John Thune | |
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Senate Minority Whip | |
Assumed office January 20, 2021 | |
Leader | Mitch McConnell |
Preceded by | Dick Durbin |
Senate Majority Whip | |
In office January 3, 2019 – January 20, 2021 | |
Leader | Mitch McConnell |
Preceded by | John Cornyn |
Succeeded by | Dick Durbin |
United States Senator from South Dakota | |
Assumed office January 3, 2005 Serving with Mike Rounds | |
Preceded by | Tom Daschle |
Chair of the Senate Commerce Committee | |
In office January 3, 2015 – January 3, 2019 | |
Preceded by | Jay Rockefeller |
Succeeded by | Roger Wicker |
Chair of the Senate Republican Conference | |
In office January 26, 2012 – January 3, 2019 | |
Leader | Mitch McConnell |
Preceded by | Lamar Alexander |
Succeeded by | John Barrasso |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Dakota's at-large district | |
In office January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2003 | |
Preceded by | Tim Johnson |
Succeeded by | Bill Janklow |
Personal details | |
Born | John Randolph Thune January 7, 1961 Pierre, South Dakota, U.S. |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse(s) |
Kimberley Weems (m. 1984) |
Children | 2 |
Education | Biola University (BA) University of South Dakota (MBA) |
Website | Senate website |
John Randolph Thune (born January 7, 1961)[1] is an American politician. Thune is the senior United States Senator from South Dakota and a member of the Republican Party. He used to be a United States Representative for South Dakota's at-large congressional district.
Thune was born on January 7, 1961 in Murdo, South Dakota. He is of Norwegian descent.[2] Thune studied at Biola University and at the University of South Dakota. He has been married to Kimberley Weems since 1984. They have two children.
Thune was selected by the Senate Republican Conference to become the Majority Whip for the 116th Congress, replacing Senator John Cornyn of Texas, who was term limited in the position.[3] In 2021, he became Senate Minority Whip.