Kristi Lynn

Kristi Lynn Arnold Noem[1] (/noʊm/ NOHM;[2] née Arnold; born November 30, 1971) is an American politician serving since 2025 as the 8th United States secretary of homeland security. A member of the Republican Party, she served from 2019 to 2025 as the 33rd governor of South Dakota and from 2011 to 2019 represented South Dakota’s at-large congressional district in the U.S. House.

Born in Watertown, South Dakota, Noem began her political career in the South Dakota House of Representatives, serving from 2007 to 2011. Noem was elected as the first female governor of South Dakota in 2018 with the endorsement of President Donald Trump. She gained national attention during the COVID-19 pandemic for opposing statewide mask mandates and advocating voluntary measures. Noem has conservative positions on most domestic issues, particularly gun rights. Even during her tenure as governor, she and her family lived on their South Dakota ranch.

In addition to politics, Noem is a farmer and rancher. She has published two autobiographies, Not My First Rodeo: Lessons from the Heartland (2022) and No Going Back (2024), which sparked controversy for its account of her killing a young family dog and claims to have met with foreign leaders. Despite this, Donald Trump nominated her for Secretary of Homeland Security in his second cabinet. She was confirmed by a Senate vote of 59–34.

Early life and education
Noem was born Kristi Lynn Arnold to Ron and Corinne Arnold on November 30, 1971, in Watertown, South Dakota,[3] and raised with her siblings on the family ranch and farm in rural Hamlin County.[4] She has Norwegian ancestry.[5] In 1990, Noem graduated from Hamlin High School and was crowned South Dakota Snow Queen.[6] Her father was killed in a farm machinery accident in 1994.[4][7]

Noem attended Northern State University from 1990 to 1994, but did not graduate. Her daughter, Kassidy, was born on April 21, 1994. Noem left college early to run the family farm. She added a hunting lodge and restaurant to the family property. Her siblings also moved back to help expand the businesses.[4]

Noem subsequently took classes at the Watertown campus of Mount Marty College and at South Dakota State University, and online classes from the University of South Dakota.[4][6][8] She obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in political science from South Dakota State University in 2012[9] while serving as a U.S. representative.[10] The Washington Post dubbed her Capitol Hill’s “most powerful intern” for receiving college intern credits from her position as a member of Congress.[11]

South Dakota House of Representatives (2007–2011)
In 2006, Noem won a seat as a Republican in the South Dakota House of Representatives, representing the 6th district, comprising parts of Beadle, Clark, Codington, Hamlin, and Kingsbury counties. In 2006, she won with 39% of the vote.[12] In 2008, she was reelected with 41% of the vote.[13]

Noem served for four years, from 2007 to 2010. She was an assistant majority leader during her second term.[14][15] During her tenure, Noem was the prime sponsor of 11 bills that became law, including several property tax reforms and two bills to increase gun rights in South Dakota.[16][17][18] In 2009, she served as vice chair of the Agriculture Land Assessment Advisory Task Force. Senator Larry Rhoden chaired the task force, and later served as her lieutenant governor.[19] During her tenure, she joined the Civil Air Patrol as a “state legislative member”.[20][21]

U.S. House of Representatives (2011–2019)
See also: 2010 United States House of Representatives election in South Dakota
In 2010, Noem ran for South Dakota’s at-large seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.[22] She won the Republican primary[23] and defeated incumbent Democrat Stephanie Herseth Sandlin in the general election. Noem was reelected three times, serving in Congress until 2019.[14]

Tenure

Noem during the 112th and 113th Congress
The 2011 House Republican 87-member freshman class elected Noem as liaison to the House Republican leadership, making her the second woman member of the House GOP leadership.[24] According to The Hill, her role was to push the leadership to make significant cuts to federal government spending and to help Speaker John Boehner manage the expectations of the freshman class.[25] In March 2011, Republican Representative Pete Sessions of Texas named Noem one of the 12 regional directors for the National Republican Congressional Committee during the 2012 election campaign.[4][26]

On March 8, 2011, she announced the formation of a leadership political action committee, KRISTI PAC.[27] Former South Dakota Lieutenant Governor Steve Kirby is its treasurer.[28][29][30] Noem was among the top freshman Republicans in PAC fundraising in the first quarter of 2011, raising $169,000 from PACs.[31]

Abortion
Noem co-sponsored legislation that would federally ban abortion.[32] In 2015, she co-sponsored a bill to amend the 14th Amendment to define human life and personhood as beginning at fertilization, federally banning abortion from the moment of fertilization. She also voted for a bill to ban abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancyKristi Lynn Arnold Noem[1] (/noʊm/ NOHM;[2] née Arnold; born November 30, 1971) is an American politician serving since 2025 as the 8th United States secretary of homeland security. A member of the Republican Party, she served from 2019 to 2025 as the 33rd governor of South Dakota and from 2011 to 2019 represented South Dakota’s at-large congressional district in the U.S. House.

