, en-us, 30 March 2017, Ernst supported the 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade, calling it a science-based decision.TWEET, Ernst, Joni, I’m proudly and adamantly pro-life. This decision reflects the science, will save lives, and rightly returns policymaking power back to the American people and their elected officials., SenJoniErnst, 1540356295840120834, 24 June 2022, 24 June 2022, en,

Barack Obama

In 2014, when asked about President Barack Obama’s recess appointments, Ernst called Obama a “dictator” who should be “removed from office” or face “impeachment.“NEWS,news.yahoo.com/joni-ernst-seeks-to-walk-back-talk-of-impeaching-obama-015747572.html, Joni Ernst seeks to walk back talk of impeaching Obama, Shiner, Meredith, July 8, 2014, Yahoo! News, She said, “He is running amok. He is not following our Constitution.“WEB,news.yahoo.com/joni-ernst---impeachment--of-obama-should-be-on-the-table-204439051.html, Joni Ernst: ‘Impeachment’ of Obama should be on the table, Shinner, Meredith, Yahoo News, July 8, 2014, August 16, 2014, Later in 2014, Ernst criticized Obama’s handling of the Ebola outbreak.NEWS, July 9, 2020, Trump who? Senate GOP candidates in tight races avoid any mention of the president in campaign ads., The Washington Post, Kim, Seung Min,www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-who-senate-gop-candidates-in-tight-races-avoid-any-mention-of-the-president-in-campaign-ads/2020/07/08/47699e60-c148-11ea-864a-0dd31b9d6917_story.html, September 19, 2020,

Diabetes and price cap for insulin

Ernst voted against capping the price of insulin at $35;WEB, Republicans block $35 cap on price of insulin from Senate bill,news.yahoo.com/republicans-block-35-cap-price-175031366.html, 2022-08-08, news.yahoo.com, August 7, 2022, en-US, she has said that she has two family members who are diabetic.TWEET, I grew up with a brother and a sister who are Type 1 Diabetics. I will always fight to protect their coverage, and the coverage of every Iowan with a preexisting condition., Joni, Ernst, joniernst, 1312548926235516930, 2022-08-08, 4 October 2020, en,

Donald Trump

In 2020, Ernst voted to acquit Trump on both articles of impeachment (abuse of power and obstruction of Congress).WEB,www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2020/02/05/trump-impeachment-grassley-and-ernst-vote-acquit/4672346002/, U.S. Sens. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst voted to acquit President Trump. Read what they said about their votes., Akin, Katie, Des Moines Register, en, February 5, 2020, 2020-03-15, She argued that Trump had learned his lesson, and that he would not ask a foreign leader to investigate his rivals again without going through the proper channels.{{Citation|title=Ernst on Ukraine call: Trump ‘knows now’ to use proper channels - CNN Video|date=February 2, 2020 |url=https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2020/02/02/sotu-ernst-trump.cnn|access-date=2020-03-15}}WEB,www.politico.com/news/2020/02/02/ernst-trump-learned-lesson-foreign-interference-110346, Joni Ernst: Trump’s learned his lesson on foreign interference, Cammarata, Sarah, POLITICO, en, February 2, 2020, 2020-03-15, At the same time, she suggested that Joe Biden could be impeached if he becomes president over his actions in Ukraine; there is no evidence of wrongdoing by Biden in regard to Ukraine.WEB,www.axios.com/ernst-biden-impeachment-trump-iowa-2e633d71-2782-4daa-bd75-1e22b8a1ae7a.html, GOP Sen. Joni Ernst warns there could be push impeach Biden if he’s elected president, Perano, Ursula, Axios, en, February 2, 2020, 2020-03-15, WEB, Biden, Joe, Joe Bidens Quid Pro Quo Deal With Ukrainian Leadership,www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCSF3reVr10, Youtube, 13 November 2019, In May 2020, Ernst praised Trump’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, saying, “he was right on it from day one”.WEB, Republicans praise Trump’s pandemic response with Senate majority at risk,www.politico.com/news/2020/05/06/senate-republicans-trump-coronavirus-response-240454, 2020-05-07, Burgess, Everett, John, Bresnahan, May 6, 2020, POLITICO, en, On May 28, 2021, Ernst voted against creating an independent commission to investigate the 2021 United States Capitol attack.NEWS, Washington Post, May 28, 2021, Which senators supported a Jan. 6 Capitol riot commission,www.washingtonpost.com/politics/interactive/2021/january6-commission-senators-vote/,

Economic policy

Ernst opposes a federal minimum wage and has said that states should have sole authority to set their minimum wages.WEB, Iowa Public Radio,iowapublicradio.org/post/candidate-profile-joni-ernst, Candidate Profile: Joni Ernst, June 1, 2014, Charity, Nebbe, Katherine, Perkins, WEB,globegazette.com/news/local/ernst-let-states-set-minimum-wage/article_71cc6cd7-6667-5f42-93c0-a6a0bc3f4fd4.html, Ernst: Let states set minimum wage, Mason City Globe-Gazette, September 30, 2014, August 25, 2014, John, Skipper, She voted against a minimum wage increase in the state Senate. In response to a Congressional Budget Office report projecting that increasing the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour would lift 900,000 people out of poverty but cost 500,000 people their jobs, Ernst said, “government-mandated wage increases are not the solution.“WEB, Report: Minimum wage boost would cost jobs, lower poverty,qctimes.com/news/local/government-and-politics/report-minimum-wage-boost-would-cost-jobs-lower-poverty/article_76d256ab-f8f4-5889-a67a-822892bd14ca.html, The Quad-City Times, February 18, 2014, Ed, Tibbetts, Ernst has proposed eliminating the Internal Revenue Service.WEB,www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2014/jun/27/league-conservation-voters/does-joni-ernst-want-abolish-education-department-/, Does Joni Ernst want to abolish the Education Department and the EPA?, O’ Connor, Molly, PolitiFact, June 27, 2014, September 19, 2020, In the state Senate, she worked on legislation that reduced property taxes.NEWS, November 27, 2013,www.newtondailynews.com/2013/11/26/ernst-payton-speak-at-local-gop-meeting/a8bhvwe/, Ernst, Payton speak at local GOP meeting, Newton Daily News, April 10, 2014, In 2014, she said she supports a “fairer, flatter, and simpler” federal tax code, a reduction in discretionary spending and spending on social programs, and a constitutional amendment requiring a balanced federal budget. In 2017, she voted for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.WEB,www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2017/12/19/how-they-voted-iowas-gop-members-congress-vote-yes-tax-reform/965995001/, How they voted: Iowa’s GOP members of Congress vote ‘yes’ on tax overhaul, Des Moines Register, Noble, Jason, en, 2019-05-18, Ernst has expressed support for the partial privatization of Social Security accounts for young workers while making clear that “we have to keep our promises to seniors”.WEB, Jacobson, Louis, Democratic ad says Iowa GOP candidate Joni Ernst backs privatizing Social Security,www.politifact.com/factchecks/2014/aug/21/democratic-senatorial-campaign-committee/democratic-ad-says-iowa-gop-candidate-joni-ernst-b/, PolitiFact, August 21, 2014, NEWS, Factcheck.org: Democrats misrepresent Joni Ernst’s position on Social Security,www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2014/10/07/factcheck-says-democrats-misrepresent-ernst-social-security-position/16882233/, Jacobs, Jennifer, The Des Moines Register, October 7, 2014, October 25, 2014, In May 2018, Ernst was one of nine Republican senators to introduce a rescission package meant to fulfill Trump’s wish to curb previously approved spending by $15.4 billion as part of an attempt to roll out the legislation to ensure it reached the Senate floor within a 45-day window.NEWS,thehill.com/homenews/senate/389462-senate-conservatives-introduce-trumps-plan-to-claw-back-15-billion-in/, GOP senators introduce Trump’s plan to claw back $15 billion in spending, Carney, Jordain, May 25, 2018, The Hill, September 19, 2020,

