Changes

|image=Joni Ernst Official photo portrait 114th Congress.jpg

|image=Joni Ernst Official photo portrait 114th Congress.jpg

|party=[[Republican]]

|party=[[Republican]]

|spouse=Gail<ref name=Iowaleg>[http://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislators/legislator?ga=85&personID=9761 "Senator Joni K. Ernst"] (2015).  The Iowa Legislature website.  Retrieved on January 16, 2014.</ref>

|spouse=Gail Ernst<ref name=Iowaleg>[http://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislators/legislator?ga=85&personID=9761 "Senator Joni K. Ernst"] (2015).  The Iowa Legislature website.  Retrieved on January 16, 2014.</ref> (div.)<ref>[https://heavy.com/news/2018/08/gail-ernst-joni-ernst/ Gail Ernst, Joni Ernst’s Ex-Husband: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know]</ref>

|religion=[[Lutheran]]<ref name=Iowaleg/>

|religion=[[Lutheran]]<ref name=Iowaleg/>

|offices=

|offices=

{{Officeholder/senator

{{Officeholder/senator

|state=Iowa

|state=Iowa

|terms=January 3, 2015-present

|terms=January 3, 2015 – present

|preceded=[[Tom Harkin]]

|preceded=[[Tom Harkin]]

|former=n

|former=n

|succeeded=Incumbent

|succeeded=Incumbent

}}

}}

}}

}}

'''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.

'''Joni Kay Ernst''' is a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] U.S. Senator from [[Iowa]] who was elected in 2014.

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 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 has vocally opposed wasteful U.S. federal spending.<ref>Varney, James (September 22, 2019). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/sep/22/joni-ernst-end-year-fiscal-responsibility-act-stop/ Joni Ernst aims to change fed's 'spend it while you have it' mentality]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved September 22, 2019.</ref>

Ernst served as auditor of Montgomery County, Iowa from 2005 to 2011. She was later elected to the 84th and 85th general assembly of the Iowa legislature, (January 2011 to January 2015) her second term as a state senator from District 12, representing six counties in the southwest corner of Iowa.<ref name=Iowaleg/>

==Background==

===U.S. Senate===

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 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 was later chosen to give the rebuttal to the president [[Barack Obama]]'s State of the Union address in 2015.

Ernst has vocally opposed wasteful U.S. federal spending.<ref>Varney, James (September 22, 2019). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/sep/22/joni-ernst-end-year-fiscal-responsibility-act-stop/ Joni Ernst aims to change fed's 'spend it while you have it' mentality]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved September 22, 2019.</ref>

 

Ernst was elected to the 84th and 85th general assembly of the Iowa legislature, January 2011 to January 2015) her second term as a state senator from District 12, representing six counties in the southwest corner of Iowa.<ref name=Iowaleg/>

 

She campaigned in the Republican U.S. Senate primary with the claim "I'll know how to cut pork".<ref>Strong, Jonathan (March 24, 2014). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2014/03/24/ia-candidate-touts-hog-castrating-experience-for-cutting-pork-barrel-spending/ "Senate candidate:  I'll use my hog castrating experience to help end pork barrel spending"]. Breitbart. Retrieved on January 16, 2014</ref>

==References==

==References==

{{Reflist}}

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[[Category:114th United States Congress]]

[[Category:114th United States Congress]]

[[Category:United States Army]]

[[Category:United States Army]]

[[Category:Iowa]]

[[Category:Iowa]]

[[Category:Republicans]]

[[Category:Republicans]]

[[Category:Conservatives]]

[[Category:Conservatives]]