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Republican leader SOBS during dramatic final tribute for Lindsey Graham
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SITTING SENATOR · SOUTH DAKOTA · REPUBLICANSITTING SENATOR · SOUTH DAKOTA · REP
John Thune
John Thune has represented South Dakota in the U.S. Senate since 2005, after serving in the House from 1997 to 2003. Senate Majority Leader.
Thune represented South Dakota in the U.S. House from 1997 to 2003 and held Senate leadership posts as assistant majority leader from 2019 to 2021, majority whip in 2021, and minority whip from 2021 to 2025.
Thune earned a Bachelor of Science from Biola University in 1983 and a Master of Business Administration from the University of South Dakota in 1984. Elected to the U.S. House in 1996, Thune represented South Dakota from 1997 to 2003. After losing a Senate race in 2002, Thune won election to the Senate in 2004 and began serving in 2005. Thune served as assistant Senate majority leader from 2019 to 2021, Senate majority whip in 2021, and Senate minority whip from 2021 to 2025.Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Party
- Republican
- In Senate
- Since 2005
- In Congress
- Since 1997
- Age
- 65
- Committees
- 4
- Next election
- Nov 7, 2028
- SENATE SINCE
- 2005
- CONGRESS SINCE
- 1997
- AGE
- 65
Photo: GPO Pictorial Directory, 119th Congress / Public domain
TAP A TAB FOR RECORD, VOTES, BILLS & MORE
John Thune at a glance
NET READER RATING
NO CHANGE IN 30 DAYS+8
▲ 3,454 GOOD LOOK6,401 VOTES2,947 BAD LOOK ▼
COVERAGE MIX · 248 STORIES
Click a row to open that column below.SENTIMENT BY TOPIC
NETJohn Thune’s record in the 119th Congress
- Participation
- 100%
- ▎ SENATE MEDIAN 98%
- Missed 1 of 915 roll calls this Congress.
- Party unity
- 98%
- ▎ REP MEDIAN 100%
- 2 points below the median Senate Republican.
- Bipartisan bills
- 81%
- ▎ SENATE MEDIAN 43%
- Share of sponsored bills with at least one Democratic cosponsor.
- Bill success
- 24%
- ▎ SENATE MEDIAN 11%
- Out of committee or further: 5 of 21 sponsored bills.
BROKE WITH PARTY
JUL 14Cloture on proceeding: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027NAY
MAR 26Cloture on proceeding: Homeland Security and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations…NAY
MAR 12Cloture on proceeding: Homeland Security and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations…NAY
SENATE · 119TH CONGRESSJohn Thune’s voting record
Bills sponsored by John Thune in the 119th Congress
21Sponsored
5Out of cmte
1Passed Senate
1Became law
SPONSORED · 119TH CONGRESS
Sponsored21
Out of committee5
Passed Senate1
Became law1
| BILL | TITLE · POLICY AREA | STAGE | COSPON. |
|---|---|---|---|
| S. 723 | Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act of 2025NATIVE AMERICANS | Became law | 3 COSPON. |
| S. 5359 | Pennington County Land Conveyance ActPUBLIC LANDS AND NATURAL RESOURCES | Out of committee | 1 COSPON. |
| S. 3725 | Lewis and Clark Regional Water System Expansion Feasibility Study ActWATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT | Out of committee | 5 COSPON. |
| S. 3723 | Western South Dakota Water Supply Project Feasibility Study ActWATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT | Out of committee | 1 COSPON. |
| S. 4448 | Accelerating Broadband Permits Act of 2026SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, COMMUNICATIONS | Out of committee | 2 COSPON. |
| S. 5015 | Broadband MAP Act of 2026SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, COMMUNICATIONS | Introduced | 2 COSPON. |
| S. 4152 | Fertilizer Transparency Act of 2026AGRICULTURE AND FOOD | Introduced | 5 COSPON. |
| S. 3543 | Trade Cheating Restitution Act of 2025FOREIGN TRADE AND INTERNATIONAL FINANCE | Introduced | 5 COSPON. |
| S. 2608 | CRP Improvement and Flexibility Act of 2025AGRICULTURE AND FOOD | Introduced | 3 COSPON. |
| S. 2426 | Equitable Community Access to Pharmacist Services ActHEALTH | Introduced | 33 COSPON. |
| S. 1509 | Strengthening Local Processing Act of 2025AGRICULTURE AND FOOD | Introduced | 3 COSPON. |
| S. 1443 | Mobile Workforce State Income Tax Simplification Act of 2025TAXATION | Introduced | 2 COSPON. |
Plus 69 bills cosponsored this Congress.
