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{{Infobox Officeholder
|name         = Joni Ernst
|image        = Joni Ernst - Official Portrait - 84th GA.jpg
|state_senate = Iowa
|district     = 12th
|term_start   = January 5, 2011
|term_end     = 
|predecessor  = [[Kim Reynolds]]
(contracted; show full)enate race|url=http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2013/07/10/republican-joni-ernst-joins-u-s-senate-race/article|accessdate=14 July 2014|publisher=Des Moines Register|date=7-10-2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Jacobs|first1=Jennifer|title=Ernst mobilizes to crash Washington's 'boys club'|url=http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2014/05/30/ernst-mobilizes-crash-washington-boys-club/9754995/|accessdate=14 July 2014|publisher=Des Moines Register|date=
5-29-20142014-05-29}}</ref>

===Iowa State Senate===
Ernst was elected the [[Montgomery County, Iowa|Montgomery County]] Auditor in 2004 and re-elected in 2008.<ref name=20101118IR /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.omaha.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130710/NEWS/307109852|title=Iowa GOP lawmaker Joni Ernst enters 2014 Senate race|publisher=omaha.com|date=July 10, 2013|accessdate=April 24, 2014}}</ref>  

Ernst was elected to the [[Iowa Senate|Iowa State Senate]] in a special election in 2011 and re-elected in 2012. She represents District 12, which serves the southwest part of the state.<ref name="JoniErnst"/><ref name="votesmart"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=128583|title=Senator Joni Ernst (IA)|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=March 3, 2011}}</ref><ref name="JoniErnstBio">[http://www.joniforiowa.com/bio/ ABOUT JONI], ''Joni Ernst for Iowa''</ref>

====Committees====
Ernst serves on the following Iowa State Senate committees:<ref>{{cite web|title=Senator Joni K. Ernst|url=https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislators/legislator?ga=85&personID=9761|publisher=Iowa Legislature|accessdate=24 July 2014}}</ref>
*Education (Ranking Member) 
*Appropriations 
*Health and Human Services 
*Rules and Administration 
*Veterans Affairs

==Political positions==
⏎
⏎
=== Nullification and States rights ===
In January 2011, Ernts co-sponsored a resolution claiming Iowa's sovereignty over mandates imposed by the federal government that "are directly in violation of the [[Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution|Tenth Amendment]]."<ref name=HuffPo072904>{{cite web|last1=Bobic|first1=Igor|title=Joni Ernst Has A History Of Advocating Nullification Of Federal Laws|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/29/joni-ernst-nullification_n_5631097.htm(contracted; show full)

=== Taxes ===
During the 2013 legislative session, Ernst worked on legislation which reduced property taxes in Iowa.<ref>{{cite news |date=November 27, 2013 |url=http://www.newtondailynews.com/2013/11/26/ernst-payton-speak-at-local-gop-meeting/a8bhvwe/ |title=Ernst, Payton speak at local GOP meeting |publisher=Newton Daily News |accessdate=April 10, 2014
|}}</ref> She has also received an "A" rating from the [[National Rifle Association]] for her support of gun-rights issues.<ref>{{cite news |date=March 26, 2014 |url=http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20140326/NEWS09/303260074/Sarah-Palin-endorses-Joni-Ernst-in-Iowa-U-S-Senate-race |title=Sirens sound across Iowa as Sarah Palin endorses Joni Ernst |publisher=The Des Moines Register |accessdate=April 16, 2014}}</ref>

