John Thune
- Known for
- South Dakota Senator, Senate Republican Leader
- Born in
- Pierre, United States
- Education
- Master of Business Administration degree, University of South Dakota
John Thune is a senior U.S. Senator from South Dakota, known as an unambiguously conservative but temperamentally moderate Republican. Having risen through the Senate leadership ranks, he was elected Senate Republican Leader in 2024, succeeding Mitch McConnell.
Signature Positions
Thune has focused on conservative principles while also demonstrating a willingness to collaborate on specific legislation:
- Broadband/5G: A leading advocate for expanding rural broadband and 5G deployment, sponsoring related infrastructure and workforce legislation.
- Healthcare: Strongly committed to repealing the Affordable Care Act, co-drafting a key replacement bill in 2017.
- Gun Rights: Supports gun rights, including reciprocity for concealed carry permits, while stating a need to prevent tragedies.
- Trade: Advocates for fair and free trade, cautioning against short-term tariff aid for farmers.
- Judiciary: Supported blocking Obama's Supreme Court nominee in an election year but supported an immediate vote on Trump's nominee.
Notable Tensions
Thune's leadership style and specific actions have created notable political friction:
- Election Integrity: Drew the wrath of Donald Trump for pushing back against 2020 election fraud claims, leading Trump to call for a primary challenge against him in 2022.
- Social Media Bias: Investigated Facebook over alleged anti-conservative bias in its Trending Topics feature, drawing some criticism for government overreach.
- Judicial Appointments: Demonstrated a flexible approach to Supreme Court nominations based on the timing of the election cycle.
Thune is recognized as a significant figure in the Republican party, serving in nearly every major leadership role short of the top spot until his 2024 election. He is noted for his ability to communicate traditional conservatism effectively, positioning himself as an institutionalist and collaborator rather than a pure combatant in the Senate.
