LegiStorm

Biographical

Family:

Press Releases

Education

• University of South Dakota School of Business - MBA (1984)

• Biola University - Bachelor's, business (1983)

  Activities and notes: Basketball

• Jones County (S.D.) High School - Diploma (1979)

Office History

Election Results

• 2017 (Nov. 8, 2016 election)

  U.S. Senate Seat for South Dakota (Class 3)
  John Randolph Thune, 71.83%

  Republican
  Jay Williams, 28.17%

  Democrat

• 2011 (Nov. 2, 2010 election)

  U.S. Senate Seat for South Dakota (Class 3)
  John Randolph Thune, 100.00%

  Republican

• 2005 (Nov. 2, 2004 election)

  U.S. Senate Seat for South Dakota (Class 3)
  John Randolph Thune, 50.58%

  Republican
  Thomas Andrew Daschle (Tom), 49.42%

  Democrat

• 2003 (Nov. 5, 2002 election)

  U.S. Senate Seat for South Dakota (Class 2)
  Timothy Peter Johnson (Tim), 49.62%

  Democrat
  John Randolph Thune, 49.47%

  Republican

• 2001 (Nov. 7, 2000 election)

  At-Large Congressional District of South Dakota
  John Randolph Thune, 73.42%

  Republican
  Curt Hohn, 24.88%

  Democrat
  Brian Lerohl, 1.70%

  Libertarian

• 1999 (Nov. 3, 1998 election)

  At-Large Congressional District of South Dakota
  John Randolph Thune, 75.08%

  Republican
  Jeff Moser, 24.92%

  Democrat

• 1997 (Nov. 5, 1996 election)

  At-Large Congressional District of South Dakota
  John Randolph Thune, 57.67%

  Republican
  Richard Paul Weiland (Rick), 36.99%

  Democrat
  Stacey L Nelson, 3.22%

  Independent
  Kurt Evans, 2.12%

  Independent

Employment History

• South Dakota State Municipal League (1993-1996)

  Executive Director

• South Dakota State Railroad Division (1991-1993)

  Director

• South Dakota Republican Party (1989-1991)

  Executive Director

• Sen. James Abdnor (R-SD) (1985-1986)

  Legislative Aide

Associated Organizations

• Friends of John Thune (South Dakota)

• John Thune for U.S. Senate (South Dakota)

• National League of Cities

• Heartland Values PAC (Jan. 2005-)

  Founder

Awards

• Fueling Growth Award (Growth Energy Inc.) (2021)

• Hero Award (American Trucking Associations Inc.) (Jan. 2020)

• Golden Triangle Award (National Farmers Union) (Sept. 2019)

• Legislative Recognition Award (American Ambulance Association) (June 2019)

• Distinguished Community Health Advocate Award (National Association of Community Health Centers Inc.) (2019)

• Health IT Pioneer Award (Health Innovation Alliance) (Dec. 2018)

• Guardian of Small Business (National Federation of Independent Business Inc.) (Nov. 2018)

• Legislator of the Year (Security Industry Association) (June 2018)

• Freedom to Fly Award (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association) (March 2018)

• Distinguished Community Health Defender Award (National Association of Community Health Centers Inc.) (2018)

• Railroad Achievement Award (Association of American Railroads) (May 2017)

• Spirit of Enterprise Award (U.S. Chamber of Commerce) (March 2017)

• Distinguished Community Health Champion Award (National Association of Community Health Centers Inc.) (2017)

• Manufacturing Legislative Excellence Award (National Association of Manufacturers) (Oct. 2016)

• Golden Triangle Award (National Farmers Union) (Sept. 2016)

• Congressional Internet Freedom Award (Internet Association) (April 28, 2016)

• Legislator of the Year Award (Agricultural Retailers Association) (Feb. 2016)

• Hero of Main Street (National Retail Federation) (July 2015)

• Conservative Achievement Award (American Conservative Union) (May 2015)

• Distinguished Travel Champion Award (U.S. Travel Association) (2015)

• Legislative Award (National Rural Health Association) (2014)

Activities and Interests

• Hobbies: running, pheasant hunting
  

Official Signature

Contact Information

• Email, member official contact form

Office Addresses:

Main Office:

Address:	511 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510-4105
Phone:	202-224-2321
Fax:	202-228-5429

Note: Toll-free, 866-850-3855

View Larger Map

Leadership Office:

Address:	S-208, The Capitol Washington, DC 20510
Phone:	202-224-2708
Fax:	202-224-0037

   » District Offices

Lobbying and Foreign Representation

Listed as lobbyist by registrants:

• Arent Fox LLP (2003)
• Thune Group LLC (2003-2004)

