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John Thune

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John Thune

John Randolph Thune ( THOON; born January 7, 1961) is an American politician serving as the senior United States senator from South Dakota, a seat he has held since 2005. From 1997 to 2003, Thune served as the U . representative for South Dakota's at-large congressional district. A member of the Republican Party, Thune has served since 2025 as Senate majority leader and Senate Republican leader. Born in Pierre, South Dakota, Thune is a graduate of Biola University and the University of South Dakota. First elected to Congress in 1996, he was reelected in 1998 and 2000 before running for U . Senate in 2002, narrowly losing to incumbent senator Tim Johnson. In 2004, Thune ran for Senate again and defeated Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle. He was reelected in 2010, 2016, and 2022. During his Senate tenure, Thune has served as the Republican chief deputy whip (2007–2009); chair of the Senate Republican Policy Committee (2009–2012); Senate Republican Conference chair (2012–2019); majority whip (2019–2021); and minority whip (2021–2025).

Infobox

Whip
John Barrasso
Preceded by
Tim Johnson
Senate positions
Senate positions Leader of the Senate Republican ConferenceIncumbentAssumed office January 3, 2025Preceded byMitch McConnellSenate Minority WhipIn office January 20, 2021 – January 3, 2025LeaderMitch McConnellPreceded byDick DurbinSucceeded byDick DurbinSenate Majority WhipIn office January 3, 2019 – January 20, 2021LeaderMitch McConnellPreceded byJohn CornynSucceeded byDick DurbinChair of the Senate Commerce CommitteeIn office January 3, 2015 – January 3, 2019Preceded byJay RockefellerSucceeded byRoger WickerChair of the Senate Republican ConferenceIn office January 26, 2012 – January 3, 2019LeaderMitch McConnellVice ChairRoy BluntPreceded byLamar AlexanderSucceeded byJohn BarrassoChair of the Senate Republican Policy CommitteeIn office June 17, 2009 – January 26, 2012LeaderMitch McConnellPreceded byJohn EnsignSucceeded byJohn Barrasso
Leader
Mitch McConnell
Succeeded by
Bill Janklow
Vice Chair
Roy Blunt
Born
John Randolph Thune (1961-01-07) January 7, 1961 Pierre, South Dakota, U .
Party
Republican
Spouse
Kimberley Weems (m. 1984)
Children
2
Education
Biola University (BA) University of South Dakota (MBA)
Website
Senate website Campaign website

