The south dakota delegation

congressional officials …

South Dakota’s state congressional delegation is small but influential, thanks largely to Senator John Thune’s leadership role, memberships on the Finance and Budget Committees, and ranking member status on the Commerce Committee.

All three members of the 2022-2023 class are male, and there is no minority representation. None of the delegation members are lawyers, although one is a former governor.

The average tenure for the delegation currently is only three terms, assuming, of course, everyone completes their service by the end of 2024. The longest-serving member has been in Congress since 1997.

When you look at these profiles, we have given each a letter grade for their effort this Congress, based on various factors, which you will find in What Is Thomas Looking For? These letter grades are probably pretty familiar to you if you have ever been a school student (we hope the answer to that is we all have!)

If you see a meager score for a particular member, it will probably be due to one or two key factors: ethics challenges or anti-democratic behavior.

• Republicans have been hit hard on their lack of pushback on former President Trump and their support of election denying in the 2020 presidential campaign. The unanswered soaring deficit on their watch, the dismantling of allied relationships around the globe, and opposition to funding anti-authoritarian initiatives. The denial of climate change weighs heavily on us as well. We make no secret that transparency and Government in the Sunshine are essential to us, and we further argue that some have been awful stewards of this category. None of the South Dakota delegation members voted to overturn the 2020 presidential election results on the same evening as Trump supporters stormed the United States Capitol.

• Democrats have been hit hard for their lack of progress on critical matters because they control the United States Senate and have a razor-close margin in the U.S. House of Representatives. They have not been innovative or necessarily insistent on finding rational, reasonable solutions to the problems plaguing the American public today. We want to see more and better.

• Both have been dinged for being too partisan and not collaborative where evident. In our opinion, being too doctrinaire or an obstructionist to good government in the 21st century does not get one a good grade from Thomas.

We also indicate what we believe might be the outcome of these Members’ 2024 elections today.

Our prospect ratings fall into three categories:

• Safe Bet - which means what it means. These members of Congress are running strong and look to be overwhelming prospects for re-election at this time. However, we reserve the right to re-categorize their chances if necessary.

• It’s A Race - means this race is too close to call, and we can not reasonably predict who will win this seat.

• Nudging - means the seat is leaning one way or another for this candidate. We have just a small number of current members of Congress in this category. Stay tuned!

So, would you like to meet these fascinating South Dakotans? If so, keep reading on!

What is Thomas looking for?

There are no vulnerable races in South Dakota for Thomas to watch in 2024.

the senators

United States Senator John thune (r)

John Thune is South Dakota’s senior senator serving in his fourth term in the U.S. Senate. Thune is also the Senate Minority Whip.  Before his election to the Senate, Thune was the at-large member of the House for the state from 1997 to 2003.  He defeated the Senate Minority Leader, Tom Daschle, to win election to the upper chamber.  Thune is married, is the father of two, and is a graduate of Biola University with a Master’s degree from the University of South Dakota. He serves on the Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee; the Finance Committee; the Budget Committee; and is ranking on the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee.

Thomas Take: Not up for re-election in 2024

Thomas Rank: A

Website

United states senator mike rounds (r)

South Dakota’s junior senator is serving in his second term in the U.S. Senate.  A former businessman who graduated from South Dakota State University, Rounds was the Governor of South Dakota from 2003 to 2011.  He serves on the Armed Services Committee; the Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee; the Environment and Public Works Committee; and the Veterans’ Affairs Committee.  Senator Rounds is a widower and father of four.

Thomas Take: Not up for re-election in 2024

Thomas Rank: B

Website

the representatives