History of Kristi Noem in Timeline
Kristi Noem is an American politician currently serving as the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security since 2025. She is in the second Trump presidency.
1990: Attendance at Northern State University
In 1990, Kristi Noem began attending Northern State University, where she studied until 1994.
1990: Graduation from High School and South Dakota Snow Queen
In 1990, Kristi Noem graduated from Hamlin High School and was crowned South Dakota Snow Queen.
1992: Marriage to Bryon Noem
In 1992, Kristi Noem married Bryon Noem in Watertown, South Dakota.
April 21, 1994: Birth of daughter, Kassidy
On April 21, 1994, Kristi Noem's daughter, Kassidy, was born.
2006: Election to South Dakota House of Representatives
In 2006, Kristi Noem won a seat as a Republican in the South Dakota House of Representatives, representing the 6th district, winning with 39% of the vote.
2009: Vice Chair of Agriculture Land Assessment Advisory Task Force
In 2009, Kristi Noem served as vice chair of the Agriculture Land Assessment Advisory Task Force.
2010: Support for Ending Deepwater Drilling Moratorium
In 2010, Kristi Noem co-sponsored bills aimed at ending the United States deepwater drilling moratorium in the Gulf of Mexico.
2010: Defeated Stephanie Herseth Sandlin
In 2010, Kristi Noem defeated incumbent Democratic U.S. Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, winning the election 48 to 46 percent.
2010: Won Republican Primary for U.S. House Seat
In 2010, Kristi Noem won the Republican primary for South Dakota's at-large seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
March 8, 2011: Formation of KRISTI PAC
On March 8, 2011, Kristi Noem announced the formation of a leadership political action committee, KRISTI PAC.
March 2011: Criticism of Obama's Approach to Libyan Intervention
In March 2011, Kristi Noem criticized President Barack Obama's approach to the NATO-led military intervention in the 2011 Libyan civil war.
March 2011: Named NRCC Regional Director and Liaison to House Republican Leadership
In March 2011, Kristi Noem was named one of the 12 regional directors for the National Republican Congressional Committee, and the freshman class elected Noem as liaison to the House Republican leadership.
2011: Family Residence in South Dakota
In 2011, when Noem moved to Washington for her congressional office, her family continued to reside on a ranch near Castlewood, South Dakota.
2012: Received B.A. in Political Science
In 2012, Kristi Noem obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in political science from South Dakota State University while serving as a U.S. Representative.
2015: Comparison to Indiana Bill
In 2015, Indiana Governor Mike Pence signed a similar bill into law, resembling the 2021 religious refusal bill signed by Noem.
2015: Opposition to Same-Sex Marriage
In 2015, Noem expressed her disagreement with the Supreme Court's ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, which legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.
November 14, 2016: Announcement of Gubernatorial Run
On November 14, 2016, Kristi Noem announced that she would run for governor of South Dakota in 2018.
2018: Attendance at Foursquare Church
As of 2018, Noem and her family attended a Foursquare Church in Watertown, South Dakota.
February 2019: Concerns over Trade Wars
In February 2019, Noem voiced concerns that the Trump administration's trade wars with China and the European Union had devastated South Dakota's economy, particularly the agricultural sector.
October 1, 2019: Josh Shields Appointed Chief of Staff
On October 1, 2019, Josh Shields became Noem's chief of staff.
November 18, 2019: "Meth. We're on It" Campaign Launch
On November 18, 2019, Noem launched a meth awareness campaign called "Meth. We're on It", which faced widespread mockery and criticism due to its high cost ($449,000 of public funds) and the use of an out-of-state advertising agency.
2019: Concealed Handgun Permit Law
In 2019, Noem signed a bill into law that abolished South Dakota's permit requirement to carry a concealed handgun.
2019: Veto of Hemp Legalization Bill
In 2019, Noem vetoed a bill that had passed the South Dakota House and Senate to legalize hemp cultivation, expressing concerns about undermining drug law enforcement.