Education

Ernst supports eliminating the U.S. Department of Education, saying she “believe[s] our children are better educated when it’s coming from the state.“WEB, Ernst calls for elimination of IRS, Dept. of Education and EPA,www.iowapbs.org/iowapress/story/3958/ernst-calls-elimination-irs-dept-education-and-epa, Iowa PBS, en, 24 April 2014, While states handle almost all education policy decisions, the Department of Education conducts nationwide research, monitors for discrimination, and distributes student financial aid through loans and grants. In 2014, Ernst claimed, inaccurately, that 94% of employees at the Department of Education had been deemed “nonessential” and argued funding would be better spent at the state and local level. PolitiFact calculated that hypothetically reassigning all employees to non-federal positions would increase state and local education staffing by “4/100ths of 1 percent”.WEB, Jacobson, Louis, Joni Ernst says 94 percent of Education Department employees are ‘nonessential’,www.politifact.com/factchecks/2014/sep/30/joni-ernst/joni-ernst-says-94-percent-education-department-em/, PolitiFact, September 30, 2014, In February 2017, Ernst voted to confirm Betsy DeVos as Education Secretary, saying they shared a belief that those “closest” to students know what is best for them.WEB, Noble, Jason, Grassley, Ernst vote ‘yes’ on DeVos confirmation,eu.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2017/02/07/grassley-ernst-vote-yes-devos-confirmation/97605868/, Des Moines Register, February 7, 2017, NEWS, Wootson, Cleve, A Republican senator defended Betsy DeVos at a town hall. Boos drowned her out.,www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2017/03/18/a-republican-senator-defended-betsy-devos-at-a-town-hall-boos-drowned-her-out/, Washington Post, March 18, 2017, NEWS,whotv.com/2017/02/07/senator-joni-ernst-explains-support-of-betsy-devos/, Emily, Koss, whotv.com, February 7, 2017, Senator Joni Ernst Explains Support of Betsy DeVos,web.archive.org/web/20190408045403/https://whotv.com/2017/02/07/senator-joni-ernst-explains-support-of-betsy-devos/, 2019-04-08,

Environment

Ernst rejects the scientific consensus on climate change and has said that any governmental regulation to address it should be “very small.” In a 2014 debate, she said, “I don’t know the science behind climate change. I can’t say one way or another what is the direct impact from whether it’s manmade or not.“NEWS, Politico,www.politico.com/story/2014/09/bruce-braley-joni-ernst-debate-2014-iowa-senate-elections-111409.html, Bruce Braley, Joni Ernst tear into each other, September 28, 2014, James, Hohmann, WEB, Iowa Public Radio, Braley, Ernst Differ in First U.S. Senate Debate,iowapublicradio.org/post/braley-ernst-differ-first-us-senate-debate, Clay, Masters, September 29, 2014, In 2018, after the release of the Fourth National Climate Assessment, detailing the impact of climate change, Ernst said that “our climate always changes and we see those ebb and flows through time”.WEB, Gustin, Georgina, Senate 2020: Iowa Farmers Are Feeling the Effects of Climate Change. That Could Make Things Harder for Joni Ernst,insideclimatenews.org/news/09092020/senate-2020-iowa-agriculture-farmers-extreme-weather-joni-ernst-theresa-greenfield, InsideClimate News, 10 September 2020, WEB, Bobic, Igor, GOP Shrugs Off Bombshell Climate Report,www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/climate-change-report-gop_n_5bfab61de4b0771fb6b9bf48?ri18n=true, Huffington Post, November 25, 2018, In her 2014 Senate campaign, Ernst won support from the Koch brothers and affiliated groups, who helped propel her ahead of a primary opponent who backed a proposal to limit carbon emissions. In 2014, she said she is “adamantly opposed” to cap-and-trade, a market-based approach to reducing carbon emissions. She supported Trump’s 2017 decision to withdraw from the Paris climate accords.WEB,www.omaha.com/news/politics/iowa-and-nebraska-lawmakers-stand-by-trump-on-paris-climate/article_12ab754f-3390-5176-9e34-f2c82aaf11e1.html, Iowa and Nebraska lawmakers stand by Trump on Paris climate accord, Tysver, Robynn, Omaha.com, June 3, 2017, en, 2018-12-23, Ernst has called for eliminating the Environmental Protection Agency. In 2014, she criticized the impact of the Clean Water Act on farms and businesses and said she would have voted against the 2014 U.S. Farm Bill.WEB, Ernst takes on EPA Clean Water Act plan,siouxcityjournal.com/business/agriculture/ernst-takes-on-epa-clean-water-act-plan/article_d09771f0-7541-5ba9-92b9-0b0c40804f45.html, Sioux City Journal, August 12, 2014, Ed, Tibbetts, WEB, Joni Ernst focused on primary in final Iowa debate,www.politico.com/story/2014/05/joni-ernst-election-iowa-debate-107237.html, Politico, May 29, 2014, June 2, 2014, James, Hohmann, After voting to confirm Trump nominee Scott Pruitt as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Ernst said in 2018 that he had lied to her about upholding the Renewable Fuel Standard, which mandates a minimum proportion of ethanol that must be mixed with fuel, while calling Pruitt “about as swampy as you get”.WEB,politi.co/2kPxLow, Pruitt ‘is about as swampy as you get,’ Republican senator says, Wolff, Eric, POLITICO, en, June 5, 2018, 2018-12-22, NEWS,thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/390773-gop-senators-says-pruitt-is-as-swampy-as-you-get/, GOP senator says Pruitt is ‘as swampy as you get’, Cama, Timothy, June 5, 2018, The Hill, September 19, 2020, WEB, Meyer, Elizabeth, Joni Ernst Voted For EPA Leaders Undermining Ethanol,iowastartingline.com/2019/10/01/joni-ernst-voted-for-epa-leaders-undermining-ethanol/, Iowa Starting Line, 1 October 2019, In February 2019, Ernst voted to confirm Trump’s new nominee for EPA administrator, Andrew Wheeler. In June 2019, she said she had asked Trump and Wheeler to limit the issuing of RFS waivers, saying they were being handed out “like candy” without congressional oversight.NEWS,www.thegazette.com/subject/news/sen-joni-ernst-pushing-to-rein-in-renewable-fuel-refinery-waivers-20190620, Sen. Joni Ernst pushing to rein in renewable fuel refinery exemptions, Lynch, James Q., June 20, 2019, The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa), The Gazette, September 19, 2020, As of September 2020, Ernst has a 1% lifetime score from the environmentalist League of Conservation Voters.

