Kristi Noem
Kristi Noem
South Dakota Republican Senate nominee?
$21.4K
JUN 9, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleFormer Secretary of State
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyConservative Republican
Age54 years old (Nov 30, 1971)
GenderFemale
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BackgroundPolitician
EducationHamlin High School (1990)
Notable personal detailsKristi Lynn Arnold Noem is an American politician who served as the 33rd Governor of South Dakota (2019–2025) and previously represented South Dakota’s at-large congressional district in the U.S. House (2011–2019). She later served as U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security in the second Trump administration, beginning in January 2025 and ending in March 2026. She is a rancher and farmer by background and earned a B.A. in political science from South Dakota State University.
SourcesShowHide
Positions
Economy & Taxes
Advocates for tax cuts and reduced government revenue, including proposing elimination of South Dakota’s grocery sales tax and supporting broader sales-tax reductions; previously supported the 2017 federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and has backed measures to limit government spending (including a balanced-budget resolution).
Healthcare
Kristi Noem has opposed Affordable Care Act expansions and Medicaid expansion and has promoted market- and consumer-driven alternatives, tort reform, and increased competition in health care. As a member of Congress she voted for repeal measures of the ACA and as governor she opposed Medicaid expansion while saying she would implement it if approved by voters.
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Immigration & Border
The candidate advocates an enforcement-first immigration agenda focused on strict border security, expanded removals/deportations, restoration/expansion of Trump-era enforcement programs, and construction and hardening of physical barriers at the southern border. She has directed DHS to prioritize arrests and removals of unauthorized immigrants, end certain humanitarian/administrative protections, and pursue measures intended to deter crossings.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
The candidate takes a strongly anti‑abortion position, supporting near‑total bans on abortion with exceptions only to save the life of the pregnant patient and opposing exceptions for rape or incest. She has promoted fetal‑heartbeat/‘pro‑life’ initiatives, defended South Dakota’s trigger ban after Roe was overturned, and backed restrictions on abortion medication.
Climate & Energy
Supports an "all-of-the-above" energy approach that includes renewables but emphasizes energy independence and expanded fossil fuel production; has expressed skepticism about the extent of human-caused climate change and declined some federal climate and energy funding programs for her state. Positions favor market and state-level control and reduced federal regulatory/permitting barriers for energy development.
Public Safety & Guns
Supports broad Second Amendment protections including permitless/’constitutional carry’ and has taken executive action to protect gun rights; has publicly opposed red flag laws and new federal restrictions on firearms and ammunition. Positions consistently favor expanding or preserving gun rights over enacting new gun-control measures.
News
Kristi Noem has been removed by President Donald Trump as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, with Sen. Markwayne Mullin named as her replacement pending Senate confirmation. Her tenure drew controversy, including a reported $220 million advertising campaign and allegations of mismanagement and leadership failures, and she has faced criticism following her ouster. Noem has since been appointed a special envoy for the Trump administration’s “Shield of the Americas” initiative. Political insiders say she is unlikely to run for South Dakota’s U.S. Senate seat in 2026 despite speculation.
Noem could forgo her new federal role for a political race, but observers say it’s unlikely
Ousted DHS Secretary Noem moves to new Shield of the Americas envoy position
Will Kristi Noem become the new face of Trump’s Donroe Doctrine?
Dace Potas: Trump fires Noem at DHS. Mullin has the competency to lead
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls
- Endorsements
- Fundraising