John Thune’s committee assignments
SUBCOMMITTEESCommodities, Derivatives, Risk Management, and TradeConservation, Forestry, Natural Resources, and BiotechnologyLivestock, Dairy, Poultry, and Food Safety
SUBCOMMITTEESAviation, Space, and InnovationConsumer Protection, Technology, and Data PrivacySurface Transportation, Freight, Pipelines, and SafetyTelecommunications and Media
Finance
MEMBERSUBCOMMITTEESHealth CareInternational Trade, Customs, and Global CompetitivenessTaxation and IRS Oversight
John Thune’s career and background
PUBLIC SERVICE · 1997 – PRESENT
OFFICE
U.S. House · SD-AL 1997–03U.S. Senate · South Dakota 2005–Majority Leader of the United States Senate 2025–
LEADERSHIPSenate Majority Leader 2025–
ALSO: Assistant Senate Majority Leader 2019–21 · Senate Majority Whip 2021 · Senate Minority Whip 2021–25
- 2025 – NOWMajority Leader of the United States Senate
- 2025 – NOWSenate Majority Leader
- 2005 – NOWU.S. Senate · South Dakota
- 2021 – 25Senate Minority Whip
- 2021Senate Majority Whip
- 2019 – 21Assistant Senate Majority Leader
- 1997 – 03U.S. House · SD-AL
- BORN
- January 7, 1961 · Pierre, South Dakota
- OCCUPATION
- Railway executive and businessperson
- EDUCATION
- Bachelor of Science, Biola University, 1983 · Master of Business Administration, University of South Dakota, 1984
2028 election: South Dakota Senate
NEXT ELECTION · CLASS III SEAT
763DAYS
Tuesday, November 7, 2028
LAST R+43.5
LAST RESULT · NOV 2022 GENERAL
R+43.5John ThuneREP69.6%
Brian BengsDEM26.1%
John Thune’s campaign fundraising and spending
- RAISED · 2025–26 (TWO-YEAR PERIOD)
- $4.1M
- CASH ON HAND
- $18M
- SPENT
- $1.8M
WHERE THE MONEY CAME FROM
- Individuals
- $1.3M · 63.3%
- PACs
- $758K · 36.7%
AIPAC · 2025–26
AIPAC TRACKER →HOW WE COUNT →TOP DONORS
No itemized donors on record for this cycle.CAMPAIGN SPENDING
Other$1.2M
Administrative$202K
Fundraising$71K
Advertising$42K
Refunds$11K
How to contact John Thune
WASHINGTON, D.C.
511 Dirksen Senate Office BuildingWashington, DC 20510(202) 224-2321Call (202) 224-2321ONLINE
Websitethune.senate.gov
Contact formthune.senate.gov
Instagram@senjohnthune
YouTubejohnthune
FacebookLeaderJohnThune
Write to Sen. ThuneSOUTH DAKOTA'S OTHER SENATOR
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Thune praised the Senate-passed bill, saying it could stabilize college athletics and protect opportunities for student-athletes.
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Thune says Trump may be open to AI guardrails and describes the provisions and unresolved issues in his AI bill.
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Thune swings through the South with post-Labor Day fundraising blitz
Thune traveled across several states to raise money for Republican Senate candidates and reinforce his leadership of the conference.
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Tech CEOs call for AI regulation. Trump and Congress are not rushing to act
Thune says he and Amy Klobuchar are working toward guardrails that would address serious threats without stifling innovation.
Tech & privacy86%
MOST RATEDNew York Post
Exclusive | John Thune doubts 'any one person' could fill void left by Sen. Graham's death: 'Really effective voice'
Thune said he was unsure one senator could fill Graham’s role and backed naming a Russia sanctions bill after him.
Foreign policy52%
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John Thune says 'no clear path forward' for clock-change bill
Thune said there was no clear path or consensus for advancing the permanent daylight saving time bill.
CongressINFORMATIONAL
Daily Caller News Foundation
Senate Leadership In Both Parties Dragging Feet On Using Force Of Law To Rein In Flock
The article says Thune had not taken a strong stance against Flock cameras or proposed legislation to address them.
Tech & privacyINFORMATIONAL
Thenationaldesk
Senate's top party leaders point fingers after data center bill fails
Thune accused Senate Democrats of opposing the bill to deny Republicans an election-year win.
Environment53%
The Hill
Live updates: Senate heads out for midterm recess; Trump off to Texas, Oklahoma
Thune is leaving the Senate's unfinished legislative agenda for the lame-duck Congress after the recess.
ElectionsINFORMATIONAL
MOST RATEDJoe.My.God.
Thune: “You Need ID To Shovel Snow In New York City”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune repeated claims on Fox News that New York City requires identification for residents to shovel snow.
Ethics79%
townhall.com
Yes, You Must Vote
Hollis blames Thune for the Senate’s failure to pass the SAVE Act and argues voters should challenge Republicans in primaries rather than stay home.
Elections▲ 0 · ▼ 1
Alternet.org
GOP accused of 'elaborate cover-up' to hide Mitch McConnell's condition
Schaller alleges that Thune’s office is helping conceal McConnell’s condition, an accusation the article does not substantiate with a response.
Ethics80%
Southdakotasearchlight
Threats to our outdoor way of life present a test for South Dakota’s US senators
The article argues Thune should use his leadership influence to defend wetlands protections and criticizes the consequences of silence.
Environment80%
Blaze Media
Republicans keep losing because they won't take hostages
The author argues that Thune should use his influence to secure a vote on the SAVE America Act.
Voting rights▲ 1 · ▼ 3
MOST RATEDDaily Mail · 3 MIN READ
Republican leader SOBS during dramatic final tribute for Lindsey Graham
Thune choked up while remembering Graham on the Senate floor.
Record updated . ChamberLight is not an official government source. Reader ratings reflect public reception, not editorial judgment.