Foreign policy

File:Ernst Gilday 2019 (48423401716).jpg|thumb|Ernst speaking to Navy Vice Admiral Michael M. GildayMichael M. Gilday

Iran

Ernst opposed the Iran deal negotiated by the Obama administration. In January 2020, she expressed support for the US military’s assassination of Iranian major general Qasem Soleimani by drone strike at Baghdad International Airport.WEB,www.radioiowa.com/2020/01/03/senator-ernst-says-soleimani-brought-to-justice, Senator Ernst says Iran General Soleimani brought to justice, January 3, 2020, Henderson, Kay, Radio Iowa, September 19, 2020,

Iraq

Of the Iraq War and weapons of mass destruction, she said, “We don’t know that there were weapons on the ground when we went in. However, I do have reason to believe there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. That was the intelligence that was operated on. I have reason to believe there was weapons of mass destruction. My husband served in Saudi Arabia as an Army Central Command sergeant major for a year and that’s a hot-button topic in that area.” After criticism from Iowa Democrats and some commentators,WEB, The Iowa Republican Senator-to-Be Who Thinks Iraq Had WMD,www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2014/05/12/the_iowa_republican_senator_to_be_who_thinks_iraq_had_wmd.html, Slate, May 12, 2014, May 14, 2014, David Weigel, NEWS, Iowa Republican still believes Iraq had WMDs,thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/senate-races/205872-ernst-still-believes-iraq-had-wmds/, The Hill, May 12, 2014, May 14, 2014, Cameron, Joseph, Ernst then issued a statement that she had not meant to suggest that Iraq had WMD at the time of invasion, but rather that Iraq had used WMDs in the past, and that her point was that “we don’t know exactly what happened to those weapons.“NEWS, Ernst seeks to clarify remark on Iraq WMDs,www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/elections/2014/05/12/joni-ernst-wmd/9003823/, Des Moines Register, May 13, 2014, May 15, 2014, Jennifer, Jacobs, When asked whether she supports the limited airstrikes conducted in Iraq in August 2014, Ernst said, “What I can say is what I would have supported is leaving additional troops in Iraq longer and perhaps we wouldn’t have this situation today.“WEB, Zeleny, Jeff, Joni Ernst, From Obscure Iowa Legislator to Potential Role Model for Future GOP Candidates,abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2014/08/joni-ernst-from-obscure-iowa-legislator-to-potential-role-model-for-future-gop-candidates, ABC News, August 8, 2014, September 19, 2020,

Korean conflict

In June 2018, Ernst questioned Trump’s decision to suspend joint military exercises with South Korea.NEWS,thehill.com/homenews/senate/391842-gop-senator-questions-suspension-of-joint-military-exercises-with-south-korea/, GOP senator questions suspension of joint military exercises with South Korea, June 12, 2018, The Hill, Bolton, Alexander, September 19, 2020, In July, she advocated that the United States continue the exercises in case talks between the US and North Korea did not continue.NEWS,thehill.com/homenews/senate/396003-ernst-us-should-continue-military-exercises-with-south-korea-if-north-korea/, GOP senator: US should continue military exercises with South Korea if North Korea talks break down, July 8, 2018, The Hill, Greenwood, Max, September 19, 2020, File:U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter and Senators Joni Ernst, Daniel Sullivan, John McCain, Tom Cotton, Lindsey Graham, and Cory Gardner attending the 2016 International Institute for Strategic Studies Asia Security Summit in Singapore.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Ernst with Republican Senators and Defense Secretary Ash Carter at the 2016 International Institute for Strategic StudiesInternational Institute for Strategic Studies

Russia

In 2017, Ernst called Russia’s behavior, including its annexation of Crimea and interference in U.S. elections, “totally unacceptable” and said Trump should “show strength against Vladimir Putin”.NEWS,www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2017/02/16/sen-ernst-trump-must-step-up-and-lead-opposition-russia/97997984/, Sen. Ernst: Trump must ‘step up’ and lead opposition to Russia, Noble, Jason, February 16, 2017, Des Moines Register, The next year, she urged caution if the U.S. worked with Russia to “put a lid on Iran”, saying that Russia would never be “a true friend or ally” to the U.S. She cited North Korea as another case where caution should be maintained when cooperating to make the world “a safer place”.NEWS,www.cbsnews.com/news/sen-joni-ernst-on-face-the-nation-russia-will-never-be-a-true-friend-to-the-u-s/, Sen. Joni Ernst: Russia will never “be a true friend” to the U.S., July 8, 2018, CBS News, Tillett, Emily, September 19, 2020, After the 2018 Russia-United States summit later that month, Ernst expressed hope that Trump had “delivered a strong message” that Russia would be punished for its annexation of Ukraine, support of Bashar al-Assad, and “aggressive actions in U.S. domestic policy”, and that Trump had discussed Russia’s actions in the Balkans.NEWS,www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2018/07/16/iowa-chuck-grassley-republicans-putin-president-trump-russia-nato-reaction-criticizing/789081002/, Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley criticizes Trump, saying ‘Putin isn’t a friend to the United States’, Des Moines Register, Pfannenstiel, Brianne, September 19, 2020,

