MOST RATED
Dakota Free Press
Arnold Fails to Qualify for Governor’s Race; Statewide Candidates Average 86% Valid Signatures
Senator Mike Rounds successfully qualified for the U.S. Senate ballot with a high validity rate of over 91 percent.
Budget80%
SITTING SENATOR · SOUTH DAKOTA · REPUBLICANSITTING SENATOR · SOUTH DAKOTA · REP
Mike Rounds
Mike Rounds has represented South Dakota in the U.S. Senate since 2015. Chair of two Senate subcommittees: Cybersecurity; and Securities, Insurance, and Investment.
Rounds served in the South Dakota Senate from 1991 to 2001, including as majority leader from 1995 to 2000, and was governor from 2003 to 2011.
Rounds earned a Bachelor of Science degree from South Dakota State University in 1977 and was a businessman. Rounds served in the South Dakota Senate from 1991 to 2001, including as majority leader from 1995 to 2000, then served as governor from 2003 to 2011. Elected to the U.S. Senate in 2014, Rounds began serving in 2015 and won reelection in 2020.Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Party
- Republican
- In Senate
- Since 2015
- Age
- 71
- Committees
- 6 · 2 chair
- Next election
- Nov 3, 2026
- SENATE SINCE
- 2015
- COMMITTEES
- 6
- AGE
- 71
Photo: Official portrait, Office of Mike Rounds / Public domain
TAP A TAB FOR RECORD, VOTES, BILLS & MORE
Mike Rounds at a glance
NET READER RATING
▼ 23 PTS IN 30 DAYS+19
▲ 99 GOOD LOOK167 VOTES68 BAD LOOK ▼
COVERAGE MIX · 29 STORIES
Click a row to open that column below.SENTIMENT BY TOPIC
NETLATEST ACTIVITY
NEWSThe senators spending the most on flights Axios · Sep 26STATED POSITIONS
2026 SD U.S. Senate class 2 general election · 2026-11-03 · No sourced statements are available for this campaign yet.
Mike Rounds’s record in the 119th Congress
- Participation
- 99%
- ▎ SENATE MEDIAN 98%
- Missed 8 of 915 roll calls this Congress.
- Party unity
- 99%
- ▎ REP MEDIAN 100%
- Level with the median Senate Republican.
- Bipartisan bills
- 56%
- ▎ SENATE MEDIAN 43%
- Share of sponsored bills with at least one Democratic cosponsor.
- Bill success
- 8%
- ▎ SENATE MEDIAN 11%
- Out of committee or further: 5 of 63 sponsored bills.
BROKE WITH PARTY
SEP 29Cloture on proceeding: Eliminate Shutdowns ActNAY
AUG 08Amendment: To strike section 2019NAY
JUN 04Amendment: To reallocate funds that would have been used for the Anti-Weaponization Fund…YEA
SENATE · 119TH CONGRESSMike Rounds’s voting record
Bills sponsored by Mike Rounds in the 119th Congress
63Sponsored
5Out of cmte
2Passed Senate
0Became law
SPONSORED · 119TH CONGRESS
Sponsored63
Out of committee5
Passed Senate2
Became law0
Plus 276 bills cosponsored this Congress.
Mike Rounds’s committee assignments
Armed Services
CHAIR · SUBCMTESUBCOMMITTEESCybersecurity (Chair)Emerging Threats and CapabilitiesStrategic Forces
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
CHAIR · SUBCMTESUBCOMMITTEESSecurities, Insurance, and Investment (Chair)Economic PolicyHousing, Transportation, and Community Development
SUBCOMMITTEESNo subcommittee assignments
Appropriations
MEMBERSUBCOMMITTEESAgriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related AgenciesDepartment of Interior, Environment, and Related AgenciesDepartments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related AgenciesEnergy and Water DevelopmentLegislative BranchMilitary Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies
Mike Rounds’s career and background
PUBLIC SERVICE · 1991 – PRESENT
OFFICE
South Dakota State Senate 1991–01Majority leader 1995–00U.S. Senate · South Dakota 2015–
ALSO: Governor of South Dakota 2003–11
- 2015 – NOWU.S. Senate · South Dakota
- 2003 – 11Governor of South Dakota
- 1991 – 01South Dakota State Senate
- 1995 – 00Majority leader
- BORN
- October 24, 1954 · Huron, South Dakota
- OCCUPATION
- Real-estate agent
- EDUCATION
- Bachelor of Science, South Dakota State University, 1977
2026 election: South Dakota Senate
NEXT ELECTION · CLASS II SEAT
29DAYS
Tuesday, November 3, 2026
LAST R+31.5ON THE BALLOT
IN THIS RACE · 2026
Brian BengsIND$782K raised
STATED POSITIONS
2026 SD U.S. Senate class 2 general election · 2026-11-03 · No sourced statements are available for this campaign yet.
Mike Rounds’s stated positions and sources
Stated positions for the campaign named below. Each summary keeps the conditions in the cited statement.
An unknown topic does not mean support, opposition, or indifference. An office statement describes what the candidate said in office; it is not automatically a campaign pledge.
How we research and check stated positions2026 SD U.S. Senate class 2 general election · 2026-11-03
Economy
Research is not yet complete.
Healthcare
Research is not yet complete.
Immigration
Research is not yet complete.
Education
Research is not yet complete.
Defense
Research is not yet complete.
Climate
Research is not yet complete.
Gun Policy
Research is not yet complete.
