Senator Mike Rounds’ WEEKLY ROUND[S] UP:  April 13-19, 2026

Welcome back to another edition of the Weekly Round[s] Up. I spent our Easter in-state work period back in South Dakota traveling around the state and meeting with constituents. I traveled to Huron for an event organized by American Bank & Trust to meet with local bank presidents, business leaders and ag bankers. I also made a trip to Box Elder for the Defense and Industry Symposium and stopped in Selby to attend the WEB Water Development Association and the Water Investment in Northern South Dakota (WINS) Treatment Plant dedication. I wrapped up the recess in Humboldt, where I met with more than 40 South Dakota farmers to discuss the issues impacting agriculture across the state and the future of the Farm Bill.

This past week, I was back in Washington, D.C. as fly-in season continues and South Dakotans make their way to our nation’s capital. One day last week, I think I set a record for the year with 21 meetings and events in a single day. We will see how long that record lasts! They keep us busy in D.C. with our regularly scheduled votes, hearings and briefings, but I fill the rest of my time by meeting with as many South Dakotans as possible. This past week was a great example of that, and I appreciate all of the South Dakotans who make the trip out to visit with us.

More on these events and the rest of my week in the Weekly Round[s] Up.

South Dakota groups I visited with: South Dakota American Water Works Association; South Dakota Society of Professional Land Surveyors; South Dakotans with the American Clean Power Association; Brandon Maddox, CEO and Founder of Silencer Central based in Sioux Falls with the Firearm Industry Trade Association; South Dakota Biotech; South Dakotans from the U.S. Travel Association; AARP South Dakota; South Dakota college students with the Fraternal Government Relations Coalition; South Dakota Pork Producers Council; students from Marty Indian School; Robb Peterson, CEO of Glacial Lakes Rubber and Plastics; South Dakota Military Officers Association of America; South Dakotans with American College of Gastroenterology; South Dakotans with Growth Energy; and South Dakota pharmacists with National Community Pharmacists Association.

I also had the opportunity to speak at the Mortgage Bankers Association National Advocacy Conference and visit with Lorre Buhler, President of South Dakota’s Association for Mortgage Professionals; Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association Board of Directors; and Dan Scearbo, President, Vibram USA.

Met with South Dakotans from: Bath, Black Hawk, Brookings, Centerville, Ethan, Fort Pierre, Huron, Marty, Pierre, Rapid City, Sioux Falls, Tea, Utica, Vermillion, Watertown and Yankton.

Other meetings: David Mercer, CEO and Caroline Pham, Chief Legal Officer of Moonpay; Brad Boehler, President of Manitou North America; Javier Perez-Tasso, CEO of SWIFT; a classified meeting with the Cyber, Space and Intelligence Association; and the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association Board of Directors.

This past week I joined Administrator Zeldin and gave remarks at an event hosted by the EPA announcing the Water Resue Action Plan 2.

I also attended an appropriations legislative branch subcommittee meeting as we kick off our appropriations process for FY27. I asked the Acting Comptroller General of the Government Accountability Office a question related to the problems we are experiencing in South Dakota with the postal service. You can watch my questioning here.

Hearings and Briefings: This past week, I attended two classified Senate Select Committee on Intelligence hearings and two classified Senate Armed Services Committee briefings.

Votes taken: 11 –  This past week I voted for John Thomas Shepherd to be U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Arkansas and Christopher R. Wolfe and Andrew B. Davis, of Texas, to be United States District Judges for the Western District of Texas.

I once again voted against a resolution that would require the removal of U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities involving Iran. I also voted against a resolution that would block a proposed defense sale to Israel.

Lastly I voted in favor of a resolution to overturn a Bureau of Land Management rule that restricted mining and mineral development on certain federal lands in Minnesota.

Steps taken: 61,366 steps or 28.09 miles.

My Staff in South Dakota Visited: Aberdeen, Colton, Deadwood, Spearfish and Watertown.

Video of the Week: Click here to watch my remarks and the full event with the EPA.

Rhoden for Governor Announces RhodenResults.com 

Had a note from District 25 House Candidate Carrie Sanderson, who will be one of the next legislators to represent the District:

I am running for the South Dakota House of Representatives in District 25. We are hosting a Meet and Greet on May 7th, from 5:30 PM to 7 PM at LaDelle and Fourth Coffeehouse in Dell Rapids, SD. All are welcome – I hope you can join us!

You can learn more about me and the campaign or donate online at: www.SandersonforSD.com.

Check out the event, and if you’re in the area, Join Carrie Sanderson on May 7 in Dell Rapids.

Tyler Tordsen is hosting a campaign rally this afternoon, which is  and open to anyone, no obligation to donate. Tyler is giving out swag, t-shirts, drinks, and good company to motivate people to come out and campaign for him.

Go check it out!

Was I saying that it was getting a little saltier in the race for Governor?

After criticism from Congressman Dusty Johnson over his property tax plan being an increase in sales taxes, Governor Larry Rhoden has released an attack ad against Dusty based on his being elected to serve in Washington, referring to him as a DC politician:

I suspect that the candidates are going to continue to split hairs over tax plan, since it does actually take sales tax funds and shift them to offset property taxes.

And I’m sure the terminology will continue to be debated for some time.

Technically, I believe the Janklow property tax cuts were the largest property tax reduction in SD history. But it’s campaign season, and the candidates have a meat-and-potatoes issue to dig into.

Melissa Hull Announces Candidacy for South Dakota State Treasurer

Seven-Year Treasury Manager Brings Proven Record of Modernization, Accountability, and Results

PIERRE, S.D. — Melissa Hull of Pierre has announced her candidacy for South Dakota State Treasurer, citing seven years of direct leadership and delivering measurable, effective results for South Dakota taxpayers.

