Donald Trump, the president-elect, announced on Wednesday that he has selected former Georgia Senator Kelly Loeffler, a Republican, to lead the Small Business Administration.

Loeffler is a former finance executive and also serves as co-chair of Trump’s inaugural committee. She held her Senate seat from 2020 until 2021 when she was appointed by Governor Brian Kemp after former Senator Johnny Isakson resigned due to health issues.

In a statement and on social media, Trump expressed confidence in Loeffler, stating, “Kelly will leverage her business and governmental expertise to cut red tape and create opportunities for small businesses to expand, innovate, and succeed. She will work to ensure that the SBA remains accountable to taxpayers by tackling waste, fraud, and excessive regulation.”

If the Senate confirms her appointment, Loeffler will lead the Cabinet-level department that supports small businesses through advice, funding, and contracting assistance.

Although she aimed to retain her Senate seat until January 2023, she lost to Democratic Senator Rafael Warnock in the 2020 special election.

While serving in the Senate, Loeffler was a strong supporter of Trump, frequently highlighting her “100% Trump voting record” during her campaigns.

Loeffler, who was born in Bloomington, Illinois to Don and Lynda Loeffler—who were longtime farmers—often shares stories about her rural upbringing. She graduated with an MBA from DePaul University in 1999 and began her career in finance at Citibank. In 2002, she joined the Intercontinental Exchange, working in investor relations.

At the time she was serving in the Senate, she was considered the wealthiest member of Congress.

A significant Republican donor, Loeffler has consistently promoted her conservative values, with a campaign ad even describing her as “more conservative than Attila the Hun.”

According to data from 538, she aligned with Trump’s policies 80% of the time during her tenure.

Initially, she planned to challenge the certification of the Electoral College results for then-President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris but changed her stance following the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

She stated, “The events that transpired have forced me to rethink my position. I can no longer, in good faith, object to the certification of the votes.”