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'''Senator Joni K. Ernst''' is the junior Republican U.S. senator from Iowa who was elected in 2014.  She was chosen to give the rebuttal to the president's State of the Union address in 2015.

'''Senator Joni K. Ernst''' is a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] U.S. Senator from [[Iowa]] who was elected in 2014.  She was chosen to give the rebuttal to the president [[Barack Obama]]'s State of the Union address in 2015.

Ernst received 52% of the vote in November 2014, while her Democratic opponent received only 44%. In her victory, she swept 85 of Iowa's 99 counties.<ref>Pate, Paul D. [Iowa Secretary of State] (December 29, 2014). [http://electionresults.sos.iowa.gov/Views/TabularData.aspx?TabView=StateRaces^Federal%20/%20Statewide%20Races^84&ElectionID=84 "November 4, 2014 general election"]. Iowa Secretary of State website. Retrieved on January 15, 2015.</ref>

Ernst received 52% of the vote in November 2014, while her Democratic opponent received only 44%. In her victory, she swept 85 of Iowa's 99 counties.<ref>Pate, Paul D. [Iowa Secretary of State] (December 29, 2014). [http://electionresults.sos.iowa.gov/Views/TabularData.aspx?TabView=StateRaces^Federal%20/%20Statewide%20Races^84&ElectionID=84 "November 4, 2014 general election"]. ''Iowa Secretary of State website.'' Retrieved on January 15, 2015.</ref>

She joins the Iowa U. S. Congressional delegation consisting of two Republican U. S. senators and four House members, three of whom are Republicans and one a Democrat.<ref>[http://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/IA "Iowa"] (2015).  Govtrack.us.  Retrieved on January 15, 2015.</ref>

She joined the Iowa U. S. Congressional delegation consisting of two Republican U. S. senators and four House members, three of whom are Republicans and one a Democrat.<ref>[http://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/IA "Iowa"] (2015).  Govtrack.us.  Retrieved on January 15, 2015.</ref>

==Background==

==Background==

Ernst saw combat as a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003-2004) and served in the Iowa Army National Guard as well as the U. S. Army Reserves where she rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel.<ref>Twitchy staff (January 15, 2015). [http://twitchy.com/2015/01/15/jackass-luke-russert-writes-off-combat-vet-joni-ernst-as-unknown-pig-farmer/ 'Jackass':  Luke Russert writes off combat vet Joni Ernst as 'unknown pig farmer'].  Twitchy.  Retrieved on January 16, 2015.</ref>

Ernst saw combat as a veteran of [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]] (2003-2004) and served in the Iowa Army National Guard as well as the U.S. Army Reserves where she rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel.<ref>Twitchy staff (January 15, 2015). [http://twitchy.com/2015/01/15/jackass-luke-russert-writes-off-combat-vet-joni-ernst-as-unknown-pig-farmer/ 'Jackass':  Luke Russert writes off combat vet Joni Ernst as 'unknown pig farmer'].  Twitchy.  Retrieved on January 16, 2015.</ref>

She served as auditor of Montgomery County, Iowa from 2005 to 2011.

She served as auditor of Montgomery County, Iowa from 2005 to 2011.