Joni Ernst Biography Joni Kay Ernst born July 1, 1970 is an American politician and former military officer currently serving as the junior United States senator from Iowa, a position she has held since 2015. A member of the Republican Party, Ernst previously served in the Iowa State Senate from 2011 to 2014 and as Montgomery County Auditor from 2004 to 2011. Since 2023, she has been the Chair of the Senate Republican Policy Committee, following her tenure as vice chair of the Senate Republican Conference since 2019. Ernst ranks as the fourth-highest Republican in the Senate.
Joni Ernst Biography 2024
Joni Ernst is an American politician serving as the junior U.S. senator from Iowa since 2015. Elected as a Republican in 2014, she became the first female combat veteran to serve in the Senate and the first woman to represent Iowa in Congress. Raised on a farm near Red Oak, Ernst was valedictorian of her high school class and later earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Iowa State University in 1992. During her time at Iowa State, she joined the university’s Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program. That same year, she married Gail Ernst, an Army officer, and the couple later had a daughter. After graduation, Ernst joined the U.S. Army Reserves and served as a company commander in Kuwait and Iraq during the Iraq War (2003-04). She eventually attained the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Iowa Army National Guard.
Joni Ernst Biography 2024 Details
| Born | Joni Kay Culver July 1, 1970 (age 54)
Red Oak, Iowa, U.S. |
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| Political party | Republican |
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| Spouse | |
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| Children | 1 |
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| Education | - Iowa State University (BA)
- Columbus State Univ. (MPA)
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| Category | Politician Biography |
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Joni Ernst Latest News
Joni Ernst recently proposed a series of ideas to cut government spending, presenting them to the Trump team this weekend. Ernst, who chairs the newly formed government efficiency caucus in the Senate, delivered a letter outlining her proposals to President-elect Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. She also shared copies of the letter with Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, two Trump allies tasked with reducing government expenditures through the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). In her letter, Ernst highlighted the difficulties in reaching a consensus on budget cuts in Congress, writing.
She argued that the myth of Washington’s budget cuts causing unnecessary pain is precisely that—a myth. Although the Department of Government Efficiency is not a formally established federal agency, as Congress has yet to approve or fund it, the proposal is part of a broader push to curtail government spending. Ernst’s ideas include eliminating the production of pennies and nickels and reducing overpayments for goods purchased by the Pentagon.
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About Joni Ernst
Joni Kay Ernst is an American former military officer and politician serving as the junior United States senator from Iowa since 2015. 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.
- Born: 1 July 1970 (age 54 years), Red Oak, Iowa, United States
- Office: Senator (R-IA) since 2015
- Spouse: Gail Ernst (m. 1992–2019)
- Previous offices: Member of the Iowa Senate (2013–2014), Member of the Iowa Senate (2011–2013)
- Children: Libby Ernst
- Education: Columbus State University (1995), Iowa State University (1992)
- Parents: Richard Culver, Marilyn Culver
Early Life and Career
Ernst was born Joni Kay Culver in Montgomery County, Iowa, to Marilyn and Richard Culver. She graduated as valedictorian from Stanton Community School District High School and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Iowa State University in 1992, followed by a Master of Public Administration degree from Columbus State University in 1995. During college, she participated in an agricultural exchange program to the Soviet Union.
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Military Career
At the age of 20, Ernst joined Iowa State University’s ROTC program and later enlisted in the United States Army Reserve. She served as a logistics officer and achieved the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Iowa National Guard. Between 2003 and 2004, Ernst spent 12 months in Kuwait, commanding the 1168th Transportation Company during the Iraq War. In her later career, she commanded the 185th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion at Camp Dodge, Iowa’s largest National Guard battalion. Ernst retired from the military in 2015 after serving 23 years in the Army Reserve and National Guard. Her awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, and Global War on Terrorism medals.
Who is Joni Ernst
Joni Ernst, born on July 1, 1970, in Red Oak, Iowa, is an American politician currently serving as the junior United States Senator from Iowa, a position she has held since 2015. A member of the Republican Party, Ernst made history as the first female combat veteran to be elected to the U.S. Senate. Prior to her Senate career, she served in the Iowa State Senate and as the Montgomery County Auditor. Ernst served over 23 years in the Iowa Army National Guard, retiring with the rank of lieutenant colonel. Her career in agriculture, military service, and local government played a significant role in shaping her political path.
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Joni Ernst Net Worth
Joni Ernst’s net worth was reported at approximately -$196,984, according to OpenSecrets. However, based on her 2023 financial disclosure report, her net worth is estimated to range between -$156,963 and $544,999. Estimating a lawmaker’s net worth is complex, as financial disclosure forms do not require exact values. Instead, assets and liabilities are reported within specified ranges, and certain items, such as personal residences and federal retirement accounts, are often not disclosed. For instance, some large assets are listed in broad categories like “Over $1 million” or “Over $50 million,” potentially obscuring their actual worth. Moreover, lawmakers earn an annual salary of $174,000, but this figure is not always fully detailed in reports.
How Joni Ernst Made Her Money
Ernst’s primary income source is her salary as a U.S. Senator, which is $174,000 annually. She also generates an additional $100,000 in income through various bonuses and expenses, according to Married Celeb. Before entering the Senate, Ernst earned income through her roles in local government and the military. She also receives a military pension as part of her retirement from the Iowa Army National Guard. Additionally, Ernst’s financial background is connected to her family’s farming heritage. Over a period of 20 years, various family members—including her father, brother, and great-grandfather—received a total of $460,000 in agricultural subsidies. It is important to note that this amount is an aggregate of subsidies received by family members, not payments made directly to Ernst herself.
