Dennis Daugaard | |
|---|---|
 Daugaard in 2017 | |
| 32ndGovernor of South Dakota | |
| In office January 8, 2011 – January 5, 2019 | |
| Lieutenant | Matt Michels |
| Preceded by | Mike Rounds |
| Succeeded by | Kristi Noem |
| 37thLieutenant Governor of South Dakota | |
| In office January 7, 2003 – January 8, 2011 | |
| Governor | Mike Rounds |
| Preceded by | Carole Hillard |
| Succeeded by | Matt Michels |
| Member of theSouth Dakota Senate from the 9th district | |
| In office January 7, 1997 – January 7, 2003 | |
| Preceded by | Mark E. Rogen |
| Succeeded by | Tom Dempster |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Dennis Martin Daugaard (1953-06-11)June 11, 1953 (age 71) Garretson, South Dakota, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives | Tony Venhuizen (son-in-law) |
| Education | University of South Dakota (BS) Northwestern University (JD) |
| Signature |  |
Dennis Martin Daugaard (born June 11, 1953) is an American attorney and politician who served as the 32ndgovernor of South Dakota from 2011 to 2019. A member of theRepublican Party, he was the first chief executive of a U.S. state to be thechild of deaf parents.[1][2][3] Before being elected governor, he was a lawyer, banker, development director for a nonprofit organization; he also served as astate senator from 1997 to 2003 and the 37thlieutenant governor of South Dakota from 2003 to 2011.
Dennis Martin Daugaard was born in 1953 and raised on a family farm nearGarretson, South Dakota, the son of Florence Margaret (Kennedy) and Raymond Victor Daugaard.[4] Both his parents were deaf. His paternal grandparents were immigrants fromDenmark.[5] While Dennis Daugaard was growing up, his family's primary language at home wasAmerican Sign Language.[2] Daugaard went to a local one-room country school as a child. For high school, he had to go to the city ofDell Rapids; there he played the French horn. He graduated in 1971.[5]
Daugaard attended theUniversity of South Dakota in Vermillion where he was advised byWilliam O. Farber. He graduated from USD in 1975 with aBachelor of Science in government and fromNorthwestern University School of Law in 1978.[5] Daugaard worked to pay his way through law school as an ASL interpreter, a bus driver, a law clerk and a security guard.[2]
Daugaard worked as an attorney inChicago from 1978 to 1981 before returning to South Dakota. He married Linda Schmidt that year and they have three children:[5] Laura, who is married to Jay Mitchell; Sara, who is married to Tony Venhuizen; and Christopher, who is married to Emily Conway.[6]
Daugaard worked as an executive banker inSioux Falls, South Dakota, from 1981 to 1990. He then worked for the Children's Home Society of South Dakota, as Development Director from 1990 to 2002 and Executive Director from 2002 to 2009.[5]
Daugaard's first entry into electoral politics came in 1996, when he was elected to the South Dakota State Senate as a Republican. He remained a state senator until he was elected the 37thLieutenant Governor of South Dakota in 2002 as the running mate of GovernorMike Rounds, a position he held for eight years.
While serving in the state legislature, Daugaard said his priorities were helping children and the disabled, as well as reducing crime.[7]
Daugaard was elected lieutenant governor in 2002 and reelected in 2006. As a lieutenant governor, he served as thePresident of the South Dakota Senate.[5] In addition, he served as the chair of the Workers' Compensation Advisory Council, which reviews and makes recommendations regarding South Dakota's worker compensation program.[citation needed] While lieutenant governor, Daugaard also fulfilled other duties assigned by the governor and delegated by the state constitution. He served as a member of a commission that dealt with state constitutional amendments and was chairman of a task force that considered options to reduce the number of South Dakotans lacking health insurance.[citation needed]
In 2009, Daugaard promoted legislation to establish the South Dakota Ellsworth Development Authority to promote and manage economic development inRapid City and other areas surroundingEllsworth Air Force Base in western South Dakota.[citation needed] He has also promoted the Honor Flight program, which honorsWorld War II veterans.[7]
In 2010 Daugaard ran for the Republican nomination for governor. He won the primary election against several other candidates. Daugaard choseMatt Michels as his running mate. His campaign was led by his son-in-law Tony Venhuizen.
