John Thune

John Thune
U.S. Senate Photographic Studio · Public domain · source
Name	John Thune
Caption	United States Senator from South Dakota
State	South Dakota
Party	Republican
Term start	January 3, 2005
Preceded	Tom Daschle
Office2	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Dakota's at-large district
Term start2	January 3, 1997
Term end2	January 3, 2003
Preceded2	Tim Johnson
Succeeded2	Bill Janklow
Birth date	7 January 1961
Birth place	Pierre, South Dakota
Spouse	Kimberley Thune
Alma mater	Biola University (BA), University of South Dakota (MBA)

John Thune is an American politician serving as the senior United States Senator from South Dakota since 2005. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as the U.S. Representative for South Dakota's at-large district from 1997 to 2003. Thune holds a leadership position as the Senate Minority Whip and is known as a prominent conservative voice in the United States Congress.

Early life and education

John Thune was born in Pierre, South Dakota, and grew up in the nearby city of Murdo. His father, Harold Thune, was a United States Navy pilot who served during World War II. Thune attended Biola University in La Mirada, California, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in business in 1983. He later received a Master of Business Administration from the University of South Dakota in 1984. During his early career, he worked as a legislative aide for Senator James Abdnor and served as the executive director of the South Dakota Republican Party.

Early political career

Thune's first foray into elected office was in the South Dakota Senate, where he served from 1991 to 1996. In 1996, he was elected to the United States House of Representatives, succeeding Tim Johnson who had run for the United States Senate. During his three terms in the House of Representatives, Thune served on influential committees including the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. He built a reputation as a reliable conservative, aligning with the agenda of then-Speaker Newt Gingrich and later supporting the policies of President George W. Bush.

U.S. Senate career

In 2002, Thune ran for the United States Senate but was narrowly defeated by incumbent Tim Johnson. He achieved national prominence in 2004 by defeating Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle in a highly publicized and expensive race, marking the first time a sitting Senate party leader had lost re-election since 1952. Since joining the United States Senate, Thune has served on several key committees, including the Commerce Committee, the Agriculture Committee, and the Finance Committee. He was elected Senate Republican Whip in 2019, making him the second-ranking Republican in the Senate Republican Conference.

Political positions

Thune is a staunch conservative with a voting record that strongly supports Republican priorities. He has been a vocal advocate for tax cuts, supporting legislation like the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. On social issues, he holds a pro-life stance and has received high ratings from organizations such as the National Right to Life Committee. Regarding foreign policy, he is a strong supporter of the State of Israel and has taken a hawkish stance toward nations like Iran and North Korea. Thune has also been a prominent voice on technology and telecommunications policy, advocating for expanded rural broadband access. During the Presidency of Donald Trump, he was generally supportive of the administration's judicial appointments and regulatory rollbacks.

Personal life

John Thune is married to Kimberley Thune, and the couple has two daughters. He is an active member of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church and has been open about his Christian faith. Thune is an avid sports fan, particularly of basketball, and played the sport during his time at Biola University. He maintains a residence in Sioux Falls and is involved in various community organizations across South Dakota.

Category:1961 births Category:Living people Category:United States senators from South Dakota