John Thune

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. In 2025, he became the Senate Majority Leader.

John Thune
Official portrait, 2021
Senate Majority Leader
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2025
Whip	John Barrasso
Preceded by	Chuck Schumer
Leader of the Senate Republican Conference
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2025
Preceded by	Mitch McConnell
Senate Minority Whip
In office January 20, 2021 – January 3, 2025
Leader	Mitch McConnell
Preceded by	Dick Durbin
Succeeded 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
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
Vice Chair	Roy Blunt
Preceded by	Lamar Alexander
Succeeded by	John Barrasso
Chair of the Senate Republican Policy Committee
In office June 17, 2009 – January 26, 2012
Leader	Mitch McConnell
Preceded by	John Ensign
Succeeded by	John Barrasso
United States Senator from South Dakota
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2005 Serving with Mike Rounds
Preceded by	Tom Daschle
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 (1961-01-07) January 7, 1961 (age 64) 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)
Signature
Website	Senate website

Thune was born on January 7, 1961 in Pierre, 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.

In 2024, Thune was elected to be the Senate Republican leader, replacing Mitch McConnell. Thune is the first Senate party leader to have originally taken office as a senator in the 21st century.^[4]