Rapid City-area legislators elected to leadership positions
South Dakota state Rep. Scott Odenbach, R-31, of Spearfish was elected House Majority Leader on Friday, Legislature staff announced.
Sen. Randy Deibert, R-31 of Spearish is a Majority Whip in the Senate, while Sen. Red Dawn Foster, D-27 of Pine Ridge is a Minority Whip in the House.
Rep. Nicole Uhre-Balk, D-32, of Rapid City will serve as a Minority Whip. Uhre-Balk is entering her first term after being elected on Tuesday.
Odenbach is entering his third term, while Deibert is entering his second. Dawn Foster is entering her fourth term.
Jim Mehlhaff, R-24, was elected Majority Leader.
House Republicans nominated Jon Hansen, R-25 for Speaker of the House and Karla Lems, R-16 for Speaker Pro Tempore. Chris Karr, R-11 will be the GOP nominee for the position of President Pro Tempore. Those positions will be voted on by the full Senate when it organizes on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, according to a release.
Leadership positions in the Senate
Majority Leader: Jim Mehlhaff, R-24
Assistant Majority Leader: Carl Perry, R-3
Majority Whip: Randy Deibert, R-31
Majority Whip: Kevin Jensen, R-16
Majority Whip: Sue Peterson, R-13
Majority Whip: Tom Pischke, R-25
Minority Leader: Liz Larson, D-10
Assistant Minority Leader: Jamie Smith, D-15
Minority Whip: Red Dawn Foster, D-27
Leadership positions in the House
Majority Leader: Rep. Scott Odenbach, R-31
Assistant Majority Leader: Marty Overweg, R-21
Majority Whip: Jessica Bahmuller, R-19
Majority Whip: Les Heineman, R-8
Majority Whip: Greg Jamison, R-12
Majority Whip: Brandei Schaefbauer, R-3
Majority Whip: Bethany Soye, R-9
Minority Leader: Erin Healy, D-14
Assistant Minority Leader: Eric Emery, D-26A
Minority Whip: Kadyn Wittman, D-15
Minority Whip: Nicole Uhre-Balk, D-32
PHOTOS: Rapid Citians turn out for Election DayVoters in Rapid City turn out to cast their ballots in the 2024 General Election on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.
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