Joni Ernst" on dewiki

{{pp-dispute|expiry=23 August 2014|small=yes}}
{{POV|date=August 2014}}
{{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]]
|successor    = 
|birthname    = Joni Kay Culver
|birth_date   = {{birth date and age|1970|7|1}}
|birth_place  = [[Red Oak, Iowa|Red Oak]], [[Iowa]], [[United States|U.S.]]
|death_date   = 
|death_place  = 
|party        = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|spouse       = Gail Ernst
|alma_mater   = [[Iowa State University]]<br>[[Columbus State University]]
|religion     = [[Evangelical Lutheran Church in America|Lutheranism]]
|website      = [http://www.joniforiowa.com Campaign website]
}}
'''Joni Ernst''' (born July 1, 1970) is an American politician who serves as a [[Republican Party of Iowa|Republican]] member of the [[Iowa Senate]] and as a [[Lieutenant colonel (United States)|Lieutenant Colonel]] in the [[Iowa Army National Guard]]. She is the Republican nominee for the [[United States Senate election in Iowa, 2014|United States Senate election in Iowa]] in the 2014.<ref>{{cite web|title=Joni Ernst wins Iowa GOP U.S. Senate race|url=http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/elections/2014/06/03/joni-ernst-victory/9939911/|publisher=The Des Moines Register|accessdate=4 June 2014}}</ref>

==Early life and career==
Ernst is the daughter of Richard and Marilyn Culver.<ref name=20140616DK>
{{cite news
 |url=http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/06/16/1307297/-Does-Joni-Ernst-Support-Traditional-Divorce
 |title=Does Joni Ernst Support Traditional Divorce?
 |author=pseudonymous
 |date=June 16, 2014
 |publisher=[[Daily Kos]]
 |accessdate=2014-07-13
}}</ref>
Born and raised in [[Montgomery County, Iowa]], she was [[valedictorian]] of her class at Stanton High School.<ref name=PlazaOfHeroines>
{{cite web
 |url=http://www.las.iastate.edu/archive/plaza/one_name.php?id=378
 |title=Joni Kay Ernst
 |author=Gail Ernst
 |date=May 16, 1994
 |accessdate=2014-07-13
}}</ref>
Ernst earned a Bachelor of Science degree from [[Iowa State University]] and a [[Master of Public Administration]] degree from [[Columbus College]].<ref name="PlazaOfHeroines"/><ref name=20101118IR>
{{cite news
 |url=http://theiowarepublican.com/2010/joni-ernst-announces-bid-for-kim-reynolds-iowa-senate-seat/
 |title=Joni Ernst Announces bid for Kim Reynolds Iowa Senate Seat
 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->
 |date=November 18, 2010
 |newspaper=The Iowa Republican
 |publisher=[[Washington Post]]
 |accessdate=2014-07-13
}}</ref> While in college, Ernst took part in an agricultural exchange to the Soviet Union.<ref name=cbs/>

===Military career===
Ernst has served a combined 21 years in the [[United States Army Reserves]] and the [[Iowa Army National Guard]]. She spent 14 months mobilized and overseas in [[Kuwait]] from 2003-2004 as a company commander at the start of [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]].<ref name=20101118IR /><ref name="JoniErnst">
{{cite web
 |url=https://www.legis.iowa.gov/Legislators/legislator.aspx?GA=85&PID=11232
 |title=The Iowa Legislature: Senator Joni Ernst
 |accessdate=May 6, 2013
}}</ref><ref name="votesmart">
{{cite web
 |url=http://www.joniernst.com/
 |title=Joni Ernst: Iowa Senate
 |accessdate=March 3, 2011
}}</ref>
Her unit was responsible for running logistical convoys in Kuwait and into southern Iraq. A Lieutenant Colonel, Ernst currently commands the largest battalion in the [[Iowa Army National Guard]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Jacobs|first1=Jennifer|title=Republican Joni Ernst joins U.S. Senate 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=2014-05-29}}</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==

===Economic issues===
Ernst supports replacing the [[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]] with "free market alternatives".<ref name=demoines2405098/>

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 supports a "fairer, flatter, and simpler" federal tax code.<ref name=demoines2405098/>