Syrian civil war

In 2015, Ernst said the U.S. should halt the admission of Syrian refugees, saying the United States needs a “thorough vetting process”.NEWS,www.kcci.com/article/sen-joni-ernst-calls-for-pause-on-syrian-refugee-arrivals/6914743, Sen. Joni Ernst calls for ‘pause’ on Syrian refugee arrivals, Kirkpatrick, Alex, November 18, 2015, kcci.com, In 2018, after missile strikes against Syria, Ernst said that she would be “uncomfortable” if Trump wanted to commit more American troops there, saying it was secondary to fighting ISIS.NEWS,thehill.com/homenews/senate/383239-gop-senator-uncomfortable-with-ground-troops-in-syria/, GOP senator uncomfortable with ground troops in Syria, April 15, 2018, The Hill, Bolton, Alexander, September 19, 2020, After Trump announced the withdrawal of troops from Syria, Ernst was one of six senators to sign a letter expressing concern, calling the move a “premature and costly mistake” that would “embolden ISIS, Bashar al Assad, Iran, and Russia.“NEWS,thehill.com/homenews/senate/422208-bipartisan-senators-call-on-trump-to-reconsider-syria-withdrawal/, Senators call on Trump administration to reconsider Syria withdrawal, December 19, 2018, The Hill, Axelrod, Tal, September 19, 2020, In 2019, Ernst was one of six senators to sign a bipartisan letter to Trump calling on him to “urge Turkey to end their offensive and find a way to a peaceful resolution while supporting our Kurdish partners to ensure regional stability” and arguing that leaving Syria without installing protections for American allies endangered both them and the US.NEWS,www.al.com/news/2019/10/doug-jones-joins-bipartisan-group-of-senators-in-urging-trump-to-rethink-syria-policy.html, Doug Jones joins bipartisan group of senators in urging Trump to rethink Syria policy, October 17, 2019, al.com, Koplowitz, Howard, September 19, 2020,

Yemen

In March 2018, Ernst voted to table a resolution spearheaded by Bernie Sanders, Chris Murphy, and Mike Lee that would have required Trump to withdraw American troops either in or influencing Yemen within the next 30 days unless they were combating Al-Qaeda.NEWS,thehill.com/homenews/senate/379392-senate-sides-with-trump-on-providing-saudi-military-support/, Senate sides with Trump on providing Saudi military support, March 20, 2018, The Hill, Carney, Jordain, September 19, 2020, In November 2018, following the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Ernst said that Saudi Arabia was a “great strategic partner” but that Congress should consider a legislative response due to the commitment of the United States to human rights and the rule of law. She added that Trump should become involved “if there are indicators coming from those intelligence agencies”.NEWS,www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/more-republicans-challenge-trump-on-defense-of-saudi-crown-prince/2018/11/25/8910bf1e-f0c6-11e8-bc79-68604ed88993_story.html?noredirect=on, More Republicans challenge Trump on defense of Saudi crown prince, November 25, 2018, The Washington Post, Demirjian, Karoun, September 19, 2020, In December, Ernst warned that a resolution withdrawing American support for the Saudi Arabia-led intervention in Yemen could complicate peace talks in Yemen and that, although Saudi Arabia should be punished for Khashoggi’s death, “those consequences are I see as right now are separate from the discussion of the Saudis and their actions in Yemen engaging the Houthis.“NEWS,www.politico.com/story/2018/12/11/ernst-senate-resolution-yemen-1056795, Ernst warns resolution to punish Saudis could hurt Yemen peace talks, Rebecca, Morin, Politico, December 11, 2018, September 19, 2020,

Gun policy

Ernst supports open carry legislation, which allows guns to be carried openly in public. In 2019, she was one of 31 Republican cosponsors of a bill to grant those with concealed carry privileges in their home state the right to carry concealed weapons in other states with concealed carry laws.NEWS,www.kcbd.com/2019/01/10/sens-cruz-cornyn-file-concealed-carry-reciprocity-bill/, Sens. Cruz, Cornyn file Concealed-Carry Reciprocity Bill, January 10, 2019, kcbd.com, In a 2014 debate, speaking about the Santa Barbara shooting, Ernst said, “Just because of a horrible, horrible tragedy, I don’t believe we should be infringing upon people’s Second Amendment rights.” After the 2018 Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, she said that mental illness was the “root cause” of many mass shootings.NEWS,www.kcci.com/article/grassley-ernst-deflect-criticism-of-gun-mental-health-bill/18215403, Grassley, Ernst deflect criticism of gun, mental health bill, Adam, Carros, February 16, 2018, KCCI, She later cosponsored a bill to require federal authorities to inform states within a day if a person failing a background check attempted to buy a firearm.NEWS,www.wfmynews2.com/article/news/nation-now/school-safety-bill-introduced-by-bipartisan-senators-in-response-to-florida-shooting/465-12ad93e2-e807-4f78-aafe-8df29fcb6ab0, School safety bill introduced by bipartisan senators in response to Florida shooting, March 5, 2018, Nicole, Gaudiano, wfmynews2.com, June 16, 2019, February 4, 2021,web.archive.org/web/20210204162507/https://www.wfmynews2.com/article/news/nation-now/school-safety-bill-introduced-by-bipartisan-senators-in-response-to-florida-shooting/465-12ad93e2-e807-4f78-aafe-8df29fcb6ab0, dead, NEWS,www.seacoastonline.com/news/20180310/collins-backed-push-to-keep-criminals-from-guns-progresses, Collins-backed push to keep criminals from guns progresses, March 10, 2018, seacoastonline.com, In 2017, amid bipartisan momentum for bump stock restrictions, Ernst was one of 10 Republican senators to sign a letter requesting that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives review a decision that bump stocks fall outside the purview of existing gun regulations.NEWS,thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/354319-gop-senators-want-review-of-obama-era-decision-on-bump-stocks/, GOP senators want review of Obama-era decision on bump stocks, October 6, 2017, The Hill, Carney, Jordain, September 19, 2020, According to data from OpenSecrets, the NRA spent $3,124,273 in support of Ernst between 2014 and 2018, mostly attacking candidates running against her.WEB, Brennan, Paul, Sen. Joni Ernst and Rep. David Young, among top recipients of NRA dollars in Congress, encourage public to pray after Las Vegas massacre,littlevillagemag.com/sen-joni-ernst-and-rep-david-young-among-the-top-recipients-of-nra-dollars-in-congress-encourage-public-to-pray-after-las-vegas-massacre/, Little Village, 5 October 2017,

