2028 Republican presidential nominee
$47.2M
NOV 7, 2028Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleU.S. Senator
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyConservative Republican
Age65 years old (Jan 7, 1961)
GenderMale
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LocationSouth Dakota
BackgroundPolitician
EducationBiola University (BA)
Notable personal detailsJohn Randolph Thune is a Republican U.S. senator from South Dakota, serving since January 3, 2005, and Senate Majority Leader since January 3, 2025. He previously served as South Dakota’s at-large member of the U.S. House of Representatives (1997–2003) and has held multiple Senate Republican leadership roles, including Republican whip (2019–2025). Thune earned a BA from Biola University and an MBA from the University of South Dakota.
SourcesShowHide
Positions
Economy & Taxes
John Thune supports pro-growth tax cuts and has strongly backed the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and related business tax relief while opposing proposals to raise capital gains or other taxes on family businesses and farms. He frames tax policy around lowering rates, expanding deductions for businesses, and keeping more income with taxpayers to spur investment and job growth.
Healthcare
Supports market-based health care reforms that increase competition and consumer choice rather than expanding the government’s role; opposes Medicare for All and favors changes to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act that slow federal growth and reduce mandates while supporting rural access and telehealth.
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Immigration & Border
Supports stronger border security and enforcement-focused immigration policies, including increased Border Patrol and ICE staffing, expanded detention and deportations, limits on asylum/parole abuse, and physical barriers and technology at the southern border. Argues illegal immigration must be stopped and emphasizes enforcement and removals rather than broad regularization pathways.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Supports significant restrictions on abortion while opposing broad, unrestricted access. Has backed federal limits such as pain-capable/20-week protections, promoted born-alive protections, and describes himself as pro-life with a 100% pro-life voting record.
Climate & Energy
Supports an "all-of-the-above" energy approach that includes renewables but emphasizes continued use and expansion of conventional fossil fuels, energy independence, and reduced regulatory burdens. Criticizes aggressive Biden administration climate regulations and favors policies that prioritize domestic oil, natural gas, biofuels, and other American energy production.
Public Safety & Guns
The candidate consistently defends broad Second Amendment rights, opposes new federal assault-weapons bans and ATF actions he views as regulatory overreach, and has signaled reluctance to advance universal background-check legislation in the Senate while supporting targeted NICS improvements and law-enforcement responses to gun crime.
News
Recent coverage of Donald Trump’s controversial policy actions and their political fallout highlights growing tensions within the Republican Party as midterm elections approach. As a Republican officeholder and politician, John Thune is implicated indirectly by the story’s focus on intra-party strains and the broader electoral challenges facing Republicans tied to Trump-era policies.
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Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 20262024
2026
LatestCycle 2024
Cycle 2026
Source: FEC
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls
- Endorsements