The Daugaard/Michels ticket beatDemocratic nomineesScott Heidepriem and Ben Arndt by 61.5% to 38.5% in the November general election.[8] Daugaard was the first child of deaf adults to be elected governor of any state. During his campaign, he stressed that he has often promoted issues affecting the deaf and hard of hearing, and is sympathetic to their children, most of whom are hearing, as he is.[2]
Daugaard and Michels were reelected in 2014.
In 2011, Daugaard established the first Office of Tribal Relations in his cabinet, appointing J.R. LaPlante (Cheyenne River Sioux) as its secretary. No other state government has such an office. LaPlante had a law practice in Vermillion, and had served as the "chief judge and court administrator for theCrow Creek Sioux Tribe in Fort Thompson. In addition, he had served as an administrative officer for the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe."[9] He worked with Daugaard to build government-to-government working relationships on issues such as "housing, economic development, public safety, and human services."[9] He used mediation to resolve conflicts, for instance reaching agreement among state, county and tribal officials in Charles Mix County to recognize the Yankton Sioux's historical presence in highway signage.[9] In 2011, Daugaard appointedDusty Johnson as his chief of staff. In 2014, he appointed his son-in-law and former campaign director Tony Venhuizen as his chief of staff.
According to aMorning Consult poll conducted from May through September 2016, Daugaard was the most popular governor of any U.S. state, with a 74% statewide approval rating.[10] In rankings published in July 2018, he was 5th most popular, with an approval rating of 61%.[11]
On October 23, 2018, Daugaard endorsedKristi Noem for governor in the imminent election.[12]
| South Dakota State Senate 9th District Election, 1996 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican |  Dennis Daugaard | 5,419 | 59.13 |
| Democratic | Mark Rogen (inc.) | 3,746 | 40.87 |
| South Dakota State Senate 9th District Election, 1998 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Dennis Daugaard (inc.) | 4,581 | 62.38 |
| Democratic | Mark Anderson | 2,763 | 37.62 |
| South Dakota State Senate 9th District Election, 2000 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Dennis Daugaard (inc.) | 6,218 | 66.65 |
| Democratic | Donald Beaner | 3,111 | 33.35 |
| South Dakota Governor Republican Primary Election, 2010 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Dennis Daugaard | 42,261 | 50.42 |
| Republican | Scott Munsterman | 14,726 | 17.57 |
| Republican | Dave Knudson | 13,218 | 15.77 |
| Republican | Gordon Howie | 10,426 | 12.44 |
| Republican | Ken Knuppe | 3,186 | 3.80 |
| South Dakota Governor Election, 2010 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Dennis Daugaard | 195,046 | 61.51 |
| Democratic | Scott Heidepriem | 122,037 | 38.49 |
| South Dakota Governor Republican Primary Election, 2014 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Dennis Daugaard (inc.) | 60,017 | 80.87 |
| Republican | Lora Hubbel | 14,196 | 19.13 |
| South Dakota Governor Election, 2014 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Dennis Daugaard (inc.) | 195,477 | 70.47 |
| Democratic | Susan Wismer | 70,549 | 25.43 |
| Independent | Michael Myers | 11,377 | 4.10 |
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Republican nominee forLieutenant Governor of South Dakota 2002,2006 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Republican nominee forGovernor of South Dakota 2010,2014 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota 2003–2011 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by Mike Rounds | Governor of South Dakota 2011–2019 | Succeeded by Kristi Noem |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded byas Former US Senator | Order of precedence of the United States Within South Dakota | Succeeded byas Former Governor |
| Preceded byas Former Governor | Order of precedence of the United States Outside South Dakota | Succeeded byas Former Governor |
| Governors |  | |
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| Lieutenant governors | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
