Career Timeline of John Thune: Major Achievements and Milestones

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how John Thune made an impact.

John Thune is an American politician and the senior United States Senator from South Dakota, serving since 2005. As a Republican, he holds the position of Senate majority leader and Senate Republican leader since January 2025. Currently in his fourth Senate term, he has been the dean of South Dakota's congressional delegation since 2015. His career is defined by his leadership roles within the Republican party and his representation of South Dakota in the U.S. Senate.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles

May 1996: Hillard leading Thune in Polls

In May 1996, a poll showed Carole Hillard leading Thune by a margin of 69%–15% in the Republican primary for South Dakota's lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

November 2, 2004: Thune Defeats Daschle in Senate Race

On November 2, 2004, John Thune defeated Tom Daschle by 4,508 votes, winning 51% of the vote, making Daschle the first incumbent floor leader to be ousted since 1952.

November 2006: Thune Comments on Iraq War

In November 2006, John Thune stated his belief that the U.S. could achieve victory in the Iraq War through establishing stability and preventing Iraq from becoming a base for terrorist attacks against neighboring countries or the U.S. He also supported the idea that military commanders should have the final say on reducing U.S. forces in Iraq.

December 6, 2006: Thune chosen as GOP Chief Deputy Whip

On December 6, 2006, John Thune was chosen by Senate Republican whip Trent Lott to be the GOP's chief deputy whip.

2008: Thune Mentioned as Possible Vice-Presidential Pick

In 2008, before the selection of Sarah Palin, John Thune was mentioned as a possible vice-presidential pick for Republican nominee John McCain in the 2008 presidential election. Thune publicly played down the speculation.

March 2009: Thune Voted Against Expansion of National Service Corps

In March 2009, John Thune was among 14 senators who voted against a procedural move that essentially guaranteed a major expansion of a national service corps.

June 2009: Thune Became Chairman of the Republican Policy Committee

In June 2009, John Thune became chairman of the Republican Policy Committee after briefly serving as Republican Conference vice-chairman. The post was the fourth-ranking position in the Senate.

December 2010: Thune Votes Against New START Treaty

In December 2010, John Thune was among 26 senators who voted against the ratification of the New START treaty. This nuclear arms reduction agreement between the United States and the Russian Federation aimed to limit both countries to 1,550 strategic warheads and 700 launchers, while also continuing on-site inspections.

February 22, 2011: Thune Announces He Will Not Run for President in 2012

On February 22, 2011, John Thune announced he would not run for president in 2012, despite encouragement from Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell and South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, and being considered a strong candidate by DNC executive director Jennifer O'Malley Dillon.

November 2012: Thune Requests Review of Wanxiang Group's Acquisition of A123

In November 2012, John Thune, along with Chuck Grassley, requested that Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner review the Chinese company Wanxiang Group's plan to acquire bankrupt battery maker A123. They argued that the transaction should be reviewed to ensure the protection of U.S. military and taxpayer interests in A123.

2012: Thune on Romney's Short List for Running Mate

During the summer of 2012, it was reported that John Thune was on Mitt Romney's short list as a potential running mate. However, Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan was selected instead.

2012: Thune's Window to Presidency May Have Closed

In 2012, John Thune declined to seek the presidency, saying that his "window ... might have closed in 2012".

2012: Speculation Regarding Thune's Presidential Bid

In 2012, there was significant speculation about a potential presidential bid by John Thune. He was encouraged by Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell and South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham. DNC executive director Jennifer O'Malley Dillon publicly said that in a field of generally flawed Republican presidential candidates, Thune was the one she feared.

March 6, 2014: Thune Introduced the Reliable Home Heating Act

On March 6, 2014, John Thune introduced the Reliable Home Heating Act (S. 2086; 113th Congress). The bill would require the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to exempt motor carriers that transport home heating oil from federal safety regulations if a state of emergency is declared. The bill also would require the Energy Information Administration (EIA) to notify states if petroleum reserves fall below historical averages.