=== Federal Budget ===
(contracted; show full)7;</ref> In March the Ernst campaign was endorsed by [[Mitt Romney]], a former Governor of [[Massachusetts]] and then by [[Sarah Palin]], a former Governor of [[List of Governors of Alaska|Alaska]].<ref>Joseph, Cameron. [http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/senate-races/201798-palin-endorses-joni-ernst-in-iowa Palin endorses Joni Ernst in Iowa Senate race], ''[[Politico]]'', March 26, 2014.</ref>  In May 2014, Ernst was endorsed by the [[US Chamber of Commerce]].<ref
 name=focused /><ref>{{cite news |title=National business group picks Joni Ernst over GOP rivals in Iowa U.S. Senate race |url=http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/elections/2014/05/13/joni-ernst-chamber-endorsement/9001911/ |accessdate=May 13, 2014 |newspaper=Des Moines Register |date=May 13, 2014}}</ref><ref name=focused /><ref>{{cite news |title=Joni Ernst Keeps Up Momentum With Ad Support From Chamber of Commerce |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/27/joni-ernst-chamber-of-commerce_n_5400264.html |accessdate=June 2, 2014 |publisher=Huffington Post |date=May 27, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=The magic number for the Republican Party on Tuesday is 35 percent. And Joni Ernst is right there |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/06/02/the-magic-number-for-the-republican-party-on-t(contracted; show full)t-s-hog-castration-ad |accessdate=April 19, 2014 |newspaper=Des Moines Register |date=March 25, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Colbert: I'm pulling for Joni Ernst 'whole hog, or whatever's left' |url=http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2014/03/27/colbert-im-pulling-for-joni-ernst-whole-hog-or-whatevers-left/6955697/ |accessdate=April 15, 2014 |newspaper=Des Moines Register |date=March 27, 2014}}</ref> while some found it to be in bad taste.<ref
 name=hogs>{{cite news |title=How Joni Ernst 'C’s ad about ‘castrating Hhogs' Ad: Republican Iowa Senate Candidate Stirs Controversy With Offbeat Campaign Spot [VIDEO] |url=http://www.ibtimes.com/joni-erns’ transformed Iowa’s U.S. Senate race |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/how-joni-ernsts-ad-about-castrating-hogs-ad-republicantransformed-iowas-us-senate-candidate-stirs-controversy-offbeat-campaignrace/2014/05/11/c02d1804-d85b-11e3-95d3-3bcd77cd4e11_story.html |accessdate=AprilMay 15, 2014 |newspaper=International Business TimesThe Washington Post |date=March 25y 12, 2014}}</ref><ref name=hogs>{{cite news |title=How Joni Ernst’s ad about ‘c 'Castrating hHogs’ transformed Iowa’s U.S. Senate race |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/how-joni-ernsts-ad-abou' Ad: Republican Iowa Senate Candidate Stirs Controversy With Offbeat Campaign Spot [VIDEO] |url=http://www.ibtimes.com/joni-ernst-castrating-hogs-transformedad-republican-iowas-us-senate-race/2014/05/11/c02d1804-d85b-11e3-95d3-3bcd77cd4e11_story.htmlcandidate-stirs-controversy-offbeat-campaign |accessdate=MayApril 15, 2014 |newspaper=The Washington PostInternational Business Times |date=May 12rch 25, 2014}}</ref> Before the ad aired, Ernst had struggled in fundraising,<ref>{{cite news |title=Sarah Palin endorses "hog castrator" Jodi Ernst in Iowa Senate race |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/sarah-palin-endorses-hog-castrator-jodi-ernst-in-iowa-senate-race/ |accessdate=April 20, 2014 |newspaper=CBS News |date=March 26, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=The Fix’s fourth-quarter fundraising winners and losers |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/02/03/the-fixs-fourth-quarter-fundraising-winners-and-losers/ |accessdate=April 20, 2014 |newspaper=CBS News |date=February 3, 2014}}</ref> and two polls of the Republican primary taken in February 2014 had shown her in second place, several points behind opponent Mark Jacobs.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sarah Palin endorses ‘pork-cutting’ Joni Ernst in Iowa |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2014/03/sarah-palin-endorses-joni-ernst-iowa-105059.html |accessdate=April 17, 2014 |newspaper=Politico |date=March 26, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Ernst Aims to Be Iowa's First Female Senator |url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2014/03/09/ernst_aims_to_be_iowas_first_female_senator_121849.html |accessdate=April 18, 2014 |newspaper=RealClearPolitics |date=March 9, 2014}}</ref> 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.<ref name=hogs/><ref>{{cite news |title=Ernst Narrowly Leads GOP Field in Iowa Senate Race |url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2014/04/09/ernst_narrowly_leads_gop_field_in_iowa_senate_race_122223.html |accessdate=April 9, 2014 |newspaper=RealClearPolitics |date=April 9, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Poll: Joni Ernst Takes Lead in Iowa GOP Senate Primary |url=http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/poll-joni-ernst-takes-lead-iowa-gop-senate-primary_786717.html |accessdate=April 17, 2014 |newspaper=Weekly Standard |date=April 9, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Jacobs, Ernst tied in inaugural Loras Poll |url=http://www.thonline.com/blogs/tri_state_politics/article_a13f2644-c3f2-11e3-a183-001a4bcf6878.html |accessdate=April 17, 2014 |newspaper=TH Online |date=April 14, 2014}}</ref><ref name=hogs/> By May, she was being described by the media as the "strong front-runner".<ref name=focused/>

In an interview with the ''[[Des Moines Register]]'' on May 9, 2014, Ernst said she was "extremely offended" by comments made by Republican opponent Mark Jacobs in which she was characterized as [[AWOL]] due to missing over 100 votes in the legislative session ending April 7, 2014. Ernst stated: "That term is very degrading in the military. I have never been AWOL(contracted; show full)sher=The Gazette |date=April 14, 2014 |accessdate=April 15, 2014}}</ref> 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 percent of the Iowa Senate votes that session.  Ernst's spokesman said that she has had a better than 90 percent voting record during her career in the Senate and that she has not claimed guard service was the only reason she's missed votes this session.<ref
 name="gazette20140414"/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://thegazette.com/2014/03/05/iowa-sen-ernst-juggles-busy-schedule-with-senate-work/ |title=Iowa Sen. Ernst juggles busy schedule with Senate work |publisher=The Gazette |date=April 1, 2014 |accessdate=April 15, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://thegazette.com/subject/news/government/iowa/legislature/few-of-ernsts-missed-iowa-senate-votes-due-to-national-guard-duty-20140414 |title=Few of Ernst’s missed Iowa Senate votes due to National Guard Duty |publisher=The Gazette |date=April 14, 2014 |accessdate=April 15, 2014}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Ernst resides in [[Red Oak, Iowa]] with her husband, Gail, a [[Command Sergeant Major]] in the [[United States Army Rangers|Army Rangers]] (retired) and their daughter, Libby.<ref name=20140616DK/><ref name="JoniErnstBio"/>

(contracted; show full)[[Category:Iowa Republicans]]
[[Category:Iowa State Senators]]
[[Category:Iowa State University alumni]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Montgomery County, Iowa]]
[[Category:United States Army reservists]]
[[Category:Women in the United States Army]]
[[Category:Women state legislators in Iowa]]