Larry Rhoden

Larry Rhoden
Member of the South Dakota Senate
from the 29th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
November 11, 2008
Preceded by ???
Personal details
Born February 5, 1959
Sturgis, South Dakota, U.S.
Political party Republican
Religion Baptist

Larry Rhoden is a state senator from South Dakota, currently serving as the majority whip. He is a member of the Republican Party.

Personal life and education

Rhoden lives in Union Center, South Dakota. He is married to Sandy, and has four children.[1] Rhoden graduated from Sunshine Bible Academy in 1977, and is a rancher.[2]

Career

Rhoden served in the South Dakota House of Representatives from 2001-2008, spending four years as majority leader. After being term-limited, Rhoden was elected to the state senate. In 2010, Rhoden ran for senate majority leader, but lost to Russell Olson.[3]

Rhoden serves on the Agriculture and Natural Resources committee and the State Affairs committee.[4] He has backed bills to arm volunteers in schools, and sponsored a legislative finding saying that the “Founding Fathers freely and willingly abjured all legislative and executive authority to regulate gun ownership and usage… to individual citizens.”[3]

2014 Senate candidacy

Rhoden ran for a United States Senate seat in 2014, calling himself a "conservative voice for limited government." Rhoden opposes abortion, same-sex marriage, "career politicians," "activist judges," and immigration "amnesty."[5] Rhoden signed a pledge to never raise taxes, and supports de-funding the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.[6] Rhoden spoke at a conference organized by the conservative organization RedState, criticizing fellow candidate Mike Rounds's position on taxes.[7]

References

  1. ↑ "Senator Larry R. Rhoden". VoteSmart. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
  2. ↑ Hayworth, Bret (July 10, 2013). "Politically Speaking: Rhoden enters S.D. Senate race, setting GOP primary with Mike Rounds". Sioux City Journal. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Montgomery, David (July 9, 2013). "Who is Larry Rhoden?". Argus Leader. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
  4. ↑ "Senator Larry Rhoden". South Dakota Legislature. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
  5. ↑ Montgomery, David (July 10, 2013). "Rhoden strikes conservative tone in campaign kickoff". Argus Leader. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
  6. ↑ Montgomery, David (July 30, 2013). "Senate hopeful Larry Rhoden says his hard line aligns with right". Argus Leader. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
  7. ↑ Montgomery, David (August 2, 2013). "Rhoden: Stand by your position". Argus Leader. Retrieved August 16, 2013.