In a May 2014 interview with ''[[The Des Moines Register]]'', Ernst expressed her support for a constitutional amendment requiring a balanced federal budget, as well as a reduction in spending on [[entitlement programs]] and discretionary spending.<ref name=demoines2405098/>  She has also expressed support for a [[Social Security debate in the United States|partial privatization of Social Security accounts]] for young workers.<ref name=focused/>

Ernst has stated that she opposes a [[Minimum wage in the United States#Federal minimum wage|federal minimum wage]] and that the minimum wage should be set at the state level. She opposed a state-level minimum wage increase.<ref name=focused/>  In response to a report by the Congressional Budget Office report of January 2014 which projected that increasing the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour would cost 500,000 jobs, but would lift 900,000 people out of poverty, Ernst stated that "government and government-mandated wage increases are not the solution — especially when doing so comes at the expense of the jobs of hard working Americans."<ref>{{cite web|last1=Tibbetts|first1=Ed|title=Report: Minimum wage boost would cost jobs, lower poverty|url=http://qctimes.com/news/local/government-and-politics/report-minimum-wage-boost-would-cost-jobs-lower-poverty/article_76d256ab-f8f4-5889-a67a-822892bd14ca.html|publisher=The Quad-City Times|accessdate=12 August 2014}}</ref>

===Environmental issues===
Ernst has expressed her opposition to [[Emissions trading|cap-and-trade]] and federal involvement in education.<ref name=demoines2405098/>  In March 2011, Ernst co-sponsored another resolution, urging  “nullification” of [[Environmental Protection Agency|EPA]] rules "relating to national emissions standards for hazardous air pollutants for reciprocating internal combustion engines."<ref name=HuffPo072904/><ref>{{cite web|title=Senate Resolution SR7|url=http://coolice.legis.iowa.gov/Cool-ICE/default.asp?Category=billinfo&Service=Billbook&ga=84&hbill=SR7|publisher=The Iowa Legislature|accessdate=30 July 2014}}</ref> 
Ernst also criticized the EPA’s proposals to define waterways in the context of the [[Clean Water Act]], and has proposed to eliminate the EPA.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ernst takes on EPA Clean Water Act plan|url=http://siouxcityjournal.com/business/agriculture/ernst-takes-on-epa-clean-water-act-plan/article_d09771f0-7541-5ba9-92b9-0b0c40804f45.html|publisher=Sioux City Journal|accessdate=29 August 2014}}</ref>

An article in ''Yahoo News'' reported that at a January 2014 GOP forum in [[Montgomery County, Iowa]], Ernst warned that [[Agenda 21]], the U.N.'s 1992 voluntary action plan for sustainable development, could force Iowa farmers off their land, dictate what cities Iowans must live in, and control how Iowa citizens travel from place to place.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Shiner|first1=Meredith|title=Will Joni Ernst’s flirtations with the political fringe haunt her in November?|url=http://news.yahoo.com/will-joni-ernst-s-flirtations-with-the-political-fringe-haunt-her-in-november-223054974.html?soc_src=mediacontentstory|publisher=Yahoo News|accessdate=13 August 2014}}</ref>

In a Republican primary debate in May 2014, Ernst said she would have voted against the [[Agricultural Act of 2014|2014 U.S. Farm Bill]] and stated her view that the [[Clean Water Act]] is damaging for business.<ref name=focused>{{cite web |title=Joni Ernst focused on primary in final Iowa debate |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2014/05/joni-ernst-election-iowa-debate-107237.html |publisher=Politico |date=May 29, 2014 |accessdate=June 2, 2014 |author=James Hohmann}}</ref>

===Constitutional and federal issues===
Ernst has expressed her support for allowing law-abiding citizens to "freely carry" weapons but abide by rules against carrying in public buildings like schools.<ref name=demoines2405098/>  In February 2013, Ernst co-sponsored a resolution addressing “the Iowa General Assembly's refusal to recognize or support any statutes, presidential directives, or other regulations and proclamations which conflict with the Second Amendment of the Constitution of the United States and which are expressly preempted by the rulings of the United States Supreme Court”.<ref name=HuffPo072904/><ref>{{cite web|title=Senate Joint Resolution SJR7|url=http://coolice.legis.iowa.gov/Cool-ICE/default.asp?Category=billinfo&Service=Billbook&ga=85&hbill=SJR7|publisher=The Ioaw Legislature|accessdate=30 July 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>

