Sen. Joni Ernst speaks during a town hall in Boone
![Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa speaks during a town hall in Boone, Friday, Feb. 23, 2024.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.desmoinesregister.com/gcdn/authoring/authoring-images/2024/02/24/PDEM/72719036007-joni-1.jpg?width=660&height=453&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa speaks during a town hall in Boone, Friday, Feb. 23, 2024.
Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register![Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa speaks during a town hall in Boone, Friday, Feb. 23, 2024.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.desmoinesregister.com/gcdn/authoring/authoring-images/2024/02/24/PDEM/72719031007-joni-2.jpg?width=660&height=440&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa speaks during a town hall in Boone, Friday, Feb. 23, 2024.
Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register![Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa speaks during a town hall in Boone, Friday, Feb. 23, 2024.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.desmoinesregister.com/gcdn/authoring/authoring-images/2024/02/24/PDEM/72719032007-joni-3.jpg?width=660&height=441&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa speaks during a town hall in Boone, Friday, Feb. 23, 2024.
Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register![Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa speaks during a town hall in Boone, Friday, Feb. 23, 2024.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.desmoinesregister.com/gcdn/authoring/authoring-images/2024/02/24/PDEM/72719033007-joni-4.jpg?width=660&height=462&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa speaks during a town hall in Boone, Friday, Feb. 23, 2024.
Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register![Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa speaks during a town hall in Boone, Friday, Feb. 23, 2024.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.desmoinesregister.com/gcdn/authoring/authoring-images/2024/02/24/PDEM/72719034007-joni-5.jpg?width=660&height=441&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa speaks during a town hall in Boone, Friday, Feb. 23, 2024.
Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register![Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa speaks during a town hall in Boone, Friday, Feb. 23, 2024.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.desmoinesregister.com/gcdn/authoring/authoring-images/2024/02/24/PDEM/72719054007-joni-6.jpg?width=660&height=441&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa speaks during a town hall in Boone, Friday, Feb. 23, 2024.
Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register