January 1, 2020: Josh Shields Leaves Position as Chief of Staff
On January 1, 2020, Josh Shields left his position as Noem's chief of staff.
March 2, 2020: Tony Venhuizen Appointed Chief of Staff
On March 2, 2020, Tony Venhuizen became Noem's chief of staff.
March 13, 2020: K-12 School Closure Order
On March 13, 2020, Kristi Noem ordered K-12 schools in South Dakota to close in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
April 6, 2020: Executive Order on CDC Guidance and Stay-at-Home Order
On April 6, 2020, Noem issued an executive order that people "shall" follow CDC guidance, and she ordered everyone over age 65 in Minnehaha and Lincoln counties to stay home for three weeks.
April 9, 2020: Inspectors Allowed to Wear Masks with Permission
On April 9, 2020, the USDA announced that its inspectors would be allowed to wear masks if the meatpacking plants' owners gave the federal employees permission to do so, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
April 2020: Peters Receives Agreed Disposition
Around April 2020, Kassidy Peters received an Agreed Disposition regarding her real estate appraisal application.
July 3, 2020: Mount Rushmore Event with Trump
On July 3, 2020, Noem did not mandate social distancing or masks at an event at Mount Rushmore with Trump present, despite health experts' warnings about large gatherings.
July 2020: Meeting Regarding Daughter's Appraisal License
In July 2020, after Noem's daughter was denied a real estate appraisal license, Noem summoned Sherry Bren to her office, along with her daughter, chief of staff, Department of Labor Attorney and Labor Secretary.
July 20, 2020: Peters Receives Letter Regarding Appraisal License Requirements
Around July 20, 2020, Kassidy Peters received a letter and/or Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law when she failed to meet the requirements of the Agreed Disposition.
August 2020: RNC Speech
In August 2020, Noem was rewarded for her COVID-19 response with a speech at the Republican National Convention, elevating her national profile.
October 22, 2020: Record High COVID-19 Hospitalizations
On October 22, 2020, COVID-19 patients hospitalized in South Dakota reached a record high of 355, leading to the rescheduling of elective procedures by hospital systems.
November 2020: Promotion of Tourism During COVID-19 Surge
In November 2020, Kristi Noem used pandemic relief funds to promote tourism in South Dakota during a surge in COVID-19 cases, without implementing mask mandates.
December 8, 2020: Acknowledgement of "Biden administration"
On December 8, 2020, Noem tacitly acknowledged the outcome of the election when she referred to a "Biden administration" during her annual state budget address.
December 2020: No Statewide Mandates
As of December 2020, Noem was among the few governors who had not maintained statewide stay-at-home orders or face-mask mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020: Opposition to Cannabis Legalization
In 2020, Noem opposed two ballot measures in South Dakota to legalize cannabis for medical and recreational use. She argued that cannabis use is detrimental and would not improve communities.
January 6, 2021: Condemnation of Capitol Violence
After the U.S. Capitol attack on January 6, 2021, Noem condemned the violence, affirming the right to peaceful protest. She called the newly elected Democratic senators from Georgia, Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, "communists" in an op-ed for The Federalist.
February 8, 2021: Amendment A Struck Down
On February 8, 2021, a circuit court judge deemed Amendment A, the measure legalizing recreational marijuana, as unconstitutional.
March 8, 2021: Women's Fairness in Sports Bill
On March 8, 2021, Noem announced on Twitter that she would sign into law H.B. 1217, the Women's Fairness in Sports Bill, banning transgender athletes from women's sports teams. Critics worried about potential economic repercussions for the state.
April 23, 2021: Aaron Scheibe Appointed Chief of Staff
On April 23, 2021, Aaron Scheibe became Noem's chief of staff, replacing Tony Venhuizen.
July 1, 2021: Medical Marijuana Legalization
Despite efforts to delay the implementation of medical marijuana, it became legal in South Dakota on July 1, 2021.
