Kristi Noem

Kristi Noem
United States Secretary of Homeland Security Presumptive nominee
Assuming office TBD
President	Donald Trump (elect)
Deputy	Troy Edgar (presumptive nominee)
Succeeding	Alejandro Mayorkas
33rd Governor of South Dakota
Incumbent
Assumed office January 5, 2019
Lieutenant	Larry Rhoden
Preceded by	Dennis Daugaard
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Dakota's at-large district
In office January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2019
Preceded by	Stephanie Herseth Sandlin
Succeeded by	Dusty Johnson
Member of the South Dakota House of Representatives from the 6th district
In office January 9, 2007 – January 3, 2011
Preceded by	Art Fryslie
Succeeded by	Burt Tulson
Personal details
Born	Kristi Lynn Arnold (1971-11-30) November 30, 1971 (age 53) Watertown, South Dakota, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Bryon Noem ​ (m. 1992)​
Children	3
Education	South Dakota State University (BA)
Signature
Noem's voice Noem speaks in supports of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Recorded December 19, 2017

Kristi Lynn Arnold Noem^[1] (/noʊm/ NOHM;^[2] née Arnold; born November 30, 1971) is an American politician who has served since 2019 as the 33rd governor of South Dakota. A member of the Republican Party, she was the U.S. representative for South Dakota's at-large congressional district from 2011 to 2019 and a member of the South Dakota House of Representatives for the 6th district from 2007 to 2011. In November 2024, Donald Trump selected Noem to serve as Secretary of Homeland Security in his second term.

Noem became the first female governor of South Dakota when she was elected in 2018. During that election, President Donald Trump endorsed her. As governor, As governor, Noem emphasized health freedom, rising to national prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic over her refusal to issue a statewide mandate to wear face masks, instead advocating for voluntary measures.

Living in rural South Dakota, Noem is also a farmer and a rancher. She has frequently highlighted her agricultural background as a foundation for her belief in self-reliance and limited government. She published her first autobiography, Not My First Rodeo: Lessons from the Heartland, in 2022. Her second, No Going Back (2024), ignited controversy over her description of killing a young family dog. Her political views align with the Republican party and conservatives on most issues, including strong support for the right to carry guns.