Health care

Ernst opposes the Affordable Care Act. The Campaign for Liberty reported that in 2012 Ernst had answered “Yes” to a survey question asking whether she would support legislation that would “nullify ObamaCare and authorize state and local law enforcement to arrest federal officials attempting to implement [it].“WEB, EXCLUSIVE: GOPer Ernst Backed Arresting Feds Over Obamacare In 2012 Survey,talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/joni-ernst-obamacare-arrest-law-enforcement, Talking Points Memo, Strauss, Daniel, October 3, 2014, October 3, 2014, WEB, Conservative group: Ernst backed arresting feds over Obamacare,www.msnbc.com/msnbc/joni-ernst-backed-arresting-obamacare-workers-msna427276, MSNBC, October 3, 2014, October 3, 2014, Sarlin, Benjy, WEB, Iowa State Legislative Candidates survey,www.campaignforliberty.org/surveys/iowa-state-legislative-candidates/, Campaign for Liberty, October 4, 2014, She voted for all three versions of a bill to repeal the ACA in 2017.NEWS,www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/07/25/us/politics/senate-votes-repeal-obamacare.html, How Each Senator Voted on Obamacare Repeal Proposals, Parlapiano, Alicia, 2017-07-25, The New York Times, 2018-12-22, Andrews, Wilson, en-US, 0362-4331, Lee, Jasmine C., Shorey, Rachel, WEB,www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/health/2017/07/28/grassley-and-ernst-arent-abandoning-fight-rein-obamacare/520729001/, Grassley and Ernst, who voted for ill-fated Obamacare repeal bills, aren’t surrendering, Leys, Tony, Des Moines Register, en, 2018-12-22, In 2018, Ernst was one of 10 Republican senators to cosponsor a bill intended to guarantee coverage for people with preexisting conditions, though it would have allowed insurers to exclude coverage for the conditions themselves.NEWS,thehill.com/policy/healthcare/403459-ten-gop-senators-introduce-bill-aimed-at-preserving-obamacares-pre-existing/, GOP senators introduce bill to preserve ObamaCare’s pre-existing conditions protections, August 24, 2018, The Hill, Hellmann, Jessie, September 19, 2020, WEB, Young, Jeffrey, The GOP’s New Pre-Existing Conditions Promise Is A Fraud,www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/gop-pre-existing-condition-promise-fraud_n_5b8053bfe4b0cd327dfc8a1c?ri18n=true, Huffington Post, August 25, 2018, Ernst has expressed support for reforming Medicare and Medicaid and endorsed a partial privatization of both programs in a 2011 Iowa Senate vote. A CBO report found that the plan would increase medical costs for Medicare beneficiaries 61% by 2022, compared with 27% under the existing structure.WEB,thegazette.com/subject/news/government/fact-check/fact-check-ad-about-joni-ernst-on-medicare-20140829, Fact Check: Ernst on Medicare, The Gazette (Cedar Rapids), The Gazette, Carros, Adam, August 31, 2014, In 2013, she said there was a “generation of people that rely on the government to provide absolutely everything for them” and that removing them from government programs such as the Affordable Care Act “is going to be very painful”.MAGAZINE, Beutler, Brian, Joni Ernst: Poor People Aren’t Entitled to Food, Clothing, or Health Care,newrepublic.com/article/119892/ernst-health-care-food-clothes-too-generous-poor, The New Republic, 17 October 2014, Ernst has questioned the legitimacy of how hospitals are reporting COVID-19 deaths.WEB, erin.murphy@lee.net, ERIN MURPHY, Iowa medical group: Sen. Ernst’s embrace of a COVID conspiracy theory ‘offensive’,qctimes.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/iowa-medical-group-sen-ernsts-embrace-of-a-covid-conspiracy-theory-offensive/article_5a701569-af76-53f8-bf9a-b76014461c04.html, 2021-02-05, The Quad-City Times, September 10, 2020, en,

Immigration

In June 2018, Ernst and Democratic senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Patrick Leahy wrote Defense Secretary James Mattis a letter saying they were “deeply troubled” by the decision to send 21 Judge Advocate General’s Corps to prosecute immigration cases on the southern border, calling it an “inappropriate misapplication of military personnel” and urging Mattis to retain the military lawyers within the military justice system.NEWS,thehill.com/policy/defense/393615-senators-deeply-troubled-military-lawyers-being-used-for-immigrations-cases/, Senators ‘deeply troubled’ military lawyers being used for immigration cases, Kheel, Rebecca, June 22, 2018, The Hill, In July 2018, Ernst was one of 31 Republican senators to submit a resolution endorsing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), saying its abolition would allow “dangerous criminal aliens” and members of the MS-13 gang to remain in the U.S.NEWS,thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/396750-gop-senators-introduce-resolution-endorsing-ice/, GOP senators introduce resolution endorsing ICE, Carney, Jordain, July 12, 2018, The Hill, Amid the 2018–19 United States federal government shutdown that resulted after Trump demanded $5.7 billion for a border wall, Ernst said she would “tend to agree that not all areas of our border need a physical barrier” if they are monitored by technology or Border Patrol agents and it was possible to respond in a “timely manner”.NEWS,www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2019/01/10/senator-joni-ernst-wall-not-needed-entire-southern-border-government-shutdown-mexico-president-trump/2537559002/, Sen. Joni Ernst: A wall is unnecessary along parts of U.S.-Mexico border, Tony, Leys, January 10, 2019, Des Moines Register,

Internet

Ernst opposes net neutrality, which prevents internet service providers from blocking or slowing down certain content, and voted against reinstating it after an FCC ruling in 2018.WEB, UPDATE: Ernst in favor of repealing Net Neutrality,www.kcrg.com/content/news/Senate-Democrats-push-to-reinstate-net-neutrality-rules-482836921.html, KCRG-TV, KCRG, Associated Press, May 16, 2018, WEB,www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2018/05/18/iowa-senators-chuck-grassley-and-joni-ernst-just-voted-against-net-neutrality-heres-why/620294002/, Iowa Sens. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst just voted against net neutrality. Here’s why., Hardy, Kevin, Des Moines Register, en, 2020-04-26, In May 2020, Ernst voted for an amendment co-sponsored by Senators Steve Daines and Ron Wyden that would have required federal intelligence and law enforcement agencies to obtain federal court warrants when collecting web search engine data from American citizens, nationals, or residents under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).WEB,theintercept.com/2018/01/20/surveillance-bill-fisa-section-702-donald-trump/, Senate Democrats Defend Voting In Line with Donald Trump on NSA Surveillance Bill, www.theintercept.com, January 20, 2018, 2020-10-28, WEB,www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=116&session=2&vote=00089, U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 116th Congress - 2nd Session, www.senate.gov, 2020-10-28,

LGBTQ rights

In a 2014 debate, Ernst said she believes that same-sex marriage is a state’s rights issue, but that she would support a federal ban were one proposed.WEB, Reilly, Mollie, 2014-05-29, GOP Senate Candidate Has Self-Contradictory Take On Gay Marriage,www.huffpost.com/entry/joni-ernst-gay-marriage_n_5414525, 2020-06-14, HuffPost, en, WEB, Hohmann, James, Ernst goes right in final Iowa debate,www.politico.com/story/2014/05/joni-ernst-election-iowa-debate-107237, POLITICO, en, May 29, 2014, In the Iowa Senate, she co-sponsored a bill to amend the state constitution to define marriage as between one man and one woman.In 2017, she announced her opposition to Trump’s ban on transgender individuals serving in the armed forces.WEB,www.politico.com/story/2017/07/26/trump-transgender-troops-joni-ernst-240989, Ernst opposes Trump’s ban on transgender troops, Everett, Burgess, Politico, en, July 26, 2017, 2020-04-22, Ernst was one of 12 Republican senators to vote for the Respect for Marriage Act, which passed the Senate on November 29, 2022.