July 2021: Corrections Department Personnel Changes
In July 2021, Noem placed the Secretary of the Department of Corrections on administrative leave, and fired the State Penitentiary Warden and Deputy Warden, following complaints.
August 2021: Hiring of CGL Group and DOC Employee Actions
In August 2021, Noem announced that the CGL Group was hired to review the Department of Corrections operations, while the director of the prison work program was fired and two other DOC employees relieved of their duties.
September 2021: Affair Allegations
In September 2021, Noem faced allegations of an extramarital affair with Corey Lewandowski, which she denied as a "disgusting lie".
September 22, 2021: Center for Public Integrity Lawsuit
On September 22, 2021, the Center for Public Integrity sued the South Dakota National Guard and the U.S. Department of Defense to obtain documents about the deployment to the Texas border and the donation.
October 2021: Senate Committee Investigation
In October 2021, the State Senate's Government Operations and Audit Committee invited Hultman and Bren to discuss the appraisal program due to the controversy surrounding Noem, her daughter, and a $200,000 payout to Bren.
November 1, 2021: Government Accountability Board Sets Agenda
On November 1, 2021, the Government Accountability Board set an agenda to discuss issues based on complaints brought by Ravnsborg.
November 12, 2021: Announced Re-election Campaign
On November 12, 2021, Kristi Noem announced she was running for reelection as governor.
November 2021: Reported Spending on Governor's Mansion
In late November 2021, it was reported that Noem spent $68,000 of taxpayer dollars on imported rugs, chandeliers, and a sauna for the governor's mansion.
November 19, 2021: Appointment of Mark Miller as Chief of Staff
On November 19, 2021, Noem appointed Mark Miller as her fifth chief of staff, replacing Aaron Scheibe.
December 14, 2021: Bren's Testimony Before Government Operations and Audit Committee
On December 14, 2021, Bren testified before the Government Operations and Audit Committee regarding Kassidy Peters' real estate appraisal application and the process involved.
December 15, 2021: Government Accountability Board Refers Complaints
On December 15, 2021, the Government Accountability Board referred one complaint to Noem for a response and sent the other back to the complainant.
December 2021: Support for Fairness in Women's Sports Act
In December 2021, Noem and her office showed support for a bill aimed to require young athletes to join teams that align with their biological sex at birth.
2021: Signing of Religious Refusal Bill
In 2021, Noem signed a religious refusal bill into law that amended the state's RFRA, allowing business owners to deny services based on religious beliefs related to sexual orientation or gender identity. Critics said the legislation would enable discrimination.
January 21, 2022: "Prayer Bill" Defeated
On January 21, 2022, the "prayer bill", HB 1015, which sought to reintroduce prayer in schools, was defeated in the House Education Committee.
February 1, 2022: House Democratic Minority Leader Announced Gubernatorial Run
On February 1, 2022, House Democratic Minority Leader Jamie Smith announced he was seeking the Democratic nomination for governor.
February 3, 2022: Government Accountability Board Refers Second Complaint
On February 3, 2022, the Government Accountability Board referred the second complaint to Noem for a response, setting a deadline for her to answer both pending complaints.
February 24, 2022: Introduction of House Resolution 7004
On February 24, 2022, Republican State Representative John Mills introduced House Resolution 7004 against Noem, addressing "the Governor's unacceptable actions in matters related to the appraiser certification program".
March 14, 2022: Bawek Files Lawsuit
On March 14, 2022, Stephany Bawek filed a lawsuit alleging she was fired for reporting sexual harassment in the workplace.
April 15, 2022: Deadline for Noem to Answer Complaints
April 15, 2022, was the deadline set by the Government Accountability Board for Noem to respond to both pending complaints against her.
December 2022: TikTok Ban on State Devices
In December 2022, Kristi Noem issued an executive order banning TikTok from state-owned devices, citing concerns that the Chinese Communist Party uses the platform to manipulate Americans and gather data.
