U.S. Senator John Thune (R-SD) speaks after a Republican luncheon at the Senate on Capitol Hill in Washington, November 10, 2020.
Erin Scott | Reuters
US Senator John Thune of South Dakota, the second-tier Republican leader in the Senate, announced Saturday that he is seeking re-election to a fourth term in 2022.
Thune, who turned 61 on Friday, has been thinking about retiring from the Senate for months. But he has a clear path to re-election in credibly South Dakota, even after he outraged then-President Donald Trump in late 2020 by speaking out against an attempt to overturn the results. of the presidential election. Since then, Thune has offered limited criticism of Trump’s political imitators, but has mostly focused on tweaking the Democratic Party’s plans.
“I always promise I’ll do the job, even if it’s difficult, uncomfortable, or unloved,” Thune said in a statement on Twitter. “That work continues, which is why after careful consideration and prayer, and with the support of my family, I am begging the South Dakotans for the opportunity to continue serving them here in America. United States Senate.”
Both parties are fighting for control of the closely divided Senate in 2022.
Thune is likely to be Senator Mitch McConnell’s successor as the GOP’s Senate caucus leader. As Thune pondered retirement, powerful Republicans, from McConnell to Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, urged him to seek another six-year term.
Graham said Saturday on Twitter that Thune’s decision is “good news for all who appreciate strong conservative and practical leadership.”
Thune in 2016 gave South Dakota nearly 72% of the vote, but Trump’s suggestion in 2020 that he should face the main challenger has encouraged some Republicans to argue he hasn’t been able to. now loyal enough to the former president. Some little-known Republicans have said they will challenge Thune.
Thune’s choice signals a willingness to challenge Trump, whose influence has frequently forced other previously politically safe Republicans to leave Congress. Formerly elected Republicans who overcame Trump and subsequently retired include former Republican Sensation, Jeff Flake of Arizona and Bob Corker of Tennessee.
Two of the 10 Republicans in the House of Representatives who voted last January to impeach Trump after he called on supporters to attack the Capitol have also decided to leave office: Representative Anthony Gonzalez of Ohio and Adam Kinzinger of Illinois. Additionally, Wyoming Representative Liz Cheney has been removed from her job as House Republican leader and at least two others face key Trump-backed challenges.
If Thune prevails in the primaries or if Trump fails to find a credible opponent to oppose him, Trump risks being seen as having diminished influence within the party.
Thune, the elder statesman of the South Dakota GOP, served in Congress for 22 years and ushered in a period of Republican dominance in state politics. However, he has publicly expressed hesitation about running for another term, calling it a “family decision” as he mulled it over in recent months.
Democrats grasped Thune’s hesitation, pointing out that Brian Bengs, a military veteran and lawyer from Aberdeen, jumped into the race in November.
“South Dakotans deserve a US Senator who really wants the job and will address important issues like health care, education, and well-paying jobs, and that’s why. why it’s so important to elect a Democrat,” said Randy Seiler, chair of the state Democratic Party. , said in a statement.
Thune has $14.8 million in campaign cash, according to the most recent federal report.