Nullification

File:Joni Ernst by Gage Skidmore.jpg|right|thumb|Ernst speaking at the 2015 Conservative Political Action ConferenceConservative Political Action ConferenceAs a state senator, Ernst co-sponsored a resolution urging the “nullification” of EPA rules on emissions standards and another expressing the Iowa General Assembly’s “refusal to recognize” federal laws “which conflict with the Second Amendment”.WEB,www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/29/joni-ernst-nullification_n_5631097.html, Joni Ernst Has A History Of Advocating Nullification Of Federal Laws, Bobic, Igor, July 29, 2014, The Huffington Post, July 30, 2014, WEB,coolice.legis.iowa.gov/Cool-ICE/default.asp?Category=billinfo&Service=Billbook&ga=85&hbill=SJR7, Senate Joint Resolution SJR7, The Iowa Legislature, July 30, 2014, In 2012, she answered “Yes” to a survey asking whether she would support legislation “nullify[ing] ObamaCare and authoriz[ing] state and local law enforcement to arrest federal officials attempting to implement [it].“In 2013, Ernst said Congress should not pass laws “that the states would consider nullifying”, referring to what she called “200-plus years of federal legislators going against the Tenth Amendment’s states’ rights.“WEB,www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2014/07/28/Iowa-GOP-nominee-says-states-can-nullify-federal-laws/4451406582369/, Iowa GOP nominee says states can nullify federal laws, Levy, Gabrielle, July 28, 2014, July 29, 2014, United Press International, Courts have consistently ruled that nullification is unconstitutional. During her 2014 Senate campaign, Ernst’s spokespeople argued that she did not support nullification, and that “her comments on it were about encouraging Iowans to send her to Washington to pass good laws.“NEWS,www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/elections/2014/07/30/ernst-braley-nullification/13358787/, Ernst campaign says she doesn’t support nullification, Jacobs, Jennifer, July 30, 2014, Des Moines Register,

Relationship with Steve King

Ernst’s relationship with Steve King, a Republican House Representative known for his racist rhetoric and support for far-right politicians, has been criticized. In 2016, when King faced a primary challenge for his House seat, Ernst endorsed him, saying he “stands strong for life and liberty.“WEB,www.thegazette.com/subject/news/government/joni-ernst-endorses-steve-king-in-iowa-4th-district-20160425, Joni Ernst endorses Steve King in Iowa 4th District, Lynch, James Q., The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa), The Gazette, 2018-12-22, WEB,nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/01/steve-kings-racism-didnt-use-to-bother-republicans.html, Republicans Have Tolerated Steve King’s Racism for a Long Time, Kilgore, Ed, 2019-01-14, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, en, 2019-02-18, In 2017, when King attracted criticism for saying “we can’t restore our civilization with somebody else’s babies” and for supporting European far-right politicians, Ernst said she did not condone King’s behavior but would not ask for his resignation.WEB,www.politico.com/story/2017/03/joni-ernst-steve-king-babies-tweet-236203, Ernst declines to ask for King’s resignation over ‘babies’ tweet, Everett, Burgess, Politico, en, March 17, 2017, 2018-12-22, WEB,thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/324640-ernst-refuses-to-ask-for-king-to-resign-after-babies-tweet/, Ernst declines to ask for King to resign after ‘babies’ tweet, Greenwood, Max, 2017-03-18, TheHill, en, 2018-12-22, In 2017, The Des Moines Register wrote a scathing editorial against King, which criticized Ernst for endorsing him in the past and not condemning him.NEWS,www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/03/14/editorial-blasts-gop-for-denouncing-steve-kings-rhetoric-but-supporting-his-election/, The Des Moines Register just went off on Steve King, Wang, Amy B., March 14, 2017, The Washington Post, September 19, 2020, WEB,www.desmoinesregister.com/story/opinion/editorials/2017/03/13/editorial-gop-needs-oppose-kings-re-election-not-just-kings-words/99134588/, Editorial: GOP needs to oppose King’s re-election, not just King’s words, Des Moines Register, en, March 13, 2017, 2019-02-18, In 2018, Ernst appeared with King at a rally in his district after King had endorsed a Canadian politician with neo-Nazi ties.NEWS,www.nytimes.com/2019/01/11/us/politics/steve-king-republicans-white-supremacy-.html, Steve King’s White Supremacy Remark Is Rebuked by Iowa’s Republican Senators, Gabriel, Trip, 2019-01-11, The New York Times, 2019-02-18, en-US, 0362-4331, In 2019, amid extensive criticism of King by Republican politicians after King made controversial remarks about white supremacy, Ernst rebuked him.NEWS,www.nytimes.com/2019/01/14/us/politics/steve-king-white-supremacy.html, Steve King Removed From Committee Assignments Over White Supremacy Remark, Gabriel, Trip, 2019-01-14, The New York Times, 2019-02-18, Martin, Jonathan, en-US, 0362-4331, Fandos, Nicholas, The New York Times wrote that Ernst’s belated distancing from King might harm her 2020 reelection effort, as she previously “had spent years embracing Mr. King.“NEWS,www.nytimes.com/2019/01/17/us/politics/steve-king-iowa-supporters-white-supremacy.html, Steve King Still Has Backing in Iowa, but Even Supporters Say ‘He’s Done’, Gabriel, Trip, 2019-01-17, The New York Times, 2019-02-18, en-US, 0362-4331, Art Cullen, editor of The Storm Lake Times, criticized the timing of Ernst’s response, which came after it started to look possible that King would lose his seat, writing “the hypocrisy is epic and comic.“NEWS,www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jan/15/steve-king-republicans-iowa-hypocrisy, The epic hypocrisy of Republicans’ sudden distaste for Steve King {{!, Art Cullen|last=Cullen|first=Art|date=2019-01-15|work=The Guardian|access-date=2019-02-18|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}} The Des Moines Register’s editorial board questioned why it took national condemnation for Ernst to rebuke King.WEB,www.desmoinesregister.com/story/opinion/columnists/rekha-basu/2019/01/15/grassley-ernst-reynolds-steve-king-congressman-republicans/2578751002/, Why did it take national condemnation for Grassley, Ernst, Reynolds to call out King?, Des Moines Register, en, Basu, Rekha, 2019-02-18, Ernst did not make an endorsement in King’s 2020 Republican primary race, which he lost.NEWS, Lynch, James, Sen. Joni Ernst won’t endorse Rep. Steve King in 4th District GOP primary,www.thegazette.com/subject/news/jopi-ernst-wont-endorse-steve-king-in-republican-primary-for-congress-20190725, 27 May 2020, The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa), The Gazette, July 25, 2019,

