Kristi Noem

In Office

South Dakota Governor

Republican

Conservative

MAGA

Politician

Kristi Noem, born in 1971, is a Republican politician and rancher serving as South Dakota's 37th governor since 2019, the state's first female governor. She previously represented South Dakota's at-large district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011 to 2019 and served in the South Dakota House from 2007 to 2011. Reelected governor in 2022, Noem gained national attention for her minimal COVID-19 restrictions and support for former President Trump. In 2024, she was a vice-presidential contender but not selected. Her 2024 memoir, "No Going Back," sparked controversy over personal anecdotes.

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Corporate Backed

Independence Score

Says vs Does

What they claim vs what their actions show

🗣️ SAYS THEY ARE

Conservative Republican

⚡ ACTUALLY ALIGNS

Business and Agricultural Interests

🎯 Primary Loyalties (Ranked)

Republican Party and Donald Trump
South Dakota Business Community
Social Conservatives
Second Amendment Advocates

📋 Actions That Prove It

✓Refused to impose statewide COVID-19 lockdowns or mask mandates in 2020, prioritizing economic activity and personal freedoms.
✓Signed Senate Bill 89 in March 2023, banning gender-affirming surgeries and puberty blockers for minors.
✓Directed enforcement of South Dakota's pre-Roe abortion ban after the 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson decision.
✓Preserved no state income tax and reduced regulations, contributing to South Dakota's unemployment rate reaching 1.9% in 2022.

⚠️ Contradictions

•Emphasizes fiscal conservatism and limited government but approved state general fund budgets that increased from $4.6 billion in FY2019 to $6.7 billion in FY2024, partly using federal relief funds.
•Portrays herself as an outsider fighting establishment but served eight years in U.S. House (2011-2019) and aligns with national GOP leadership.
•Claims to prioritize transparency and anti-corruption but a state-appointed real estate appraisal board expedited her daughter's license application in February 2024 amid public scrutiny.

Career Background

•Governor of South Dakota (2019–present)
•U.S. Representative for South Dakota's at-large congressional district (2011–2019)
•South Dakota House of Representatives, District 6 (2007–2011)
•Rancher and small business owner (family ranch and Noem Insurance Group)

Endorsements

•Endorsed by Donald Trump for 2022 gubernatorial reelection
•Endorsed Donald Trump for 2024 presidential nomination
•Received endorsement from National Rifle Association (NRA) Political Victory Fund
•Endorsed by FreedomWorks for Congress (2010)