Hull has served as Treasury Manager since 2019, following the swearing-in of State Treasurer Josh Haeder. In that role, she has overseen the day-to-day operations of the division and spearheaded key initiatives to strengthen the office’s financial safeguards, operational efficiency, and technology infrastructure.

“From day one, we’ve transformed how this office operates — not just in terms of technology, but in how we protect and account for every taxpayer dollar,” Hull said. “The results speak for themselves, and I’m proud of what our team has built.”

During her tenure, Hull has driven meaningful modernization across the office. She led the implementation of affordable, AI-powered tools to carry out responsibilities more efficiently and accurately – saving staff hours each day and improving accounting accuracy. She spearheaded the rollout of Positive Pay through the state’s banking partner, a fraud-prevention system that monitors for unauthorized, altered, or duplicate checks and ACH debits.

Hull currently serves as the office lead on behalf of Treasurer Haeder for Project BISON, a $70 million technology initiative that will completely overhaul how South Dakota state government conducts daily business. She also built the Treasury team from the ground up at the start of Haeder’s term, leading cross-training efforts between the Treasury and Unclaimed Property divisions — two of the office’s core functions — to strengthen continuity, deepen the team’s expertise across both areas, and ensure checks and balances.

“When I accepted this role, we had to rebuild the team while simultaneously modernizing how the office functioned,” Hull said. “We implemented new technology, tightened fraud protections, and made the office more efficient — all without missing a beat on our central responsibilities to South Dakota taxpayers.”

With Treasurer Haeder unable to seek another term, Hull said the progress made over the past seven years — and the responsibility to protect it — inspired her to run.

“We’ve built something worth continuing.” Hull said. “I know what South Dakotans deserve and expect; South Dakotans deserve someone who is ready to hit the ground running and deliver results from day one, and I’m that candidate.”

A lifelong South Dakotan, Hull was raised in Philip and holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Black Hills State University. She lives in Pierre with her husband, Chris, and their daughter, Charlie. Outside of work, she enjoys live music, boating, and spending time outdoors with her family.

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You can read it in the headline. Once again, the South Dakota Democrat Party out-raised the state Republican party by a factor of 1,000x, and at the same time posted in the neighborhood of 50+ donors.

SDDP April 2026 FEC Report by Pat Powers

While current SDGOP Chairman (& 32-year former Democrat) Jim Eschenbaum’s GOP managed a single $45 donation, South Dakota Democrats posted $40,698.05 raised in their federal account.    Democrats spent $38,781.89 according to their report, and were left with $60,993.02 cash on hand at the close of the reporting period.

Ugh. If we have to have a recent Democrat running the South Dakota Republican Party, why didn’t they send one of the ones who knows how to run a political party? This is just embarassing.

I think it has been quite a while, but at some point in the past I know I have told the story about the Republican candidate for the legislature out in Rapid City who had an odd companion for door-to-door.

This legislative candidate would go door-to-door with a parrot on her shoulder as she met voters. That’s right. Knocking on the door, introducing herself, asking for their vote and the parrot was there as a conversational trigger.

Her fellow House Candidate in the district would relate these stories as kind of a WTF moment as related to him by voters left wondering whether this was a serious candidate when he would go door-to-door.

Needless to say, he handily won election. While parrot gal did not.

Why do I bring this up? I am reminded of it by one of the things I’m seeing from a candidate on social media:

Another instance when we might be better off considering the flightless bird as a candidate, versus the fool using it to campaign.

Three of the candidates running for the South Dakota State Legislature in District 3 are having a big fundraiser in Aberdeen on Thursday night. Katie Washnok for Senate, Spencer Sommers for District 3 House, and Tim Hanigan for District 3 House are all teaming up. Or should I say, a number of people in Aberdeen are teaming up to support them. Check it out:

Be there on Thursday to help improve the quality of legislators representing District 3 in Pierre.

If you’re not able to go, you can support these great candidates by using the QR codes on the ad to send them a donation:

South Dakota News Watch is reporting this AM that Congressman Dusty Johnson is currently surging in the race for Governor, while the man who had been his chief competitor has taken a tumble in polling conducted from April 7-11.

The scientific survey of 500 registered Republicans, conducted April 7-11 by Mason-Dixon Polling and Strategy, found Johnson leading the four-way contest for governor with 34% of likely GOP primary voters supporting his candidacy.

The other three candidates are effectively tied for second due to the margin of error being plus-or-minus 4.5%. State House Speaker Jon Hansen, of Dell Rapids, has 18% support from GOP voters, and Aberdeen businessman Toby Doeden and Gov. Larry Rhoden both have 17%. Roughly 14% of those surveyed were undecided.

and..

“Johnson is moving into the clear front-runner status,” he said.

“People know him. People like him, and that’s probably why he’s ahead right now. Whether he can hold on to that will depend on what the other campaigns – particularly Hansen’s – are able to do in the coming weeks,” Coker told News Watch, pointing to the poll results that found Johnson has a 47% favorability rating, the highest of any of the candidates.

Read the entire story here.

That’s a massive shift of support against Governor Rhoden, who had been in a relatively close second place this last year when they last polled, with him shedding 10 points since that time.  At this point, Dusty Johnson is in the lead, with the rest of the field virtually tied.   (I heard all of them were at 17, and they’re getting Hansen to 18 by rounding up. I heard Doeden 17.4%, Hansen 17.8%, and Rhoden 17.0%)