Trade

In 2018, as Trump imposed tariffs as part of his trade policy and other countries responded in kind, Ernst said she was willing to give him some leeway but worried about the impact on farmers.WEB,politi.co/2A3i9bs, ‘Like a Soviet-type economy’: GOP free traders unload on Trump, Everett, Burgess, Politico, en, July 24, 2018, 2018-12-23, In May 2019, amid a trade war between the United States and China, Ernst said she did not like tariffs but that the “president’s way of negotiating{{nbsp}}... brings people to the table.“NEWS,www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/paloma/the-finance-202/2019/05/14/the-finance-202-farmers-are-bracing-for-more-tariff-pain-but-they-re-sticking-with-trump-for-now/5cd9cdcf1ad2e544f001dcfd/, The Finance 202: Farmers are bracing for more tariff pain. But they’re sticking with Trump -- for now, May 14, 2019, The Washington Post, September 19, 2020, She said that Iowa farmers are “disappointed” but that they recognize “that China is the one that is forcing this.“WEB,politi.co/2vVtUMf, Republicans surrender to Trump’s China tariffs, Everett, Burgess, Levine, Marianne, POLITICO, en, May 13, 2019, 2019-05-18, In January 2018, Ernst was one of 36 Republican senators to sign a letter to Trump requesting he preserve and modernize the North American Free Trade Agreement.NEWS,thehill.com/policy/finance/371492-senate-republicans-call-on-trump-to-preserve-nafta/, Senate Republicans call on Trump to preserve NAFTA, Vicki, Needham, The Hill, January 30, 2018, September 19, 2020, In August 2018, she warned that failure to finish trade deals would “reflect negatively upon our Republican candidates” and advocated completing NAFTA and continuing to work with the European Union.NEWS,www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/tn-elections/2018/08/24/marsha-blackburn-campaign-sen-joni-ernst-us-trade-deals/1089708002/, At Blackburn event, U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst stresses trade deals need to be settled before November, Joel, Ebert, August 24, 2018, Tennessean.com, In 2019, Ernst accused House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of “slow-walking” the passage of the USMCA trade agreement but believed there was enough support to ratify it.NEWS,www.thegazette.com/subject/news/government/iowa-senators-joni-ernst-chuck-grassley-optimistic-north-american-trade-deal-united-states-mexico-canada-agreement-20190703, Iowa senators optimistic on North American trade deal, James Q., Lynch, July 3, 2019, The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa), The Gazette,

Personal life

In 1992, Ernst (then Joni Culver) married Gail Ernst.{{Citation|chapter=Shafter, William Rufus, (16 Oct. 1835–12 Nov. 1906), Major-General United States Volunteers; Brigadier-General, United States Army; retired as Major-General, 30 June 1901, by Act of Congress|date=December 1, 2007|publisher=Oxford University Press|doi=10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u190836|title=Who Was Who}} The Ernsts have one child. On August 27, 2018, Ernst announced that she and her husband were in the process of obtaining a divorce.WEB,www.rollcall.com/news/politics/joni-ernst-husband-divorce, Sen. Joni Ernst, Husband Divorcing, Katherine, Tully-McManus, August 28, 2018, Roll Call, September 19, 2020, In a sworn affidavit, Ernst said she had declined Trump’s offer to be his vice-presidential running mate because “it wasn’t the right thing for me or my family.“NEWS,www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jan/22/joni-ernst-donald-trump-vice-president-turned-down, Joni Ernst says she turned down chance to be Donald Trump’s vice-president, Ben, Jacobs, January 22, 2019, The Guardian, September 19, 2020, The divorce was finalized in January 2019, with Joni Ernst alleging that Gail had verbally and mentally abused her and on one occasion physically assaulted her. The Ernsts accused each other of infidelity; both denied the respective accusations.NEWS,www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2019/01/22/joni-ernst-gail-senator-iowa-ia-divorce-congress-politics-trump-republican-washington-des-moines/2637142002/, Divorce filing: U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst says her husband physically attacked her, Nozicka, Luke, January 22, 2019, Des Moines Register, January 22, 2019, Ta, Linh,archive.today/20190122182055/https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2019/01/22/joni-ernst-gail-senator-iowa-ia-divorce-congress-politics-trump-republican-washington-des-moines/2637142002/, January 22, 2019, live, In her first interview after her divorce, Ernst revealed that she had been raped in college.NEWS,www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-01-24/republican-senator-joni-ernst-says-she-was-raped-in-college, Republican Senator Joni Ernst Says She Was Raped in College, Jacobs, Jennifer, January 23, 2019, Bloomberg News,web.archive.org/web/20190124115554/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-01-24/republican-senator-joni-ernst-says-she-was-raped-in-college, January 24, 2019, live, Ernst is a lifetime member of the Montgomery County Republican Women, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2265, Montgomery County Court of Honor, Altrusa, PEO Chapter HB, the National Rifle Association of America,WEB,www.msnbc.com/msnbc/iowas-joni-ernst-gun-will-defend-me-if-government-doesnt, Iowa’s Joni Ernst: A gun will ‘defend’ me if government doesn’t, October 23, 2014, MSNBC, Richinick, Michele, September 19, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20141023145345/https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/iowas-joni-ernst-gun-will-defend-me-if-government-doesnt, October 23, 2014, live, and the Montgomery County Farm Bureau. Her church is Mamrelund Lutheran Church in Stanton, Iowa, of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) denomination.On June 13, 2018, federal judge Linda Reade sentenced Joseph Dierks, of Waterloo, Iowa, to six years in prison for threatening “to kill or otherwise harm” Ernst on Twitter. The sentence, which exceeds sentencing guidelines, was imposed on Dierks for disparaging comments he made about Reade and threats against the case prosecutor and his children, and against black corrections officers while awaiting trial.WEB, Threats to Joni Ernst lead to prison Waterloo man receives 6 years for tweets about U.S. senator,www.thegazette.com/crime-courts/threats-to-joni-ernst-lead-to-prison/, Trish, Mehaffey, The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa), The Gazette, 19 April 2020, As of 2018, according to OpenSecrets.org, Ernst’s net worth was negative, owing more than $196,000.WEB, Jodi Ernst - Net Worth - Personal Finances,www.opensecrets.org/personal-finances/net-worth?cid=N00035483&year=2018, OpenSecrets.org, 15 November 2021, In May 2020, she published her memoir, Daughter of the Heartland: My Ode to the Country That Raised Me.NEWS,www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2020/01/27/memoir-sen-joni-ernst-iowa-coming-out-may/4591558002/, Memoir by Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa coming out in May, Des Moines Register, January 27, 2020, Associated Press,