Lobbied on behalf of:

• Bpi Technology Inc.
• Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad Corp.
• Laserscope Inc.
• Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association
• National Milk Producers Federation
See more >>

Privately Financed Travel

8 trips taken between 2000 - 2012 costing $18,735

See map of trips

Personal Financial Disclosures

Disclosures as a member:

Foreign Gifts

• 4/20/2010: 3' x 5' hand-woven Afghan rug. 4' x 6' hand-woven Afghan rug. from Afghanistan ($600.00)
• 8/24/2013: Transportation expense from Rwanda
• 12/13/2006: Iraqi rug from Iraq ($300.00)

» See more

Congressional Staff

Committees

• Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee
Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee Conservation, Climate, Forestry and Natural Resources Subcommittee
Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee Livestock, Dairy, Poultry, Local Food Systems and Food Safety and Security Subcommittee
• Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee
Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation Subcommittee
Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee Communications, Media and Broadband Subcommittee, Ranking Member
Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee Surface Transportation, Maritime, Freight and Ports Subcommittee
Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee Tourism, Trade and Export Promotion Subcommittee
• Senate Finance Committee
Senate Finance Committee Health Care Subcommittee
Senate Finance Committee International Trade, Customs and Global Competitiveness Subcommittee
Senate Finance Committee Taxation and IRS Oversight Subcommittee, Ranking Member

Caucuses

• Congressional Arthritis Caucus
• Congressional Brain Injury Task Force
• Congressional Caucus on Parkinson's Disease, Co-Chair
• Congressional Coalition for Autism Research and Education
• Congressional Coalition on Adoption
• Congressional Farmer's Cooperative Caucus, Co-Chair
• Congressional Fire Services Caucus
• Congressional Friends of Norway Caucus
• Congressional Heart and Stroke Coalition
• Congressional Internet Caucus, Co-Chair
• Congressional Multiple Sclerosis Caucus
• Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus
• Congressional Telehealth Caucus
• Congressional Wellness Caucus, Co-Chair
• International Conservation Caucus
• Roosevelt Conservation Caucus, Co-Chair
• Senate Afterschool Caucus
• Senate Air Force Caucus
• Senate ALS Caucus
• Senate Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Anti-Semitism
• Senate Cancer Coalition
• Senate Community Pharmacy Caucus
• Senate Cybersecurity Caucus
• Senate Diabetes Caucus
• Senate General Aviation Caucus
• Senate Impact Aid Coalition, Co-Chair
• Senate Marine Corps Caucus
• Senate National Guard Caucus
• Senate Nursing Caucus
• Senate Pro-Life Caucus
• Senate Recycling Caucus
• Senate Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus
• Senate Republican Capital Markets Task Force
• Senate Republican Conference, Whip
• Senate Rural Education Caucus
• Senate Rural Health Care Caucus
• Senate Task Force on Responsible Fatherhood, Chair
• Senate Travel and Tourism Caucus
• Senate Western Caucus
• Steering Committee on Telehealth and Healthcare Informatics, Honorary Co-Chair

Caught Our Eye

• Boston Dynamics unleashes DLA Piper on AI regulation

  Posted by Keturah Hetrick on Dec. 6, 2023
  As Congress debates regulation of artificial intelligence, Boston Dynamics, the robotics company perhaps best known for its increasingly advanced "robot dogs," has hired its first Washington lobbying force. read more

• Ex-Palantir & CVS lobbyist moves to Sen. Minority Whip

  Posted by Keturah Hetrick on March 21, 2023
  Fresh from Palantir Technologies's government-affairs team, a lobbyist has returned to Senate Republicans. read more

• For many members of Congress, lobbying is a family business

  Posted by Keturah Hetrick on Jan. 11, 2021
  Most U.S. senators eventually will have federal lobbyists in their family, LegiStorm data suggests. The proportion of representatives who will have family lobbying ties is nearly as high. read more

• Congressman’s African trip funded by Hollywood celebrity’s non-profit

  Posted by Nate Hoffman on Jan. 7, 2014
  Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) received the star treatment despite traveling in a war-torn region.The Eastern Congo Initiative, founded by Ben Affleck, paid for the ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee to visit the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda in December. The congressman got the chance to meet various government and civil society leaders while getting to witness first-hand some of ECI's projects. read more

• Posted by Daimon Eklund on March 5, 2013
  Another pair of travelers appear to have suddenly remembered long-forgotten trips they took last year. read more

• Posted by Garrett Snedeker on Oct. 26, 2012
  Fresh lobby filings show a former GOP education policy adviser under Sens. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and John Thune (R-S.D.) is now lobbying with one of the largest groups in town. read more