Biography

Marion Michael "Mike" Rounds, born on October 24, 1954, in Huron, South Dakota, is a Republican politician serving as the junior United States Senator from South Dakota since January 3, 2015. He previously served as the 31st Governor of South Dakota from 2003 to 2011 and was a member of the South Dakota State Senate from 1991 to 2000. In the private sector, Rounds built a successful insurance and real estate business with offices throughout the state.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: Bachelor of Science in Political Science from South Dakota State University.

• Political Experience:

  • Elected to the South Dakota State Senate in 1990, representing the 24th district until 2001.
  • Served as Senate Majority Leader from 1995 to 2000.
  • Elected as the 31st Governor of South Dakota in 2002; re-elected in 2006.
  • Elected to the U.S. Senate in 2014; re-elected in 2020.

Notable Achievements and Positions

• Committee Assignments:

  • Serves on the Senate Armed Services; Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs; Veterans’ Affairs; and Environment and Public Works committees.

• Legislative Effectiveness:

  • Named one of the top-10 most effective Republican lawmakers in the 117th Congress by the Center for Effective Lawmaking.

• Legislative Accomplishments:

  • Authored 34 legislative proposals that were signed into law in his first term.
  • Led the repeal of the Affordable Care Act's "Cadillac Tax," preventing increased health care premiums for over 400,000 South Dakotans.
  • Appointed Chairman of the Cybersecurity Subcommittee within the Armed Services Committee, enhancing the cyber readiness of U.S. armed forces.
  • Secured funding for military construction projects at Ellsworth Air Force Base, preparing it to host the B-21 Raider stealth bomber.

• Community Engagement:

  • Responded to over 147,000 constituent communications during his first five years in office.
  • Assisted nearly 3,000 South Dakotans in navigating federal government interactions.

Senator Rounds continues to focus on national defense, cybersecurity, veterans' affairs, and economic development, striving to represent the interests of South Dakotans in the U.S. Senate.