In January 2011, Ernst co-sponsored a resolution saying 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.html?utm_hp_ref=politics|publisher=The Huffington Post|accessdate=30 July 2014|date=29 July 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Senate Resolution SC3|url=http://coolice.legis.iowa.gov/Cool-ICE/default.asp?Category=billinfo&Service=Billbook&ga=84&hbill=SCR3|publisher=The Iowa Legislature|accessdate=30 July 2014}}</ref>

In a September 2013 forum held by the [[Faith and Freedom Coalition|Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition]], Ernst said Congress shouldn't bother to pass laws "that the states would consider nullifying”, referring to what she describes as "200-plus years of federal legislators going against the Tenth Amendment's states' rights."<ref name=UPI20140728>{{cite web|last1=Levy|first1=Gabrielle|title=Iowa GOP nominee says states can nullify federal laws|url=http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2014/07/28/Iowa-GOP-nominee-says-states-can-nullify-federal-laws/4451406582369/#ixzz38oOQmF00|publisher=UPI|accessdate=29 July 2014|date=28 July 2014}}</ref>

When asked at a [[Montgomery County, Iowa]] candidate forum  in January 2014, about the Supreme Court case about the constitutionality of Obama's recess appointments, she said that if he acted unconstitutionally, he should face the proper repercussions as determined by Congress, "whether that's removal from office, whether that's impeachment." When the tape of that event was published in August 2014 by Yahoo News, her spokeswoman said that "If any president oversteps their bounds, there are procedures in place for Congress and the American people to hold him or her accountable. Impeachment is a strong word and should not be thrown around lightly.”<ref>{{cite web|last1=Shinner|first1=Meredith|title=Joni Ernst: ‘Impeachment’ of Obama should be on the table|url=http://news.yahoo.com/joni-ernst---impeachment--of-obama-should-be-on-the-table-204439051.html|publisher=Yahoo News|accessdate=16 August 2014}}</ref>

When asked in an TV interview about how to balance the U.S. budget, Ernst said that she would eliminate the [[Internal Revenue Service|IRS]], the [[United States Department of Education|Department of Education]] and the EPA. On closing the Department of Education she said, “[a]nd not just because it would save taxpayer dollars, but because I do believe our children are better educated when it’s coming from the state."<ref>{{cite web|title=Ernst calls for elimination of IRS, Dept. of Education and EPA|url=http://www.iptv.org/iowapress/story.cfm/story/11721/ip_20140424_4131_ernst_cutting_spending|publisher=Iowa Public Television|accessdate=29 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Does Joni Ernst want to abolish the Education Department and the EPA?|url=http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2014/jun/27/league-conservation-voters/does-joni-ernst-want-abolish-education-department-/|publisher=Tampa Bay Times Politifact}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Iowa Press Debate: U.S. Senate Republican Primary|url=http://www.iptv.org/iowapress/episode.cfm/4131|accessdate=29 August 2014|quote=Ernst: I do believe that we can make the cuts necessary within our federal government to find a way to fund our roads and infrastructure. We have already talked about closing the door to the IRS. I think that would be a wonderful start. Let's close the door, let's scrap the tax code and, again, let's find something that is fairer, flatter and simpler. But then there's other departments that we could be looking at also and I've talked about these before. But closing the doors to the Department of Education at the federal level and not just because it would save taxpayer dollars but because I do believe that our children are better educated when it's coming from the state and the localities. I do believe that we should do that.}}</ref>

In the final Iowa primary debate in May 2014, Ernst said that she would vote for a federal constitutional amendment to ban [[same-sex marriage]], and declared her opposition to [[Immigration reform|amnesty]] for immigrants.<ref>{{cite web|title=Joni Ernst focused on primary in final Iowa debate|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2014/05/joni-ernst-election-iowa-debate-107237.html#ixzz3BnUQimgH|publisher=Politico|accessdate=29 August 2014}}</ref>

