Joni Ernst
U.S. Senator from Iowa since 2015. Did not run for re-election in 2026; leaves office in January 2027. Ran in 3 elections between 2012 and 2020, winning 3.
U.S. Senator from IowaBorn 1970
- In office
- 11 yrs
- Since 2015
- Bills became law
- 2
- 99 sponsored, 119th Congress
- Votes missed
- 2.3%
- Chamber median 2.1%
- With party
- 100%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +6.6
- Won 2020
- Elections
- 3
- 2012–2020
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Nov 7, 2026, 3:00 PM ET
Committees
119th Congress.
- Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and ForestryConservation, Forestry, Natural Resources, and BiotechnologyLivestock, Dairy, Poultry, and Food SafetyRural Development, Energy, and Credit · Chairman
- Senate Committee on Armed ServicesCybersecurityEmerging Threats and Capabilities · ChairmanPersonnel
- Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental AffairsDisaster Management, District of Columbia, and CensusBorder Management, Federal Workforce, and Regulatory Affairs
- Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship · Chairman
Source: congress-legislators committeesUpdated Nov 7, 2026, 3:00 PM ET
Legislation
Source: Congress.gov billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 3:27 PM ET
Voting record
Where Ernst sits in the U.S. Senate
Ernst is closer to the center than 29% of the chamber's Republicans.
Closest: Mike Lee, John Cornyn, Katie Boyd Britt
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 5:06 PM ET
With Ernst’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Republicans100%
- Cosponsorships of the other party's bills24%
Black tick: the average of Republicans in the U.S. Senate.
Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships
Key votes
Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Ernst’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Republicans.
| Date | Bill | Ernst | Rep. majority | Dem. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 5, 2026 | S 2: Secure America Act | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 52–47 |
| Apr 16, 2026 | HJRES 140: Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code,… | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 50–49 |
| Feb 12, 2026 | HJRES 142: Disapproving the action of the District of Columbia Council in approving the D.C.… | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 49–47 |
| Jan 30, 2026 | HR 7148: Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 71–29 |
| Dec 4, 2025 | HJRES 131: Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code,… | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 49–45 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time Ernst was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.
Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Elections
Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.
| Year | Race | Result | Margin | Seat | +/− |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | U.S. Senate, Iowa | Won | R+6.6 | R+8.4 | −1.8 |
| 2014 | U.S. Senate, Iowa | Won | R+8.3 | D+5.9 | +14.2 |
| 2012 | Iowa State Senate, District 12 | Won | — | — | — |
Source: 99chambers results archive
Campaign money, 2019–20
- Raised
- $27.7M
- Spent
- $28.5M
- Cash
- $528.4K
Source: FEC filings through Dec 31, 2020Updated Oct 8, 2026, 10:37 AM ET
Seats Ernst has held
- U.S. Senate, Iowa · 2015–2027
- Iowa State Senate, District 12 · 2012–2016
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Ernst has run against
- Theresa Greenfield (D) · 2020 election, won
- Bruce L. Braley (D) · 2014 election, won
Source: 99chambers results archive
In the polls
Included in 96 polls; Ernst’s best result was 51% (U.S. Senate in Iowa, 2020).
Ernst’s polls in the database →How we know Ernst
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Bioguide E000295
- FEC S4IA00129
- Wikidata Q13475242
- Ballotpedia Joni Ernst
- Vote Smart 128583
- GovTrack 412667
- OpenSecrets N00035483
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Nov 7, 2026, 3:00 PM ET