Sen. Mike Rounds defends 'trigger law' he signed in announcing opposition to abortion measure

Rounds is first of South Dakota's 'big four' elected officials to issue public statement opposing Amendment G

UPDATE: This story has been revised since initial publication to reflect remarks from Rep. Dusty Johnson’s office.

South Dakota Sen. Mike Rounds will be voting “no” on Amendment G this year.

The second-term senator and former governor from Fort Pierre announced his opposition in a public statement Tuesday to a constitutional amendment that would expand abortion access in the state — making him the first to do so ahead of his counterparts in Washington and Gov. Kristi Noem, all of whom are Republicans.

“I’m pro-life and will vote ‘no’ on Amendment G,” Rounds said in a statement to The Dakota Scout. “I believe that life begins at conception and our obligation is to save lives. That includes both the mother and child.”

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