Mike Rounds
Mike Rounds was born in Huron and raised in Pierre, South Dakota, the oldest of eleven children. He earned a B.S. in political science from South Dakota State University and built a three-decade insurance and real-estate business before entering public service. He served five terms in the South Dakota State Senate (1991–2000), including six years as Senate Majority Leader, and was elected the state's 31st Governor in 2002, serving two terms from 2003 to 2011. He was sworn in to the U.S. Senate in January 2015 and lives in Fort Pierre.
Why they’re
Sensible
Rounds is the rare senator who still sounds like where he's from. On the Armed Services Committee he has fought for Ellsworth and the B-21 Raider program; on agriculture he has been the Senate's most persistent voice for mandatory country-of-origin labeling for beef — a fight South Dakota ranchers have been begging Washington to win for a decade. He co-authored the bipartisan Senate AI Roadmap with Chuck Schumer and Todd Young, showing he'll work across the aisle on hard problems without losing who he is. And in 2025 he met with South Dakotans from 148 different towns, which is the kind of basic accountability every federal officeholder ought to practice.
Key positions
“American cattle producers deserve a level playing field, and consumers deserve to know where their beef comes from.”
“American dominance in AI is a matter of both economic and national security. America's workforce must be equipped to lead the transformation of the economy happening due to AI.”
“Parents and local communities — not Washington bureaucrats — should be the ones making decisions about their children's education.”
“Without this extension, the average South Dakota household would have seen their taxes raise by around $2,400.”
“Harnessing the full potential of AI while minimizing the risks of AI in the near and long term. (Joint statement with Sens. Schumer, Heinrich, Young.)”
Notable votes & actions
Also running for
U.S. Senate · South Dakota
Every other candidate filed for this seat, listed for transparency. Our Sensible slate reflects the full field — not just a single pick.