Ernst was sworn into the United States Senate on January 3, 2015.
She delivered the official Republican response to the State of the Union on January 20.

In May 2016, Chris Cilizza put Ernst on his short list of possible vice presidential running mates for Donald Trump to become the 45th President of the United States.
Other media outlets also mentioned her as a possible benefit to Trump's campaign.
On June 16, Ernst said no one had "reached out" to her and that she was content with this.
On July 4, she and Trump met privately.
Trump selected Governor Mike Pence of Indiana on July 15.

In 2016, along with U.S. Senators Deb Fischer, Charles Grassley, and Ben Sasse, Ernst introduced "Sarah's Law" in honor of Sarah Root, a 21-year-old female student in Omaha who was killed in a street racing crash in January 2016.
Ernst was sworn into the United States Senate on January 3, 2015. She delivered the official Republican response to the State of the Union on January 20.
In May 2016, Chris Cilizza put Ernst on his short list of possible vice presidential running mates for Donald Trump to become the 45th President of the United States. Other media outlets also mentioned her as a possible benefit to Trump's campaign. On June 16, Ernst said no one had "reached out" to her and that she was content with this. On July 4, she and Trump met privately. Trump selected Governor Mike Pence of Indiana on July 15.
In 2016, along with U.S. Senators Deb Fischer, Charles Grassley, and Ben Sasse, Ernst introduced "Sarah's Law" in honor of Sarah Root, a 21-year-old female student in Omaha who was killed in a street racing crash in January 2016.
Joni Ernst