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) |
| Website | |
Marion Michael Rounds (born October 24, 1954) is an American businessman and politician. He is currently a U.S. Senator for South Dakota, a role he has held since 2015. Before becoming a senator, he served as 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, where he earned a degree in political science. He was elected to the South Dakota Senate in 1990 and served there until 2001. In 2002, Rounds ran for governor of South Dakota and won. He was reelected in 2006.
In 2014, Rounds was elected to the U.S. Senate, taking over from Tim Johnson. He was reelected to the Senate in 2020.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Mike Rounds was born in Huron, South Dakota. He is the oldest of 11 children. Since he was three years old, he has lived in Pierre, South Dakota, which is the state capital. He was named after his uncle, Marion Rounds, who died during World War II.
Many members of the Rounds family have worked in state government. His father worked for the state in different roles. His brother, Tim Rounds, was also a member of the South Dakota House of Representatives.
Rounds attended South Dakota State University in Brookings. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in political science from the university.
Business Career
Before his political career, Mike Rounds was a partner in a company called Fischer Rounds & Associates. This company worked in insurance and real estate. It had offices in several cities in South Dakota, including Pierre, Rapid City, Mitchell, Watertown, and Sioux Falls.
South Dakota State Senate
Mike Rounds served as a state senator for South Dakota. This means he helped make laws for the state.
Serving as a State Senator
Rounds represented District 24, which included Pierre. He was first elected in 1990. He won reelection several times in 1992, 1994, 1996, and 1998. He had to leave the Senate in 2001 because of term limits. Term limits are rules that say how long a person can serve in a certain political office.
During his time in the Senate, Rounds became the Senate Minority Whip in 1993. In 1995, his fellow senators chose him to be the Senate Majority Leader.
What He Worked On
As a state senator, Mike Rounds was part of several important committees. These committees focused on different areas, such as:
- Commerce (business and trade)
- Education
- Legislative Procedure (how laws are made)
- Local Government
- Retirement Laws
- State Affairs (important state issues)
- Taxation
Governor of South Dakota
Mike Rounds served as the Governor of South Dakota. The governor is the head of the state government.
Becoming Governor
2002 Election
In 2002, Mike Rounds ran for governor. Many people thought he was not likely to win the Republican nomination at first. However, he won the primary election.
After winning the Republican nomination, Rounds chose Dennis Daugaard as his running mate. They ran against Jim Abbott and Mike Wilson from the Democratic Party.
Mike Rounds was elected governor on November 5, 2002. He and Daugaard won with 56.8% of the votes.
2006 Election
In 2006, Rounds ran for reelection as governor. He and Dennis Daugaard ran again. They were challenged by Jack Billion and Eric Abrahamson from the Democratic Party.
The Rounds/Daugaard team was reelected on November 7, 2006. They won with 61.7% of the votes.
His Time as Governor
As governor, Mike Rounds was a member of the Governors' Council at the Bipartisan Policy Center. He also served as the chairman of the Midwestern Governors Association in 2008.
Political Ideas and Actions
Research Centers
In 2010, Governor Rounds started an initiative to create ten research centers at state universities. These centers helped bring in a lot of money for research from federal and private sources. They also had a big positive impact on the state's economy.
3D-Printed Weapons
Mike Rounds has talked about 3D-printed weapons. He believes this new technology is here to stay. He has suggested using new technologies, like metal detectors that can also find plastic, in places like schools and airports to keep people safe.
U.S. Senate
Mike Rounds is currently a U.S. Senator. A U.S. Senator represents their state in the national government in Washington, D.C.
Senate Elections
2014 Election
In 2014, Mike Rounds decided to run for the United States Senate. The seat was open because Senator Tim Johnson was retiring.
Rounds started his campaign in November 2012. He won the Republican primary election in June 2014 against several other candidates. In the general election, he ran against Rick Weiland (Democrat) and Larry Pressler (Independent).
In November 2014, Mike Rounds was elected to the Senate. He won with 50.37% of the votes.
2020 Election
In the 2020 election, Mike Rounds ran for reelection. He won the Republican primary against Scyller Borglum.
In the general election, he ran against Dan Ahlers, the Democratic candidate. Rounds won with almost 66% of the votes, securing his second term as a U.S. Senator.
2026 Election
On July 21, 2025, former President Donald J. Trump supported Mike Rounds's plan to run for reelection.
His Work in the Senate
Artificial Intelligence
Senator Rounds is very involved in the topic of Artificial Intelligence (AI). He helps lead the Senate AI Caucus. He was also part of a special group that looked into how the government should support and regulate AI. This group suggested that the government should provide a lot of funding for non-defense AI development. Rounds has also introduced bills about AI, including one for a national biomedical database.
Education
In February 2019, Rounds supported a bill called the Employer Participation in Repayment Act. This bill helps employers contribute money to their employees' student loans. This can help employees pay off their loans and encourage people to work for companies that offer this benefit. In November 2024, he introduced a bill that suggests getting rid of the Department of Education.
Environment
In 2017, Rounds was one of many senators who asked President Donald Trump to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement. This agreement is about fighting climate change. Rounds has received financial support from oil, gas, and coal companies. He also supported Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt.
Health Care
Mike Rounds does not support the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare). He has voted to cancel this law. In 2019, he said he supported efforts to overturn it.
2020 Presidential Election
On January 9, 2022, Senator Rounds stated that the 2020 presidential election was fair. He said that while there were some small issues, they were not enough to change the election results in any state. He also said that Republicans should focus on winning future elections.
2021 United States Capitol Attack
On May 28, 2021, Rounds did not vote on whether to create a special group to investigate the events of January 6.
2024 Presidential Election
Rounds first supported Senator Tim Scott for the Republican nomination in the 2024 United States presidential election. After Scott ended his campaign, Rounds then supported Donald Trump.
Senate Committees
Mike Rounds serves on several important committees in the U.S. Senate:
- Committee on Intelligence: This committee deals with national security and intelligence.
- Committee on Armed Services: This committee works on issues related to the military and defense.
- Subcommittee on Airland
- Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support
- Subcommittee on Seapower
- Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: This committee handles topics like banks, housing, and city development.
- Subcommittee on Economic Policy
- Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development (He is the Ranking Member, meaning the top member from the minority party)
- Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Protection
- Committee on Environment and Public Works: This committee focuses on environmental issues and public projects.
- Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water and Wildlife
- Committee on Veterans' Affairs: This committee works on issues important to military veterans.
Caucus Memberships
Rounds is also a member of the Senate Taiwan Caucus. A caucus is a group of lawmakers who come together to work on specific issues or support certain interests.
Personal Life
Mike Rounds met Jean Vedvei while they were both attending South Dakota State University. They got married in 1978 and had four children together. Sadly, Jean Rounds passed away in November 2021 at the age of 65 after battling cancer.
As mentioned before, Mike Rounds's younger brother, Tim Rounds, also served in the South Dakota House of Representatives.
Rounds is a member of the Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Pierre. He also belongs to several community groups and service clubs, such as the Elks, Exchange Club, Knights of Columbus, and Ducks Unlimited.
Honors
In May 2011, South Dakota State University, where Mike Rounds went to college, gave him an honorary doctorate degree. This was to recognize his public service.
Images for kids
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Official portrait, 2015
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Governor Mike Rounds (2004)
See also
In Spanish: Mike Rounds para niños