Abortion
Research is not yet complete.
Housing
Research is not yet complete.
Taxes
Research is not yet complete.
Voting Rights
Research is not yet complete.
Crime
Research is not yet complete.
Foreign Policy
Research is not yet complete.
Energy
Research is not yet complete.
Other
Research is not yet complete.
Mike Rounds’s campaign fundraising and spending
- RAISED · FULL ELECTION · 2021–26
- $4.5M
- CASH ON HAND
- $2.7M
- SPENT
- $2.3M
WHERE THE MONEY CAME FROM
- Individuals
- $1.3M · 47.9%
- PACs
- $1.4M · 49.8%
- Party
- $62K · 2.2%
AIPAC · 2025–26
AIPAC TRACKER →HOW WE COUNT →- THROUGH AIPAC PAC
- $163K
- Earmarked gifts · 155 donors
- $158K
- From the PAC itself
- $5K
AIPAC-BACKED SUPER PAC (UNITED DEMOCRACY PROJECT)
Earmarked gifts are part of Individuals above. AIPAC PAC filings through Aug 31.- SUPPORTING
- —
- OPPOSING
- —
TOP DONORS
Crowley, ThomasSelf · INVESTOR$11K
Middleman, MichaelFreedom · MANAGER$9K
Whitaker, NicholasSituational Awareness Lp · COO$7K
Reid, ThomasComcast · LAWYER$7K
Raghavan, PrabhakarGoogle · ENGINEER$7K
Popolo, JoeCharles Potomac Capital, LLC · FOUNDER$7K
Popolo, ChrisSelf · PHILANTHROPIST$7K
Lin, TaoAnthropic Pbc · MEMBER OF TECHNICAL STAFF$7K
Golub, LawrenceGolub Capital · CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER$7K
Freeman, NevinConfusion Capital · PRESIDENT$7K
Totals by donor name from itemized FEC receipts: individuals and committees that gave over $200.OUTSIDE SPENDING
- SUPPORTING
- $796K
- OPPOSING
- $0
Defend American Jobs$412K / $0
American Mission$230K / $0
South Dakota Conservative PAC$154K / $0
CAMPAIGN SPENDING
Other$1.2M
Advertising$736K
Materials$19K
Fundraising$6K
How to contact Mike Rounds
WASHINGTON, D.C.
716 Hart Senate Office BuildingWashington, DC 20510(202) 224-5842Call (202) 224-5842ONLINE
Websiterounds.senate.gov
Contact formrounds.senate.gov
Instagram@senatorrounds
YouTubeUC-pvzimyBdpdkcIfsicrfrQ
FacebookSenatorMikeRounds
Write to Sen. RoundsSOUTH DAKOTA'S OTHER SENATOR
Argus Leader
Audit acknowledges 'significantly' slower mail in South Dakota and recommends solutions
Rounds sought the audit and says he will maintain a hold on Postal Service board confirmations until he sees results.
Infrastructure83%
South Dakota War College
Senator Mike Rounds Receives Guardian Award From Lincoln County Sheriff's Office
Rounds received the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office award for his support of local law-enforcement funding and equipment.
Criminal justice▲ 1 · ▼ 0
Aberdeennews
RANCH Act looks to expand grazing land in effort to lower beef prices
Rounds introduced the RANCH Act and described how its proposed grazing program could help cattle producers.
Agriculture83%
AGDAILY
Rounds presses RFK Jr. on ‘real food’ vs. lab-grown meat
Senator Rounds pressed for stricter FDA oversight of lab-grown meat to protect South Dakota's traditional ranching industry.
Agriculture89%
Southdakotasearchlight
Postal Service’s plan to speed up delivery in South Dakota is a ‘good first step,’ US senator says
Rounds welcomed the planned processing changes as an initial step after pressing the Postal Service over service problems.
InfrastructureINFORMATIONAL
Axios
The senators spending the most on flights
An analysis found his office spent the most overall on travel, including more than $625,000 on private charters.
CongressINFORMATIONAL
KELO-LAND TV
Bengs, Rounds share views on AI, Iran
Rounds defended the attack on Iran and described potential benefits of artificial intelligence.
Foreign policy56%
Dakotanewsnow
Inside the Race: Rounds, Bengs talk Senate priorities ahead of November election
Rounds described his priorities on affordability, national security, beef imports and artificial intelligence.
ElectionsINFORMATIONAL
Breitbart
Report: GOP Senators Worry as Battleground Map Widens Ahead of Midterms
Rounds said beef-related trade policy had frustrated producers and weakened support in normally reliable Republican areas.
Elections50%
MOST RATEDKELO-LAND TV
READ: A conversation with U.S. Senate candidates Bengs, Rounds
Rounds declined a debate invitation and discussed his positions on AI, term limits, energy costs and beef imports.
Elections80%
Southdakotasearchlight
Threats to our outdoor way of life present a test for South Dakota’s US senators
The article challenges Rounds’ support for landowner discretion, arguing that permanently certifying inaccurate wetland maps could harm the public.
Environment78%
MOST RATED
Dakota Free Press · 3 MIN READ
Arnold Fails to Qualify for Governor’s Race; Statewide Candidates Average 86% Valid Signatures
Senator Mike Rounds successfully qualified for the U.S. Senate ballot with a high validity rate of over 91 percent.
Record updated . ChamberLight is not an official government source. Reader ratings reflect public reception, not editorial judgment.