Tables

· Electoral history
Party
Party
South Dakota's at-large Congressional district Republican primary election, 1996
Party
South Dakota's at-large Congressional district Republican primary election, 1996
Candidate
South Dakota's at-large Congressional district Republican primary election, 1996
Votes
South Dakota's at-large Congressional district Republican primary election, 1996
%
Republican
Republican
South Dakota's at-large Congressional district Republican primary election, 1996
Republican
South Dakota's at-large Congressional district Republican primary election, 1996
John R. Thune
South Dakota's at-large Congressional district Republican primary election, 1996
41,322
South Dakota's at-large Congressional district Republican primary election, 1996
59
Republican
Republican
South Dakota's at-large Congressional district Republican primary election, 1996
Republican
South Dakota's at-large Congressional district Republican primary election, 1996
Carole Hillard
South Dakota's at-large Congressional district Republican primary election, 1996
28,139
South Dakota's at-large Congressional district Republican primary election, 1996
40
South Dakota's at-large Congressional district Republican primary election, 1996
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
John R. Thune
41,322
59
Republican
Carole Hillard
28,139
40
South Dakota's at-large congressional district: Results 1996–2000 · Electoral history
1996
1996
Year
1996
Democratic
Rick Weiland
Votes
119,547
Pct
37%
Republican
John R. Thune
Votes
186,393
Pct
58%
3rd Party
Stacey L. Nelson
Party
Independent
1998
1998
Year
1998
Democratic
Jeff Moser
Votes
64,433
Pct
25%
Republican
John R. Thune (incumbent)
Votes
194,157
Pct
75%
2000
2000
Year
2000
Democratic
Curt Hohn
Votes
78,321
Pct
25%
Republican
John R. Thune (incumbent)
Votes
231,083
Pct
73%
3rd Party
Brian Lerohl
Party
Libertarian
Year
Democratic
Votes
Pct
Republican
Votes
Pct
3rd Party
Party
1996
Rick Weiland
119,547
37%
John R. Thune
186,393
58%
Stacey L. Nelson
Independent
1998
Jeff Moser
64,433
25%
John R. Thune (incumbent)
194,157
75%
2000
Curt Hohn
78,321
25%
John R. Thune (incumbent)
231,083
73%
Brian Lerohl
Libertarian
Senate elections in South Dakota: Results 2002–2022 · Electoral history
2002
2002
Year
2002
Democratic
Tim Johnson (incumbent)
Votes
167,481
Pct
50%
Republican
John R. Thune
Votes
166,949
Pct
49%
3rd Party
Kurt Evans
Party
Libertarian
2004
2004
Year
2004
Democratic
Tom Daschle (incumbent)
Votes
193,340
Pct
49%
Republican
John R. Thune
Votes
197,848
Pct
51%
2010
2010
Year
2010
Republican
John R. Thune (incumbent)
Votes
227,947
Pct
100%
2016
2016
Year
2016
Democratic
Jay Williams
Votes
104,140
Pct
28%
Republican
John R. Thune (incumbent)
Votes
265,516
Pct
72%
2022
2022
Year
2022
Democratic
Brian Bengs
Votes
91,007
Pct
26 %
Republican
John R. Thune (incumbent)
Votes
242,316
Pct
69 %
3rd Party
Tamara Lesnar
Party
Libertarian
Year
Democratic
Votes
Pct
Republican
Votes
Pct
3rd Party
Party
2002
Tim Johnson (incumbent)
167,481
50%
John R. Thune
166,949
49%
Kurt Evans
Libertarian
2004
Tom Daschle (incumbent)
193,340
49%
John R. Thune
197,848
51%
2010
John R. Thune (incumbent)
227,947
100%
2016
Jay Williams
104,140
28%
John R. Thune (incumbent)
265,516
72%
2022
Brian Bengs
91,007
26 %
John R. Thune (incumbent)
242,316
69 %
Tamara Lesnar
Libertarian
· External links
Party political offices
Party political offices
U . House of Representatives
Party political offices
Preceded byLarry Pressler
Preceded byLarry Pressler
U . House of Representatives
Preceded byLarry Pressler
U . House of Representatives
Republican nominee for U . Senator from South Dakota (Class 2) 2002
U . House of Representatives
Succeeded byJoel Dykstra
Preceded byRon Schmidt
Preceded byRon Schmidt
U . House of Representatives
Preceded byRon Schmidt
U . House of Representatives
Republican nominee for U . Senator from South Dakota (Class 3) 2004, 2010, 2016, 2022
U . House of Representatives
Most recent
Preceded byBob Bennett
Preceded byBob Bennett
U . House of Representatives
Preceded byBob Bennett
U . House of Representatives
Senate Republican Chief Deputy Whip 2007–2009
U . House of Representatives
Succeeded byRichard Burr
Preceded byJohn Cornyn
Preceded byJohn Cornyn
U . House of Representatives
Preceded byJohn Cornyn
U . House of Representatives
Vice Chair of the Senate Republican Conference 2009
U . House of Representatives
Succeeded byLisa Murkowski
Preceded byJohn Ensign
Preceded byJohn Ensign
U . House of Representatives
Preceded byJohn Ensign
U . House of Representatives
Chair of the Senate Republican Policy Committee 2009–2012
U . House of Representatives
Succeeded byJohn Barrasso
Preceded byLamar Alexander
Preceded byLamar Alexander
U . House of Representatives
Preceded byLamar Alexander
U . House of Representatives
Chair of the Senate Republican Conference 2012–2019
Preceded byJohn Cornyn
Preceded byJohn Cornyn
U . House of Representatives
Preceded byJohn Cornyn
U . House of Representatives
Senate Republican Whip 2019–2025
U . House of Representatives
Succeeded byJohn Barrasso
Preceded byMitch McConnell
Preceded byMitch McConnell
U . House of Representatives
Preceded byMitch McConnell
U . House of Representatives
Senate Republican Leader 2025–present
U . House of Representatives
Incumbent
U . Senate
U . Senate
U . House of Representatives
U . Senate
Preceded byTom Daschle
Preceded byTom Daschle
U . House of Representatives
Preceded byTom Daschle
U . House of Representatives
U . Senator (Class 3) from South Dakota 2005–present Served alongside: Tim Johnson, Mike Rounds
U . House of Representatives
Incumbent
Preceded byKay Bailey Hutchison
Preceded byKay Bailey Hutchison
U . House of Representatives
Preceded byKay Bailey Hutchison
U . House of Representatives
Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee 2013–2015
U . House of Representatives
Succeeded byBill Nelson
Preceded byJay Rockefeller
Preceded byJay Rockefeller
U . House of Representatives
Preceded byJay Rockefeller
U . House of Representatives
Chair of the Senate Commerce Committee 2015–2019
U . House of Representatives
Succeeded byRoger Wicker
Preceded byJohn Cornyn
Preceded byJohn Cornyn
U . House of Representatives
Preceded byJohn Cornyn
U . House of Representatives
Senate Majority Whip 2019–2021
U . House of Representatives
Succeeded byDick Durbin
Preceded byDick Durbin
Preceded byDick Durbin
U . House of Representatives
Preceded byDick Durbin
U . House of Representatives
Senate Minority Whip 2021–2025
Preceded byChuck Schumer
Preceded byChuck Schumer
U . House of Representatives
Preceded byChuck Schumer
U . House of Representatives
Senate Majority Leader 2025–present
U . House of Representatives
Incumbent
U . order of precedence (ceremonial)
U . order of precedence (ceremonial)
U . House of Representatives
U . order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byChuck Grassleyas President pro tempore of the US Senate
Preceded byChuck Grassleyas President pro tempore of the US Senate
U . House of Representatives
Preceded byChuck Grassleyas President pro tempore of the US Senate
U . House of Representatives
Order of precedence of the United States as Senate Majority Leader
U . House of Representatives
Succeeded byChuck Schumeras Senate Minority Leader
Preceded byLindsey Graham
Preceded byLindsey Graham
U . House of Representatives
Preceded byLindsey Graham
U . House of Representatives
United States senators by seniority 14th
U . House of Representatives
Succeeded byBernie Sanders
U . House of Representatives
Preceded byTim Johnson
Member of the U . House of Representatives from South Dakota's at-large congressional district 1997–2003
Succeeded byBill Janklow
Party political offices
Preceded byLarry Pressler
Republican nominee for U . Senator from South Dakota (Class 2) 2002
Succeeded byJoel Dykstra
Preceded byRon Schmidt
Republican nominee for U . Senator from South Dakota (Class 3) 2004, 2010, 2016, 2022
Most recent
Preceded byBob Bennett
Senate Republican Chief Deputy Whip 2007–2009
Succeeded byRichard Burr
Preceded byJohn Cornyn
Vice Chair of the Senate Republican Conference 2009
Succeeded byLisa Murkowski
Preceded byJohn Ensign
Chair of the Senate Republican Policy Committee 2009–2012
Succeeded byJohn Barrasso
Preceded byLamar Alexander
Chair of the Senate Republican Conference 2012–2019
Preceded byJohn Cornyn
Senate Republican Whip 2019–2025
Succeeded byJohn Barrasso
Preceded byMitch McConnell
Senate Republican Leader 2025–present
Incumbent
U . Senate
Preceded byTom Daschle
U . Senator (Class 3) from South Dakota 2005–present Served alongside: Tim Johnson, Mike Rounds
Incumbent
Preceded byKay Bailey Hutchison
Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee 2013–2015
Succeeded byBill Nelson
Preceded byJay Rockefeller
Chair of the Senate Commerce Committee 2015–2019
Succeeded byRoger Wicker
Preceded byJohn Cornyn
Senate Majority Whip 2019–2021
Succeeded byDick Durbin
Preceded byDick Durbin
Senate Minority Whip 2021–2025
Preceded byChuck Schumer
Senate Majority Leader 2025–present
Incumbent
U . order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byChuck Grassleyas President pro tempore of the US Senate
Order of precedence of the United States as Senate Majority Leader
Succeeded byChuck Schumeras Senate Minority Leader
Preceded byLindsey Graham
United States senators by seniority 14th
Succeeded byBernie Sanders