===Foreign policy===
Regarding the [[Iraq War]] and [[Iraq and weapons of mass destruction|weapons of mass destruction]], Ernst stated: "We don't know that there were weapons on the ground when we went in, however, I do have reason to believe there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. That was the intelligence that was operated on. I have reason to believe there was weapons of mass destruction. My husband served in Saudi Arabia as an Army Central Command sergeant major for a year and that's a hot-button topic in that area."<ref name=demoines2405098/> After criticism from Iowa Democrats and some commentators,<ref name=hogs/><ref>{{cite web |title=The Iowa Republican Senator-to-Be Who Thinks Iraq Had WMD |url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2014/05/12/the_iowa_republican_senator_to_be_who_thinks_iraq_had_wmd.html |publisher=Slate |date=May 12, 2014 |accessdate=May 14, 2014 |author=[[David Weigel]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Iowa Republican still believes Iraq had WMDs |url=http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/senate-races/205872-ernst-still-believes-iraq-had-wmds |publisher=The Hill |date=May 12, 2014 |accessdate=May 14, 2014 |author=Cameron Joseph}}</ref> Ernst then issued a clarifying statement in which she stated that she did not mean to suggest that Iraq had WMD at the time of invasion, but rather that Iraq had had WMDs in their past which they used, and that her point was that "we don't know exactly what happened to those weapons".<ref>{{cite web |title=Ernst seeks to clarify remark on Iraq WMDs |url=http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/elections/2014/05/12/joni-ernst-wmd/9003823/ |publisher=Des Moines Register |date=May 13, 2014 |accessdate=May 15, 2014 |author=Jennifer Jacobs}}</ref>

When asked whether she supports the limited airstrikes conducted in Iraq in August 2014, Ernst said:  "What I can say is what I would have supported is leaving additional troops in Iraq longer and perhaps we wouldn't have this situation today".<ref>{{cite web|last1=Zeleny|first1=Jeff|title=Joni Ernst, From Obscure Iowa Legislator to Potential Role Model for Future GOP Candidates|url=http://news.yahoo.com/joni-ernst-obscure-iowa-legislator-potential-role-model-233337432--abc-news-politics.html|publisher=ABC News}}</ref>

In an interview with ''[[Time Magazine]]'', Ernst said that she was sexually harassed in the military, stating that “I had comments, passes, things like that” which she was able to stop, and said she will support removing sexual assault cases from the chain of command.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Newton-Small|first1=Jay|title=Ernst Says She Was Sexually Harassed in the Military|url=http://time.com/3119176/ernst-says-she-was-sexually-harassed-in-the-military/|publisher=TIME|accessdate=17 August 2014}}</ref>

===Social issues===
Ernst has said she believes same-sex marriage is a "state issue". She co-sponsored a failed bill to amend the Iowa constitution to have marriage legally defined as between one man and one woman.<ref name=focused/><ref name=IowaSenate>[http://coolice.legis.iowa.gov/Cool-ICE/default.asp?Category=BillInfo&Service=Billbook&ga=84&hbill=SJR8 The Iowa Legislature Bill Book]</ref> Ernst believes life begins at conception.<ref>http://www.joniforiowa.com/issues/</ref>

==2014 U.S. Senate election==
{{main|United States Senate election in Iowa, 2014}}
In July 2013, Ernst announced that she would seek the Senate seat held by retiring Democratic Senator [[Tom Harkin]]. If elected, she would be the first woman from Iowa elected to either house of [[United States Congress|Congress]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Hayley |first=Bruce |title=State Sen. Joni Ernst announces run for U.S. Senate in Cedar Rapids |url=http://thegazette.com/2013/07/18/state-sen-joni-ernst-announces-run-for-u-s-senate-in-cedar-rapids/ |accessdate=23 January 2014 |newspaper=The Gazette |date=18 July 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Fish|first1=Sandra|title=Joni Ernst may make history as first Iowa woman to go to Congress|url=http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/7/1/joni-ernst-may-makehistoryasfirstiowawomantogotocongress.html|accessdate=3 July 2014|publisher=Aljazeera America|date=7/1/14}}</ref>

