Subscribe to download
Joni Ernst

Joni Kay Ernst (née Culver; born July 1, 1970) is an American politician and former military officer serving as the junior United States Senator for Iowa since 2015. A Republican, she served in the Iowa State Senate from 2011 to 2014. Ernst served in the Iowa Army National Guard from 1993 to 2015, retiring as a lieutenant colonel.

Ernst was considered a "long shot" at the start of her 2014 Senate campaign but was boosted by support from the Koch brothers and an ad that gained nationwide attention in which she referenced her experience castrating pigs, saying she would "cut pork" in Congress. 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.