References

  1. bioguide
    https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/t000250
  2. "John Thune ancestry"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20150518075802/http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~battle/senators/thune.htm
  3. "2012 Presidential Candidates Parents and Grandparents comparison"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20130301235101/http://2012.presidential-candidates.org/Parents-Grandparents.php
  4. keloland
    https://web.archive.org/web/20150128112721/http://www.keloland.com/newsdetail.cfm/harold-thune-fighter-pilot-signs-artwork/?id=114121
  5. Argus Leader
    https://www.argusleader.com/story/news/2020/08/15/harold-thune-fighter-pilot-father-u-s-senator-dies-at-100/5593376002/
  6. washingtonian
    https://washingtonian.com/2024/11/13/5-things-to-know-about-john-thune-the-new-senate-majority-leader/
  7. "John Randolph Thune"
    https://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~battle/senators/thune.htm
  8. "US Sen. John Thune's mother died Wednesday"
    https://www.mitchellrepublic.com/obituaries/us-sen-john-thunes-mother-died-wednesday
  9. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/13/opinion/13brooks.html
  10. Yankton Press & Dakotan
    https://www.yankton.net/archives/article_433c928c-aeca-509c-97ac-2bef303b1820.html
  11. Washington Examiner
    https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/magazine/2003200/dakota-dreaming/
  12. The Chimes
    https://chimesnewspaper.com/1711/archives/features/biola-family-among-influences-for-alumnus-senator/
  13. "After Biola"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20080402065913/http://www.biola.edu/undergrad/after/
  14. 2014 Almanac of American Politics
  15. opensecrets
    http://www.opensecrets.org/revolving/rev_summary.php?id=70171
  16. 1998 Almanac
    https://web.archive.org/web/20121024001258/http://www.nationaljournal.com/pubs/almanac/1998/sd01.htm
  17. "SD At-Large – R Primary Race – Jun 04, 1996"
    http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=442232
  18. "SD At-Large Race – Nov 05, 1996"
    http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=29771
  19. "SD At-Large Race – Nov 03, 1998"
    http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=30891
  20. "SD At-Large Race – Nov 07, 2000"
    http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=705
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