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.
Momentum is building calling for the SDDP nominee Julian Beaudion to withdraw from the US Senate race. They believe Independent US Senate candidate Brian Bengs has the best shot in flipping that seat.
Who says that? Names please.
What are the chances of either of them winning with both in the race trying to unseat Senator Rounds?
None, they will cancel each other out
Boy Mikey you were really picking them up and putting them down,but mostly back pedaling.
Maybe he could also report on donations solicited and received
Rounds refuses to do his job. His weekly roundup is like those gossipy notes one would find in a local small town newspaper. He has the b#lls to accept a paycheck
How could anyone with any moral fiber at all support the absurdity of trump?
While you and your fellow demtards are cheering for Iran and hoping for American military members deaths?
Only groveling cumservatives would think that Americans are cheering for the deaths of other Americans.
What people want is this poorly thought out War to be over. There was no consultation with our allies, no clear endgame, and no clear messaging. Somehow Iran was only two weeks away from a nuke, even though a few months ago we had “completely and totally destroyed their nuclear program”. Give me a break.
Turn off Fox News go outside and touch grass.
I think your diabetes/dementia is messing with you.
Oh lookit you, Anonymous 10:34, making strawman falsehoods out of road apples and cow flop. Stop it.
And the truth nerve was hit. Just look at the way these demtards are whining.
Anyone who points out that I’m wrong is defensive, therefore I’m right.
Makes perfect sense.
Please produce evidence if this occurring frumptard
I used to think Mr. Rounds was a lucky but decent guy who won the governor’s seat because two solid R’s beat each other to the ground in their primary. Now I think he’s an opportunistic career politician, with no substance. These self-serving and silly-titled weekly columns bolster my current opinion. He’s just mixing a few everyday citizen discussions into a schedule filled with likely campaign-furtherance sessions.
After what I regard as due diligence, I believe Bengs deserves a vote (in addition to my measly contribution). Hopefully we can observe them on a debate stage prior to the general election for further evaluation.
We dodged a bullet when Kirby and Barnett kneecapped each other playing politics and let Rounds rise to the top on his pure pragmatic common sense and deep knowledge of state government. Rounds as governor went farther than any Republican of the past century to govern for all the people. He showed a proactive leadership on economic development, and navigated a good middle course on the hot button social issues. He was the state’s biggest promoter and cheerleader, and top executive on military issues, all performed with strength and confidence. I would prefer the taint of the worker visa scandal to the venal and petty corruption of Kristi Noem’s years in Pierre and beyond.
When the GOP finally has had enough of this President, I truly hope Rounds is near the front of effort to nip it all in the bud. I guess we’ll see.
Senator, your vote to allow mining of copper, nickel, palladium and other rare earth minerals in the area next to the Boundary Waters Wilderness is puzzling to me. Our state has a history of mining companies in the Black Hills abandoning mines that had already caused great environmental damage and mining next to the Boundary Waters will likely do the same there. Why would you vote to despoil one of the few wilderness areas in the country?
No mention of any real issues. Also no boisterous praise for president pumpkin-head.
Our delegation to Washington are the scarecrow, the cowardly lion and tin man.