March 2016: Thune Opposes Considering Obama's Supreme Court Nominee

In March 2016, approximately seven months before the next presidential election, John Thune declared his opposition to considering President Obama's nominee to the Supreme Court. He argued that the next president should make the lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court, as the American people deserved to have their voices heard on the nomination.

September 2016: Thune Signs Letter on Russian Airstrikes in Syria

In September 2016, John Thune was among 34 senators who signed a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry advocating that the United States use "all available tools to dissuade Russia from continuing its airstrikes in Syria" from an Iranian airbase near Hamadan, asserting that these airstrikes violated a legally binding Security Council Resolution on Iran.

2016: Thune Declines to Seek the Presidency

In 2016, despite some speculation, John Thune declined to seek the presidency, saying that his "window ... might have closed in 2012".

June 2017: Thune Co-Sponsors Israel Anti-Boycott Act

In June 2017, John Thune co-sponsored the Israel Anti-Boycott Act (s. 720), which would have made it a federal crime, punishable by a maximum sentence of 20 years' imprisonment, to encourage or participate in boycotts against Israel.

June 22, 2017: Senate Releases the Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017

On June 22, 2017, the Senate released the Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017. John Thune was part of the group of 13 senators that drafted the Senate version of the American Health Care Act of 2017, and the bill was named the Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017.

January 2018: Thune Requests Preservation of NAFTA

In January 2018, John Thune was one of 36 Republican senators to sign a letter to President Trump, requesting that he preserve the North American Free Trade Agreement by modernizing it for the 21st-century economy.

March 2018: Thune Votes to Table Resolution on Yemen Troop Withdrawal

In March 2018, John Thune voted to table a resolution spearheaded by Bernie Sanders, Chris Murphy, and Mike Lee that would have required President Trump to withdraw American troops from Yemen within 30 days, unless they were combating Al-Qaeda.

July 2018: Thune Comments on Aid for Agricultural Producers Affected by Tariffs

In July 2018, as the Trump administration pushed for aid for agricultural producers affected by retaliatory tariffs, John Thune said the plan offered a "false and short-term" sense of security. He emphasized the importance of fair and free trade for South Dakota's farmers.

October 2018: Thune Requests Briefings on Chinese Hardware Tampering

In October 2018, John Thune requested staff briefings about a Bloomberg report concerning the Chinese government implanting malicious hardware into server motherboards. He stated that the possibility of the U.S. hardware supply chain being purposely tampered with by a foreign power must be taken seriously.

September 2020: Thune Supports Immediate Vote on Trump's Supreme Court Nominee

In September 2020, less than two months before the next presidential election, John Thune supported an immediate vote on President Trump's nominee to fill the Supreme Court vacancy caused by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death.

December 2020: Thune Opposes Challenging 2020 Election Results

In December 2020, John Thune voiced his opposition to further efforts to challenge the 2020 presidential election results, suggesting such attempts would fail in the Senate. This stance led to attacks on Twitter from then-President Donald Trump, who called on South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem to challenge Thune in a 2022 U.S. Senate primary.

2022: Trump Ally Calls for Primary Challenge Against Thune

In 2022, Donald Trump, who contended that the election results were illegitimate and that he had defeated Democratic nominee Joe Biden, responded by attacking Thune on Twitter and publicly called on South Dakota governor Kristi Noem to challenge him in a 2022 U.S. Senate primary.

2022: Thune Comments on the Russian Invasion of Ukraine

In 2022, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, John Thune stated that the Ukrainian people could not sustain the war without military support from the U.S. and other countries. He urged European partners to make robust contributions to aid Ukraine.

November 13, 2024: Thune Wins Senate Republican Conference Leadership Election

On November 13, 2024, John Thune won the Senate Republican Conference leadership election on the second ballot to become the next Senate majority leader, succeeding Mitch McConnell.

November 2024: Republicans Carry The Senate in US Elections

In November 2024, following the US elections, the Republicans secured control of the Senate. Thune was later chosen to replace the retiring Mitch McConnell as Senate majority leader.

2025: Thune Supports Secondary Sanctions Against Russia

In 2025, John Thune supported secondary sanctions against Russia, proposing 500% tariffs on countries that purchase Russian oil, natural gas, uranium, and other exports.