Ernst received the endorsement of [[Lieutenant Governor of Iowa|Iowa Lieutenant Governor]] [[Kim Reynolds]] in October 2013.<ref>{{cite news |last=Henderson |first=O. Kay |title=Lieutenant Governor Reynolds endorses Ernst in U.S. Senate race |url=http://www.radioiowa.com/2013/10/07/lieutenant-governor-reynolds-endorses-ernst-in-u-s-senate-race/ |accessdate=23 January 2014 |publisher=Radio Iowa |date=7 October 2013}}</ref> She has also been endorsed by 23 current and former state legislators.<ref>[http://www.joniforiowa.com/endorsements/ Endorsement], ''Joni Ernst for Iowa''</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>{{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-tuesday-is-35-percent-and-joni-ernst-is-right-there/ |accessdate=June 2, 2014 |newspaper=Washington Post |date=June 2, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=GOP candidate with both grassroots and establishment backing |url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2014/05/27/gop-candidate-with-both-grassroots-and-establishment-backing/ |accessdate=June 2, 2014 |publisher=CNN |date=May 27, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Chamber ads aid momentum for Iowa GOP’s Joni Ernst |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/chamber-ads-aid-momentum-for-iowa-gops-joni-ernst/2014/05/27/8d54e15a-e5e4-11e3-a70e-ea1863229397_story.html |accessdate=June 2, 2014 |publisher=Washington Post |date=May 27, 2014}}</ref>

Ernst received widespread attention for a campaign advert she released in March 2014 where she employed a [[tongue-in-cheek]] comparison between her experience [[castration|castrating]] pigs and her ability to cut "[[Pork barrel|pork]]" in Congress.<ref>{{cite news |title=Iowa Senate Candidate Says Castration Gives Her Conservative Cred |url=http://time.com/36955/iowa-senate-candidate-says-castration-gives-her-conservative-cred/ |accessdate=April 15, 2014 |newspaper=Time |date=March 25, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=In Politics, Hog Castration Cuts Through The Ad Clutter |url=http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2014/03/28/295949340/in-politics-hog-castration-cuts-through-the-ad-clutter |accessdate=April 15, 2014 |newspaper=NPR |date=March 28, 2014}}</ref> Many found the ad to be humorous<ref>{{cite news |title=Iowa Senate Candidate Says Castration Gives Her Conservative Cred |url=http://time.com/36955/iowa-senate-candidate-says-castration-gives-her-conservative-cred/ |accessdate=April 18, 2014 |newspaper=Time |date=March 25, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=How did John Boehner's opponent get his campaign ad to go viral? Humor. (+video) |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/DC-Decoder/Decoder-Buzz/2014/0415/How-did-John-Boehner-s-opponent-get-his-campaign-ad-to-go-viral-Humor.-video |accessdate=April 20, 2014 |newspaper=Christian Science Monitor |date=April 15, 2014}}</ref> and it was spoofed by late-night comedians including [[Jimmy Fallon]] and [[Stephen Colbert]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Jimmy Fallon cringes at Joni Ernst's hog-castration ad |url=http://archive.desmoinesregister.com/article/20140325/NEWS09/303250154/Jimmy-Fallon-cringes-Joni-Ernst-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’s ad about ‘castrating hogs’ transformed Iowa’s U.S. Senate race |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/how-joni-ernsts-ad-about-castrating-hogs-transformed-iowas-us-senate-race/2014/05/11/c02d1804-d85b-11e3-95d3-3bcd77cd4e11_story.html |accessdate=May 15, 2014 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=May 12, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Joni Ernst 'Castrating Hogs' Ad: Republican Iowa Senate Candidate Stirs Controversy With Offbeat Campaign Spot [VIDEO] |url=http://www.ibtimes.com/joni-ernst-castrating-hogs-ad-republican-iowa-senate-candidate-stirs-controversy-offbeat-campaign |accessdate=April 15, 2014 |newspaper=International Business Times |date=March 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> 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".<ref name=demoines2405098>{{cite news |title=Joni Ernst: I was 'extremely offended' by AWOL attack |url=http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/elections/2014/05/09/joni-ernst-us-senate-des-moines-register-editorial-board/8901677/ |accessdate=May 14, 2014 |newspaper=Des Moines Register |date=May 9, 2014}}</ref> Previously, in an article in ''The Gazette'', Ernst cited her National Guard duty to rebuff criticism about her missing votes,<ref name=gazette20140414>{{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> 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>