Born in Watertown, South Dakota, Noem began her political career in the South Dakota House of Representatives, serving from 2007 to 2011. Noem was elected as the first female governor of South Dakota in 2018 with the endorsement of President Donald Trump. She gained national attention during the COVID-19 pandemic for opposing statewide mask mandates and advocating voluntary measures. Noem has conservative positions on most domestic issues, particularly gun rights. Even during her tenure as governor, she and her family lived on their South Dakota ranch.

In addition to politics, Noem is a farmer and rancher. She has published two autobiographies, Not My First Rodeo: Lessons from the Heartland (2022) and No Going Back (2024), which sparked controversy for its account of her killing a young family dog and claims to have met with foreign leaders. Despite this, Donald Trump nominated her for Secretary of Homeland Security in his second cabinet. She was confirmed by a Senate vote of 59–34.

Early life and education
Noem was born Kristi Lynn Arnold to Ron and Corinne Arnold on November 30, 1971, in Watertown, South Dakota,[3] and raised with her siblings on the family ranch and farm in rural Hamlin County.[4] She has Norwegian ancestry.[5] In 1990, Noem graduated from Hamlin High School and was crowned South Dakota Snow Queen.[6] Her father was killed in a farm machinery accident in 1994.[4][7]

Noem attended Northern State University from 1990 to 1994, but did not graduate. Her daughter, Kassidy, was born on April 21, 1994. Noem left college early to run the family farm. She added a hunting lodge and restaurant to the family property. Her siblings also moved back to help expand the businesses.[4]

Noem subsequently took classes at the Watertown campus of Mount Marty College and at South Dakota State University, and online classes from the University of South Dakota.[4][6][8] She obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in political science from South Dakota State University in 2012[9] while serving as a U.S. representative.[10] The Washington Post dubbed her Capitol Hill’s “most powerful intern” for receiving college intern credits from her position as a member of Congress.[11]

South Dakota House of Representatives (2007–2011)
In 2006, Noem won a seat as a Republican in the South Dakota House of Representatives, representing the 6th district, comprising parts of Beadle, Clark, Codington, Hamlin, and Kingsbury counties. In 2006, she won with 39% of the vote.[12] In 2008, she was reelected with 41% of the vote.[13]

Noem served for four years, from 2007 to 2010. She was an assistant majority leader during her second term.[14][15] During her tenure, Noem was the prime sponsor of 11 bills that became law, including several property tax reforms and two bills to increase gun rights in South Dakota.[16][17][18] In 2009, she served as vice chair of the Agriculture Land Assessment Advisory Task Force. Senator Larry Rhoden chaired the task force, and later served as her lieutenant governor.[19] During her tenure, she joined the Civil Air Patrol as a “state legislative member”.[20][21]

U.S. House of Representatives (2011–2019)
See also: 2010 United States House of Representatives election in South Dakota
In 2010, Noem ran for South Dakota’s at-large seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.[22] She won the Republican primary[23] and defeated incumbent Democrat Stephanie Herseth Sandlin in the general election. Noem was reelected three times, serving in Congress until 2019.[14]

Tenure


Noem during the 112th and 113th Congress
The 2011 House Republican 87-member freshman class elected Noem as liaison to the House Republican leadership, making her the second woman member of the House GOP leadership.[24] According to The Hill, her role was to push the leadership to make significant cuts to federal government spending and to help Speaker John Boehner manage the expectations of the freshman class.[25] In March 2011, Republican Representative Pete Sessions of Texas named Noem one of the 12 regional directors for the National Republican Congressional Committee during the 2012 election campaign.[4][26]

On March 8, 2011, she announced the formation of a leadership political action committee, KRISTI PAC.[27] Former South Dakota Lieutenant Governor Steve Kirby is its treasurer.[28][29][30] Noem was among the top freshman Republicans in PAC fundraising in the first quarter of 2011, raising $169,000 from PACs.[31]

Abortion
Noem co-sponsored legislation that would federally ban abortion.[32] In 2015, she co-sponsored a bill to amend the 14th Amendment to define human life and personhood as beginning at fertilization, federally banning abortion from the moment of fertilization. She also voted for a bill to ban abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy