Kristi Lynn Noem is an American politician and a member of the Republican Party. She served as the 33rd Governor of South Dakota from 2019 to 2025 and, as of January 25, 2025, has assumed office as the United States Secretary of Homeland Security.

Kristi Noem was born on November 30, 1971, in Watertown, South Dakota, United States. She is the daughter of Ron Arnold and Corinne Arnold and grew up with her siblings on the family farm located in rural Hamlin County. She is of Norwegian descent. In 1990, she graduated from Hamlin High School and was crowned South Dakota Snow Queen the same year. In 1994, her father died in a farming equipment accident, after which she paused her university education to take responsibility for the family farm.

Kristi Noem attended Northern State University between 1990 and 1994 but did not graduate at that time. She later took courses at Mount Marty University’s Watertown campus and completed online coursework through South Dakota State University. While serving as a member of Congress, she resumed her education and earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from South Dakota State University in 2012.

She began her political career in 2006 after being elected to the South Dakota House of Representatives. During her tenure, Kristi Noem became known for her conservative positions on agricultural policy, economic development, and gun rights, and served as assistant majority leader during her second term.

In 2010, Kristi Noem was elected to represent South Dakota in the United States House of Representatives, a position she held until 2019. Throughout her time in Congress, she advocated for tax reductions, deregulation, and policies aimed at supporting rural development.

In 2018, Kristi Noem ran for governor of South Dakota and won the election, becoming the first woman to hold the office. As governor, she was known for conservative policies emphasizing lower taxes, business-friendly regulations, and limited government intervention. During the COVID-19 pandemic, her refusal to impose statewide mask mandates or lockdowns sparked nationwide debate and drew both strong support and criticism.

Kristi Noem supported Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election and made statements aligned with the Republican Party’s stance during the post-election disputes. Following the events at the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021, she condemned violence and called for calm and peace.

During the 2024 Republican presidential primaries, Kristi Noem once again endorsed Donald Trump. After Trump’s victory in the 2024 election, she was nominated as United States Secretary of Homeland Security. Following Senate confirmation, she assumed office on January 25, 2025, becoming the first individual from South Dakota to serve in that position.

In addition to her political career, Kristi Noem is a farmer and ranch owner. She published her autobiography, Not My First Rodeo: Lessons from the Heartland, in 2022, followed by her 2024 book No Going Back, both of which received significant public attention. In her personal life, she has been married to Bryon Noem since 1992, and the couple has three children: Kassidy Noem, Kennedy Noem, and Booker Noem.

Source: Biyografiler.com