Mike Rounds facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mike Rounds
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Official portrait, 2015
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| United States Senator from South Dakota |
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| Assumed office January 3, 2015 Serving with John Thune
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| Preceded by | Tim Johnson |
| 31st Governor of South Dakota | |
| In office January 7, 2003 – January 8, 2011 |
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| Lieutenant | Dennis Daugaard |
| Preceded by | Bill Janklow |
| Succeeded by | Dennis Daugaard |
| Member of the South Dakota Senate from the 24th district |
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| In office January 3, 1991 – January 3, 2001 |
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| Preceded by | Jacquie Kelley |
| Succeeded by | Patricia de Hueck |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Marion Michael Rounds
October 24, 1954 Huron, South Dakota, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Jean Vedvei
(m. 1978; died 2021) |
| Children | 4 |
| Relatives | Tim Rounds (brother) |
| Education | South Dakota State University (BS) |
Marion Michael Rounds (born October 24, 1954) is an American politician. He is currently a U.S. Senator for South Dakota. He has held this job since 2015. Before that, he was the 31st governor of South Dakota from 2003 to 2011. He is a member of the Republican Party.
Rounds grew up in Pierre, South Dakota. He studied at South Dakota State University. He earned a degree in political science there. In 1990, he was elected to the South Dakota Senate. He served there until 2001. After that, he ran for governor of South Dakota in 2002 and won. He was reelected in 2006. However, he could not run for a third time due to term limits. In 2014, Rounds was elected to the U.S. Senate. He was reelected in 2020.
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Early Life and Career
Mike Rounds was born in Huron, South Dakota. He is the oldest of 11 children. His family moved to Pierre when he was three years old. Many of his family members have worked in state government. His father worked for the state, and his brother Tim Rounds is also a politician.
Rounds earned his college degree from South Dakota State University. He studied political science. After college, he became a partner in an insurance and real estate company. This company had offices in several cities in South Dakota.
Serving in the South Dakota Senate
Rounds represented District 24 in the South Dakota Senate. This district included Pierre. He was first elected in 1990. He won reelection four more times. He had to leave the Senate in 2001 because of rules about how long a person can serve.
During his time in the Senate, Rounds worked on different committees. These included Commerce, Education, and State Affairs. In 1995, his fellow senators chose him to be the Senate Majority Leader. This meant he was in charge of his party's work in the Senate.
Becoming Governor of South Dakota
In 2002, Mike Rounds decided to run for governor of South Dakota. Many people thought he would not win. However, he surprised everyone by winning the Republican primary election. He then chose Dennis Daugaard as his running mate. They won the election on November 5, 2002.
Rounds was reelected as governor in 2006. He won with a large number of votes. He served two terms as governor.
Key Actions as Governor
As governor, Rounds focused on several important areas.
Supporting Research Centers
Governor Rounds started a program in 2010 to create ten research centers at state universities. These centers helped bring in money for research. They also helped the state's economy.
New Technologies
Rounds has talked about new technologies, like 3D-printed weapons. He believes that new technologies will keep changing. He has suggested using new tools, like special metal detectors, in public places.
Serving in the U.S. Senate
After serving as governor, Mike Rounds ran for the United States Senate in 2014. The senator who held the seat, Tim Johnson, was retiring. Rounds won the election and became a U.S. Senator. He was reelected in 2020.
What He Works On
As a U.S. Senator, Mike Rounds works on many important issues.
Artificial Intelligence
Rounds is very interested in AI. He helps lead a group in the Senate that focuses on AI. This group looks at how the government can support and regulate AI. He has also suggested new laws about AI, including how it is used in banking.
Education
Rounds has worked on education issues. He supported a bill that would help employers pay off their employees' student loans. He also introduced a bill that suggests getting rid of the Department of Education.
Environment
Rounds has taken a stand on environmental issues. In 2017, he asked President Donald Trump to remove the United States from the Paris Agreement. This agreement is about fighting climate change. Rounds has also received support from oil, gas, and coal companies.
Health Care
Rounds does not support the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. He has voted to end this healthcare law.
Committee Assignments
Senator Rounds is part of several important committees in the Senate. These committees help make decisions about different topics.
- Committee on Armed Services: This committee deals with the military and national defense.
- Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: This committee handles banking, housing, and city development.
- Committee on Environment and Public Works: This committee works on environmental issues and public projects.
- Committee on Veterans' Affairs: This committee helps people who have served in the military.
About His Life
Mike Rounds met his wife, Jean Vedvei, while they were in college. They got married in 1978 and had four children. Sadly, Jean Rounds passed away in 2021.
Mike Rounds is a member of the Catholic Church. He also belongs to several community groups, like the Elks and Knights of Columbus.
Honors
In 2011, South Dakota State University gave Mike Rounds an honorary degree. This was to recognize his public service.
Images for kids
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Governor Mike Rounds (2004)
See also
In Spanish: Mike Rounds para niños
