Mike Rounds on Principles & Values

	Mike Rounds on Principles & Values Republican SD Governor

All of us Christians should be asking for wisdom

Q: " Does your faith play a role in, guiding your decisions, especially under the new administration?"

Rounds: "I think part of it goes back to asking for wisdom and asking for the ability and the help to do what's right, to make the right decisions. A lot of decisions are not black and white. It's a matter of making the right decision long term. That saves lives. I think that's something that all of us as Christians should be doing."

Source: Christian Broadcasting Network:2026 South Dakota Senate race , Feb 11, 2025

Lifelong resident of Pierre; president of local YMCA

Mike, the oldest of 11 children, was born in Huron, S.D. on October 24, 1954, and is a lifelong resident of Pierre. Mike and Jean were married in 1978 and have four children--Christopher and his wife, Lindsay, Brian, Carrie, and John.

The governor is a licensed pilot with multi-engine and instrument ratings. He enjoys playing racquetball with his buddies and hunting in his spare time with his sons and his lab, Brandy. In the summer, you'll often find him and his family boating and camping on the Missouri River.

He has previously served as board president of the Oahe YMCA, vice president of the Home and School Association of St. Joseph School, president of the Pierre-Ft. Pierre Exchange Club and exalted ruler of the Pierre Elks Lodge. He is also a member of St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church of Pierre, the Knights of Columbus, and Ducks Unlimited.

Source: Vote-USA.org on 2020 South Dakota Senate race , Jan 11, 2020

Endorsed Endorsed by Donald Trump/MAGA during presidency.

Rounds is endorsed by Trump/MAGA endorsement list

Endorsements by Donald Trump, implying support of Trump's agenda and electoral style. The phrase `Make America Great Again` was popularized in Trump`s 2015 book Time to Get Tough:Making America Great Again. It is the campaign slogan embroidered on the ubiquitous red caps seen at Trump rallies (which after Trump`s presidency, became known as `MAGA rallies`).

Source: Ballotpedia 2016-2022 endorsement list 2022-MAGA on Jan 1, 2022

Certify 2020 Presidential election as fully & fairly counted.

Rounds voted NAY blocking certification of the Electoral vote

Explanation of 1/6/21 Electoral Certification, by Emily Brooks, Washington Examiner:Sen. Ted Cruz and Rep. Paul Gosar led an objection to counting Electoral College votes from the state of Arizona, the first formal objection to state results in a series of moves that will delay the certification of Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 presidential election over President Trump. Cruz is advocating for an `emergency 10-day audit` of election returns in disputed states. The usually ceremonial joint session of Congress that convenes to count and accept Electoral College votes will be put on hold as the House and Senate separately debate the objection.

Timeline of 1/6/21 by Wikipedia:

1:12 PM: Gosar and Cruz object to certifying the votes. The joint session separates into House and Senate chambers to debate the objection.
1:35 PM: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) warns that refusing to certify the results of the presidential election under false pretenses would push American democracy into a `death spiral`.
2:12 PM: The first rioter enters the Capitol through a broken window, opening a door for others
2:24 PM: President Trump tweets, `Mike Pence didn`t have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our Country and our Constitution, giving States a chance to certify a corrected set of facts, not the fraudulent or inaccurate ones which they were asked to previously certify.`
4:17 PM: Trump denounces the riots, but maintaining the false claims that the election was stolen
Around 5:40 PM: As the interior of the Capitol is cleared of rioters, leaders of Congress state that they will continue tallying electoral votes
8:06 PM: The Senate reconvenes, with Vice President Pence presiding.
10:15 PM: The Senate votes 93-6 against the objection (Senate rollcall #1).
11:30 PM: The House votes 303-121 to reject the objection (House rollcall #10).

Source: Congressional vote 21-Cert on Jan 6, 2021

Abstained on creating Commission to invetigate Jan. 6.

Bill summary:The select committee must (1) conduct an investigation of the relevant facts and circumstances relating to the attack on the Capitol; (2) identify, review, and evaluate the causes of and the lessons learned from this attack; and (3) submit a report containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations to prevent future acts of violence, domestic terrorism, and domestic violent extremism, and to improve the security of the U.S. Capitol Complex and other American democratic institutions.

CBS News summary, by Grace Segers on June 30, 2021:H.R. 3233 would have created a bipartisan, independent commission to investigate the root causes of the breach of the U.S. Capitol, modeled after the 9/11 Commission.

On May 28, the House passed the bill by a vote of 222 to 190, including 35 Republican votes. It then failed in the Senate, where it received an insufficient number of Republican votes to advance.

In response, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced on June 24 that the House would establish a select committee [appointed by House Democrats, instead of a bipartisan independent commission] to investigate the Jan. 6 insurrection and general security issues related to the incident. Pelosi said its leadership and members would be announced later. The House passed the resolution to form the committee on June 29, 2021, by a vote of 222-190.

OnTheIssues note: The Senate voting record refers to the earlier rejected bill H.R. 3233, and the House voting record refers to the later bill H.Res.503. The later bill had no Senate vote (but the two House votes were almost identical).

Source: Congressional vote 21-HR503 on May 28, 2021