Joni Ernst was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2014 and re-elected in 2020, becoming the first woman from Iowa elected to federal office. A former lieutenant colonel in the Iowa Army National Guard, she served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and built her national identity around service, discipline, and rural Iowa grit.
She broke out instantly with her “make ‘em squeal” ad, promising to cut wasteful Washington spending. That message — tough on government, protective of taxpayers — is still the core of her brand.
Ernst positions herself as a pro-farmer, pro-veteran Midwestern conservative: biofuels and ag policy at home, hardline on border and national security abroad, very skeptical of regulation. She leans culturally conservative but packages it in this kind of folksy, plainspoken populism.
Mainstream Conservative
Achievements
- First female combat veteran to serve in the U.S. Senate
- Served on key committees including Armed Services, Agriculture, and Environment and Public Works
- Early leader of the “make ’em squeal” anti-waste, cut-spending message
- Vocal defender of Iowa’s agriculture, biofuels, and rural economic interests
- Helped launch an internal Senate push for accountability and efficiency in federal agencies
Controversies
- Hit for comments at a town hall suggesting tough budget choices on social spending were necessary because “we’re all going to die”
- Criticized by Democrats for opposing expansions of Medicaid and food assistance
- Framed by opponents as prioritizing culture-war messaging over compromise on social safety net policy
Top Donors
| Donor | Total | Individuals | PACs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackstone Group | $86,910 | $86,910 | $0 |
| Apollo Global Management | $86,530 | $80,530 | $6,000 |
| NorPAC | $75,570 | $63,570 | $12,000 |
| RTX Corp | $69,261 | $57,261 | $12,000 |
| Capital Group Companies | $66,225 | $61,225 | $5,000 |
Amounts shown reflect organization-linked giving; most funds listed here are from individual donors or aligned PACs.
Recent Elections
2014 Margin R +8.3%
2020 Margin R +6.6%