2022: Gun Range Proposal Rejected
In 2022, Noem's proposal to build a gun range in Meade County using government funds was rejected by the legislature.
September 2023: Endorsement of Trump for President
In September 2023, Noem endorsed Trump in the 2024 Republican Party presidential primaries at a rally in Rapid City, South Dakota.
September 2023: Willingness to be Trump's Running Mate
In September 2023, Noem stated on Newsmax that she would agree to serve as Trump's running mate "in a heartbeat".
September 2023: Renewed Affair Allegations
In September 2023, similar reports about Noem and Lewandowski were published by the New York Post and the Daily Mail, which Noem's spokesman denied.
2023: NRA Forum Speech
At a 2023 NRA forum in Indiana, Noem stated that her two-year-old granddaughter owned a shotgun, a rifle, and a "little pony named Sparkles."
January 2024: "Freedom for Life Year" Proclamation
In January 2024, Kristi Noem proclaimed 2024 the "Freedom for Life Year", promoting anti-abortion laws.
January 2024: Noem's Border and Cartel Comments
In January 2024, Noem claimed an "invasion is coming over the southern border" and alleged that Mexican drug cartels are using reservations to spread drugs throughout the Midwest.
February 2024: Tied for Top Choice for Trump's Running Mate at CPAC
At the February 2024 CPAC conference, Noem tied with Vivek Ramaswamy as attendees' top choice for Trump's running mate, each receiving 15% of the vote in a straw poll.
March 2024: On Trump's Shortlist for Running Mate
In March 2024, CNN reported that Noem was one of four people Trump had shown increased interest in selecting as his running mate.
March 2024: Noem's Claims About Tribal Leaders and Reservations
In March 2024, Noem claimed some tribal leaders are "personally benefiting from the cartels" and that people on reservations are scared and living with high unemployment, but she provided no evidence.
March 2024: Promotion of Cosmetic Dentist
In March 2024, Noem shared a video promoting a cosmetic dentist business, citing her experience with them after losing her front teeth in a biking accident years before.
April 2024: Controversy over Dog Killing in Autobiography
In April 2024, pre-release excerpts of Noem's autobiography, No Going Back, sparked widespread controversy after she recounted shooting and killing her 14-month-old dog, Cricket, and a goat.
April 2024: Diminished Odds of Being Trump's Running Mate
In April 2024, sources indicated that Noem's chances of being selected as Trump's running mate had decreased due to her abortion stance and the revelation about killing her dog and goat in her book.
April 21, 2024: Reversal on Federal Abortion Ban Support
On April 21, 2024, Kristi Noem announced that she had reversed her support for a federal ban on abortion, advocating for state-level determination.
August 2024: Induction into Daughters of the American Revolution
In August 2024, Noem and her sister were inducted into the Daughters of the American Revolution at the South Dakota State Fair.
November 12, 2024: Nomination for Secretary of Homeland Security
On November 12, 2024, President-elect Trump selected Noem to serve as Secretary of Homeland Security in his second term.
2024: Tribal Bans Against Noem
In 2024, all nine tribes of South Dakota reportedly banned Noem from entering tribal lands after she made controversial comments about them.
January 17, 2025: Confirmation Hearing
On January 17, 2025, the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs held a confirmation hearing for her.
January 25, 2025: Sworn in as Secretary of Homeland Security
After resigning as governor of South Dakota, on January 25, 2025, Noem was sworn in as Secretary of Homeland Security.
January 28, 2025: Leading Raid on Illegal Immigrants
In the early morning of January 28, 2025, Noem led a raid on illegal immigrants in New York City with federal law enforcement agencies.
2025: Imagining Presidential Actions
In 2025, Noem imagined herself becoming president and expressed a desire to remove Joe Biden's dog, Commander, from the White House grounds, suggesting the dog be killed. The idea arose after Commander had bitten multiple individuals.
