Tamara St. John | |
---|---|
Member of the South DakotaHouseofRepresentatives from the 1st district | |
Assumed office January 8, 2019 Servingwith Joe Donnell | |
Personal details | |
Born | July 28,1966 Sisseton,South Dakota,U.S. |
Nationality | Dakota American |
Political party | Republican |
Residence(s) | Sisseton,South Dakota,U.S. |
Profession | Archivist |
Tamara St. John is an American politician and a Republican member of the South Dakota House of Representatives representing District 1 since January 8,2019. [1] With her election,St. John became the first and only Native American Republican woman to ever serve in the South Dakota House of Representatives. [2]
Tamara Jill St. John was born to Karen Brown (Keeble) and Phillip St. John on July 28,1966,in Sisseton,South Dakota. She is an enrolled citizen of the Sisseton Wahpeton Sioux Tribe of the Lake Traverse Reservation. She attended Sisseton Public School and has a certificate in cultural heritage tourism from George Washington University. [3]
Tamara St. John has four adult children and two grandchildren. She currently resides in Sisseton,South Dakota.
St. John works as an historian,genealogist and has spent many years in the area of historic preservation,along with currently serving as the archivist for the Sisseton Wahpeton Tribal Archives and Collections. In this role,she specializes in community outreach and education. St. John has also worked with local,state and federal governments on issues involving historic preservation,cultural projects,and government consultations. [4]
St. John served on the South Dakota Humanities Council as a member of the board of directors from 2016 to 2021. [5] She also served as a delegate for the Her Vote. Her Voice. project to help South Dakota commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Women’s Suffrage Movement. [6]
When incumbent Jason Frerichs was term-limited in the State Senate,Susan Wismer ran unopposed for the Senate seat,vacating her House seat. Tamara St. John was the only Republican candidate to run in District 1,challenging former legislators Steven D. McCleerey and H. Paul Dennert in a three-way race for the two House seats. On November 6,2018,she won her first election,coming in first place with 4,735 votes (36%) to Steven D. McCleerey’s 4,300 votes (33%). H. Paul Dennert finished with 4,139 votes (31%). She was the first Republican candidate on the ballot for District 1 in 10 years,and the first Republican candidate to win a legislative seat in District 1 in over 20 years. [7]
She won her second House term on November 3,2020,after coming in first place in a three-way general election,securing 6,150 votes (41%) of the votes cast. [8]
St. John serves on the House Judiciary Committee,House Health and Human Services Committee and Co-chairs the State-Tribal Relations Committee. [2]
In the 2022 Legislative session,St. John brought legislation (HB 1196) to designate the traditional flute as the official indigenous instrument in South Dakota,which was signed into law by Gov. Kristi Noem.
The 2004 United States presidential election in South Dakota took place on November 2,2004,and was part of the 2004 United States presidential election. Voters chose three representatives,or electors to the Electoral College,who voted for president and vice president.
The Lake Traverse Indian Reservation is the homeland of the federally recognized Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate,a branch of the Santee Dakota group of Native Americans. Most of the reservation covers parts of five counties in northeastern South Dakota,while smaller parts are in two counties in southeastern North Dakota,United States.
The structure of the government of South Dakota is based on that of the federal government,with three branches of government:executive,legislative,and judicial. The structure of the state government is laid out in the Constitution of South Dakota,the highest law in the state. The constitution may be amended either by a majority vote of both houses of the legislature,or by voter initiative.
The 2010 United States House of Representatives election in South Dakota took place on Tuesday,November 2,2010. Voters selected a representative for their single At-Large district,who run on a statewide ballot. On June 8,2010,the Republicans nominated Kristi Noem,Assistant Majority Leader of the South Dakota House of Representatives and the Democrats nominated the incumbent Stephanie Herseth Sandlin. B. Thomas Marking ran as an Independent candidate. In the general election,Noem defeated Herseth Sandlin,winning 48.1 percent of the vote to 45.9 percent for Herseth Sandlin.
The 2002 United States House of Representatives election in South Dakota took place on Tuesday,November 5,2002. Voters selected a representative for their single At-Large district,who ran on a statewide ballot.
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The 2022 South Dakota House of Representatives elections were held on November 8,2022,as part of the biennial 2022 United States elections. All 70 seats in the South Dakota House of Representatives were up for election. Primary elections were held on June 7,2022. The elections coincided with elections for other offices in South Dakota,including the US Senate,US House,South Dakota Governor,South Dakota Secretary of State,South Dakota Attorney General,and the South Dakota Senate.
Joe Donnell is an American politician who has served in the South Dakota House of Representatives since 2023.
The 2024 South Dakota House of Representatives elections will be held on November 5,2024,to elect all 70 seats in the South Dakota House of Representatives. The elections will coincide with the Presidential,U.S. House,and State Senate elections. The primary elections were held on June 4,2024.