Gov. Rhoden unveils Sioux Falls lawmaker as choice for lieutenant governor
Rep. Tony Venhuizen's nomination solves months-long mystery about Rhoden successor following Kristi Noem's departure
A Sioux Falls lawmaker who served under South Dakota’s last three governors is the nominee to become the state’s second in command.
Gov. Larry Rhoden has chosen fellow Republican Rep. Tony Venhuizen to succeed him as lieutenant governor after former Gov. Kristi Noem resigned her post last week to join President Donald Trump’s cabinet as U.S. Homeland Security secretary.
“I wanted a person with integrity, above all else,” South Dakota’s newly minted governor said at a morning press conference at the state Capitol, an announcement that ends months of speculation and intrigue around who’d move into the lieutenant gig following Noem’s departure.
Venhuizen, 42, is in his second term as a member of the South Dakota Legislature, serving District 13 in the House of Representatives. Prior to winning his first election to that office in 2022, the Armour native served as chief of staff under both Noem and former Gov. Dennis Daugaard. An attorney, Venhuizen is a son in law to Daugaard, and is known to be a pragmatic conservative with prowess as a political fundraiser. He’s also served two stints on the South Dakota Board of Regents, the first of which was during U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds tenure as governor.
“I’ve always felt a call to service. It’s in my blood,” said Venhuizen, a historian with extensive knowledge of South Dakota’s political history who also serves as president of the South Dakota Historical Society Foundation’s board of directors.
The appointment of Venhuizen, vice chairman of the budget-setting House Appropriations Committee, requires confirmation by both the state House and Senate. That will take place Thursday.
A select committee on the nomination for lieutenant governor will also review Venhuizen’s nomination. Formed this week as a result of the office being vacated following Noem’s departure and Rhoden’s transition into the governor’s office, the committee will meet Wednesday afternoon.
“Rep. Venhuizen is a well qualified nominee and has an extensive history of service to the state, and I look forward to learning more about how he anticipates potentially transitioning into a new role,” said Sen. David Wheeler, one of five tapped by Senate leadership to serve on the committee.
Venhuizen is an attorney who earned an undergraduate degree in history from South Dakota State University and his juris doctorate from the University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law.
He and wife Sara have three children.
If confirmed, Rhoden would be responsible for appointing a replacement to fill Venhuizen’s District 13 House seat.
RELATED: State Rep.-elect Herman Otten resigns
Bottom line is we have to begin to work across and through our political differences. Blaming and hating is counter-productive and a waste of time and energy. I don't see my fellow South Dakotans as the enemy that I have to vanquish or destroy.
What we call politics is really a discussion about what government should do--in general, the purpose of government is to serve the people by creating a just and stable society to preserve our unalienable rights to life, liberty, justice and the pursuit of happiness. Winning and destroying the "enemy" will only lead to division and an inability to compromise. It shouldn't be a war where one side wins and the other loses. Those in power, in a state like SD where Republicans have held power for decades, have a responsibility to listen to opposing points of view.
For example, if I don't share the Lt. Governor's belief that we should raise the sales tax in order to give property owners a tax break, it doesn't make me the enemy, and it doesn't give him the right to force that belief on me or anyone else. I may want property tax relief, so let's explore other options for getting there. To do so, it starts by respecting each other's opinion. As I said, I'm reserving judgement on Governor Rhoeden, but it takes a real leader to forge compromise. Time will tell whether that's what we have now--when was the last time Republicans and Democrats compromised? Can anyone point to an example? If not, that seems like a problem to me.
Keep in mind, it is not over yet, it still requires the legislature to seat the Lt. Governor. The State Senate has to confirm the choice for Lt. Governor by a simple majority vote. Look for the Senate which has flipped over to the America First, Patriot, Freedom Caucus, and we have latched onto the party platform as set by the Patriots. Also remember, while the Governor is elected "at-large" by the popular vote, the Lt. Governor has to win the approval of the Precinct Committeemen and Women. Being this is the Republican Party in control at the moment, there are 689 committeemen and 689 committee women that get to choose the Lt. Governor in 2026. As a committee member myself, I am looking at wanting a Lt. governor that is independent of the govenor, someone that represents the 689 precincts, across the 66 County Republican Party Members This person will have to be someone that is supported by the majority of party leaders, if he expects to keep his job come 2026. I am not a fan of Tony, he is a old neocon-social Republican of the old years, and is pro-carbon pipeline.