Who is Bryon Noem? Inside the life of Kristi Noem’s husband amid Corey Lewandowski affair rumors

The personal life of soon-to-be former head of Department of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem has come under renewed scrutiny in Washington after a contentious congressional hearing revived long-circulating rumors about her alleged relationship with political operative Corey Lewandowski. The questioning drew attention not only to the controversy itself but also to the man who has been by Noem’s side for more than three decades, her husband, Bryon Noem.

“At any time during your tenure as director of the Department of Homeland Security, have you had sexual relations with Corey Lewandowski?” Kamlager-Dove asked Noem during the session.

Noem reacted strongly, telling the committee: “Mr. Chairman, I am shocked we are going down and peddling tabloid garbage in this committee today.”


Kristi Noem is a prominent Republican politician who has served as governor of South Dakota and later as US Secretary of Homeland Security. She married her husband, Bryon Noem, in 1992 in Watertown, South Dakota, after meeting as teenagers.

Bryon and Kristi Noem’s relationship dates back to their teenage years in Hamlin County. The two attended the same high school, though Bryon was two years older than Kristi. They were already familiar with one another because Bryon was friends with Kristi’s older brother.


Their relationship began during their teenage years: Kristi started dating Bryon when she was a junior in high school, while he was a freshman in college.

Their marriage has spanned more than three decades, and they have three children, Kassidy, Kennedy, and Booker, and several grandchildren.

Both Bryon and Kristi grew up in farming families, and the couple initially built their life around agriculture in rural South Dakota. After Kristi’s father died in a farming accident in 1994, the pair helped run the family ranch and agricultural business.

Over the years, Bryon has largely stayed out of the national political spotlight, choosing instead to focus on business and family life.

Education and career

Bryon Noem graduated from Northern State University with a degree in business finance. Early in his career he worked as a basketball coach and assisted with farming operations before moving into the insurance industry.

He later joined Bryant State Bank as an insurance agent and eventually purchased the insurance division, rebranding it as Noem Insurance, which he continues to operate.

His work has largely centered on crop insurance and agricultural coverage, reflecting the farming roots of the Noem family. Even while his wife pursued a political career in Congress and later the governor’s office, Bryon maintained his business operations in South Dakota.

When Kristi Noem became governor of South Dakota in 2019, Bryon took on the informal role of First Gentleman of the state.

During that period, he launched an initiative called “This Is South Dakota,” aimed at highlighting rural communities and promoting small-town culture across the state.

Kristi Noem has occasionally spoken publicly about her husband and their family life, often emphasizing their faith and shared values. In a post discussing their marriage, she described Bryon as a devoted father who “loves the Lord” and takes seriously the responsibility of leading their family.