Electoral history

{{Election box begin no change |title=Iowa State Senate 12th district Republican primary, 2012WEB,sos.iowa.gov/elections/pdf/2012/primary/canvsummary.pdf, 2012 Primary Election Canvass Summary, Iowa Secretary of State, February 20, 2021, }}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | party = Republican Party (United States) | candidate = Joni Ernst | votes = 5,611 | percentage = 99.68%}}{{Election box write-in with party link no change | votes = 18 | percentage = 0.32%}}{{Election box total no change | votes = 5,629 | percentage = 100%}}{{Election box end}}{{Election box begin no change |title=Iowa State Senate 12th district general election, 2012WEB,sos.iowa.gov/elections/pdf/2012/general/canvsummary.pdf, 2012 General Election Canvass Summary, Iowa Secretary of State, February 20, 2021, }}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | party = Republican Party (United States) | candidate = Joni Ernst | votes = 22,205 | percentage = 99.06%}}{{Election box write-in with party link no change | votes = 210 | percentage = 0.93%}}{{Election box total no change | votes = 22,415 | percentage = 100%}}{{Election box end}}{{Election box begin no change |title=U.S. Senate Republican primary election in Iowa, 2014WEB,sos.iowa.gov/elections/pdf/2014/primary/canvsummary.pdf, 2014 Primary Election Canvass Summary, Iowa Secretary of State, February 20, 2021, }}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | party = Republican Party (United States) | candidate = Joni Ernst | votes = 88,535 | percentage = 56.12%}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = Republican Party (United States) | candidate = Sam Clovis | votes = 28,418 | percentage = 18.01%}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = Republican Party (United States) | candidate = Mark Jacobs | votes = 26,523 | percentage = 16.81%}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = Republican Party (United States) | candidate = Matt Whitaker | votes = 11,884 | percentage = 7.53%}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = Republican Party (United States) | candidate = Scott Schaben | votes = 2,233 | percentage = 1.42%}}{{Election box write-in with party link no change | votes = 155 | percentage = 0.10%}}{{Election box total no change | votes = 157,748 | percentage = 100%}}{{Election box end}}{{Election box begin no change |title=U.S. Senate general election in Iowa, 2014WEB,sos.iowa.gov/elections/pdf/2014/general/canvsummary.pdf, 2014 General Election Canvass Summary, Iowa Secretary of State, February 20, 2021, }}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | party = Republican Party (United States) | candidate = Joni Ernst | votes = 588,575 | percentage = 52.10%}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = Democratic Party (United States) | candidate = Bruce Braley | votes = 494,370 | percentage = 43.76%}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = independent (politician) | candidate = Rick Stewart | votes = 26,815 | percentage = 2.37%}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = Libertarian Party (United States) | candidate = Douglas Butzier | votes = 8,232 | percentage = 0.73%}}{{Election box candidate no change | party = Term Limits | candidate = Bob Quast | votes = 5,873 | percentage = 0.52%}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = independent (politician) | candidate = Ruth Smith | votes = 4,724 | percentage = 0.41%}}{{Election box write-in with party link no change | votes = 1,111 | percentage = 0.10%}}{{Election box total no change | votes = 1,129,700 | percentage = 100%}}{{Election box end}}{{Election box begin no change |title=U.S. Senate Republican primary election in Iowa, 2020WEB,sos.iowa.gov/elections/pdf/2020/primary/canvsummary.pdf, 2020 Primary Election Canvass Summary, Iowa Secretary of State, February 20, 2021, }}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | party = Republican Party (United States) | candidate = Joni Ernst (incumbent) | votes = 226,589 | percentage = 98.63%}}{{Election box write-in with party link no change | votes = 3,132 | percentage = 1.36%}}{{Election box total no change | votes = 229,721 | percentage = 100%}}{{Election box end}}{{Election box begin no change |title=U.S. Senate general election in Iowa, 2020WEB,sos.iowa.gov/elections/pdf/2020/general/canvsummary.pdf, 2020 General Election Canvass Summary, Iowa Secretary of State, February 20, 2021, }}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | party = Republican Party (United States) | candidate = Joni Ernst (incumbent) | votes = 864,997 | percentage = 51.74%}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = Democratic Party (United States) | candidate = Theresa Greenfield | votes = 754,859 | percentage = 45.15%}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = Libertarian Party (United States) | candidate = Rick Stewart | votes = 36,961 | percentage = 2.21%}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = independent (politician) | candidate = Suzanne Herzog | votes = 13,800 | percentage = 0.83%}}{{Election box write-in with party link no change | votes = 1,211 | percentage = 0.07%}}{{Election box total no change | votes = 1,671,828 | percentage = 100%}}{{Election box end}}

See also

• Women in the United States Senate

References

{{Reflist|30em}}

External links

{{Commons category}}

• Senator Joni Ernst {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219010504www.ernst.senate.gov/public/ |date=December 19, 2019 }} official U.S. Senate website
• Joni Ernst for U.S. Senate {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190605045547www.joniforiowa.com/ |date=June 5, 2019 }} campaign website
• {{Curlie|Regional/North_America/United_States/Iowa/Government/Federal/US_Senate/Joni_Ernst_%5BR%5D/}}
• {{CongLinks | congbio=E000295 | votesmart=128583 | fec=S4IA00129 | congress=joni-ernst/2283 }}
• {{C-SPAN|75342}}

(Class 2)|years=2014, 2020}}’’|years=since January 3, 2015}}{{US Senate leaders current}}{{US Senate chairs}}{{United States senators from Iowa}} {{IA-FedRep}}{{Current Iowa statewide political officials}}{{Current U.S. Senators}}{{USCongRep-start|congresses= 114th–present United States Congresses |state=Iowa}}{{USCongRep/IA/114}}{{USCongRep/IA/115}}{{USCongRep/IA/116}}{{USCongRep/IA/117}}{{USCongRep/IA/118}}{{USCongRep-end}}{{Iowa Women’s Hall of Fame}}{{authority control}}