In endorsing her for the Republican nomination, the ''[[Des Moines Register]]'' stated: "Ernst is a smart, well-prepared candidate who can wrestle with the details of public policy from a conservative perspective without seeming inflexible."<ref name=DesMoinesEditorial>[http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/opinion/editorials/2014/05/17/joni-ernst-senate-register-editorial-board-endorsement/9231191/ The Register's Editorial: Joni Ernst offers Iowans strong credentials] "In the federal budget deficit, for example, she readily concedes that cutting federal discretionary spending won't be nearly enough and that the biggest savings must come from Medicare and Medicaid." ''Des Moines Register'', May 17, 2014</ref>

On June 16, 2014, in an event organized by [[Americans for Prosperity]], at a panel titled "The Senate: A Window of Policy Opportunity for Principled Leaders", Ernst thanked the group for its help becoming a viable candidate.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Weisman|first1=Jonathan|title=On Tape, McConnell Envisions Using Budget to Undo Obama Initiatives|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/28/us/politics/on-tape-mcconnell-envisions-using-budget-to-undo-obama-initiatives.html|publisher=The New York Times|accessdate=27 August 2014}}</ref> In July 2014, Ernst's campaigning was temporarily put on pause while she participated in two weeks of National Guard duty.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Jacobs|first1=Jennifer|title=Joni Ernst resumes campaign after 2 weeks of guard duty|url=http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/elections/2014/07/28/joni-ernst-first-campaign-event-after-two-weeks-on-duty/13280727/|accessdate=28 August 2014|publisher=Des Moines Register|date=2014-07-28}}</ref> In that same month, Ernst delivered the Republican Party's weekly address, where she criticized the health care scandal at the Veterans Affairs Department and pushed for a balanced federal budget and entitlement reform.<ref name=cbs>{{cite news|last1=Miller|first1=Jake|title=GOP Senate candidate: Reform the VA, balance the budget|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/gop-senate-candidate-joni-ernst-reform-the-va-balance-the-budget/|accessdate=28 August 2014|publisher=CBS News|date=2014-07-12}}</ref>

On August 29, Ernst and [[Bruce Braley]], her Democrat opponent in the Senate race, announced their agreement to hold three televised debates in Davenport, Des Moines, and Sioux City, the fist debate on October 11, and the the last on October 16.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://qctimes.com/news/local/u-s-senate-candidates-bruce-braley-and-joni-ernst-agree/article_a8fd0b73-7a0c-5421-8243-1eee2e236805.html|website=U.S. Senate candidates Braley and Ernst agree to 3 debates|publisher=Quad City Times}}</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"/>

Ernst is a member of the Montgomery County Republican Women, [[Veterans of Foreign Wars]] Post 2265 (Life Member), Montgomery County Court of Honor, Altrusa, PEO Chapter HB, [[National Rifle Association]] (Lifetime Member) and the Montgomery County Farm Bureau.<ref name="JoniErnstBio"/>  She is a member of the Mamrelund Lutheran Church ([[Evangelical Lutheran Church in America|ELCA]]) of Stanton, Iowa.<ref name=20101118IR />

==Notes==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*[http://www.joniforiowa.com/ Joni Ernst for Iowa] ''official campaign site''
*[https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislators/legislator?ga=85&personID=9761 Iowa Legislator - Senator Joni Ernst] ''official Iowa Legislature site''
* {{twitter|joniernst}}
* {{CongLinks
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| ontheissuespath = Senate/Joni_Ernst.htm 
| rose = 
| imdb = 
| nyt = 
| wsj = 
| guardian = 
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{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Christopher Reed]]}}
{{s-ttl|title={{nowrap|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] nominee for [[List of United States Senators from Iowa|U.S. Senator]] from [[Iowa]]}}<br>([[Classes of United States Senators|Class 2]])|years=[[United States Senate election in Iowa, 2014|2014]]}}
{{s-inc|recent}}
{{s-end}}

{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME              = Ernst, Joni Kay
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = American politician
| DATE OF BIRTH     = July 1, 1970
| PLACE OF BIRTH    = Red Oak, Iowa
| DATE OF DEATH     =
| PLACE OF DEATH    =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ernst, Joni}}
[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:American military personnel of the Iraq War]]
[[Category:Candidates in United States elections, 2014]]
[[Category:Columbus State University alumni]]
[[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 Iraq War]]
[[Category:Women in the United States Army]]
[[Category:Women state legislators in Iowa]]
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