If confirmed by the Senate, Noem would oversee the DHS, a 245,000-employee federal department whose mission is protecting the people of the United States. For context, the largest city in South Dakota is Sioux Falls, with 213,000 residents. South Dakota has a population of more than 800,000 residents.

Throughout the country, Noem’s focus on the border has endeared her to the Republican grass roots. The Shelby County GOP, in Tennessee, honored Noem at its annual Lincoln Day dinner over the summer, said the local party’s chairman, Cary Vaughn, because, “She’s a great zealot and advocate for fighting for border control.”

Gov. Kristi Noem’s handling of several key issues in South Dakota offers a lens into how she may manage her sprawling responsibilities at the Department of Homeland Security.

Having served as South Dakota governor since 2019, Kristi Noem is a loyal Trump ally and would help oversee his immigration crackdown in a second term. She was also in consideration for Trump’s running mate before early excerpts of her book revealed she killed her hunting dog 20 years ago.