CONFIRMED: Lt. Gov. Tony Venhuizen takes Senate gavel after confirmation votes

South Dakota House, Senate make Armour native state's 40th lieutenant governor

PIERRE — Tonnis H. Venhuizen has been sworn in as South Dakota’s 40th lieutenant governor after being confirmed by the state Legislature.

The 42-year-old Armour native who goes by Tony took his oath of office Thursday in the state Senate, where he now presides. His appointment, nominated by Gov. Larry Rhoden Wednesday, was confirmed by the Senate and state House.

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“Wow, this is overwhelming,” Venhuizen said in the moments after the Legislature’s confirmation. “This is a great honor for me and I will do my very best.”

Venhuizen resigned from his seat in the state House on Wednesday, where he had served since 2023 and was vice chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. He also chaired the State Legislature’s 100th Session Planning Committee in 2024. Before becoming a lawmaker, Venhuizen spent a decade working in the governor’s office, serving as chief of staff under both former Gov. Dennis Daugaard and Gov. Kristi Noem.

“Tony is a problem solver for the people of South Dakota,” Rhoden said ahead of Venhuizen’s confirmation. “He is never shy to show leadership and take on challenging issues. He may know more about South Dakota’s history than anyone I’ve ever met. And he uses that knowledge to help shape where our state is heading in the future.”

Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle echoed those remarks on their way to voting unanimously to put Venhuizen in lieutenant governor’s office.

“I support this resolution because of three charactreristics that I have observed over time knowing Tonnis H. Venhuizen: wisdom, experience and temperament,” House Majority Leader Scott Odenbach said, acknowledging that despite occasional ideological and political differences, his former legislative colleague always operates in good faith and with respect.

Venhuizen earned his bachelor’s degree in political science and history from South Dakota State University in 2005, and his juris doctorate from the University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law in 2008.

He is president of the board of directors of the South Dakota Historical Society Foundation and serves on the boards of the Trail of Governors Foundation and the SDSU Research Park. He is also a former board member of the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce.

Venhuizen and his wife, Sara, have three school-age children: Henry, Elizabeth, and Madeleine. Sara, an electrical engineer, is a distinguished alumna of South Dakota State University. The family attends Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Sioux Falls.

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