Introduction

Biographical Information   Source of Information

Born:   January 7th, 1961

Current Residence:   Sioux Falls, South Dakota (Born in Pierre, SD and raised in Murdo, SD)

Education:    BS, Biola University (1983)
                     MBA, University of South Dakota (1984)

Family:   Wife - Kimberly
                Children - Brittany, Larissa

Religion:   Protestant

Political Party:   Republican

Political Experience:   
-Executive Director, South Dakota Republican Party (1989-1991)
-Representative, United States House of Representatives (1997-2002)
-Candidate, United States Senate (2002)
-Former Republican Assistant Whip, United States House of Representatives
-Senator, United States Senate (2005-present)

Tenure:  In 1996 Thune was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, one of his major campaign promises was that he would only serve three terms as a Representative.  In 2002, honoring his promise, Thune ran for the Senate and narrowly lost the election.  In 2004, Thune ran again and made history by defeating a sitting U.S. Senator party leader for the first time in 52 years.  In 2010, Thune ran unopposed and became the first South Dakotan U.S. Senator to run unopposed since the installment of direct elections in 1913. 

SOUTH DAKOTA

Capital:   Pierre

Nickname:  Mount Rushmore State

Population:   844,877 (as of 2013)

State Bird:   Ring-necked Pheasant

Source for above information

Racial composition of the state according to the 2013 census:

	White alone, percent, 2013 (a)	85.9%
	Black or African American alone, percent, 2013 (a)	1.9%
	American Indian and Alaska Native alone, percent, 2013 (a)	8.9%
	Asian alone, percent, 2013 (a)	1.2%
	Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, percent, 2013 (a)	0.1%
	Two or More Races, percent, 2013	2.1%
	Hispanic or Latino, percent, 2013 (b)	3.4%
	White alone, not Hispanic or Latino, percent, 2013	83.3%

Source for above chart

Fun Facts:

-Home to Mount Rushmore, sculpted by Gutzon Borglum (and team) and started in 1927 took 14 years to complete at a cost of $1 million.   6,200-foot sculpture features the faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln.

-Belle Fourche South Dakota is the geographical center point of the United States of America.

-Home to Homestake Mine the worlds largest underground mine in Lead South Dakota.

-Mitchell South Dakota is home to the worlds only Corn Palace

-Harney Peak, at 7,242 feet above sea level is the highest point in the United States that is east of the Rocky Mountains.

Source for Fun Facts