One day after voting to acquit President Donald Trump on two impeachment counts, Mike Rounds is announcing a re-election bid for US Senate.
Rounds says after five years in office he’ll continue to focus on monitoring the federal government and helping constituents.
Senator Rounds was first elected to the US Senate in 2014 after stints in the state legislature and two terms as governor.
The Fort Pierre Republican was elected during the Obama Administration and remains one of President Trump’s strong allies.
Rounds says since getting elected, his office has responded to around 147,000 citizen messages and helped 3,000 South Dakotans navigate the federal government.
“I’m going to work real hard to stay focused on delivering for people here in this state,” Rounds says. “I’m going to continue to talk about results that we get. I’m going to continue to talk about the need to stay focused on a bureaucracy in Washington DC that needs adult supervision. I’ll do my best to get back, answer questions, and provide that constituent service that people in South Dakota need in dealing with bureaucracies that are out there. I think that’s what people want me to do.”
Rounds says he’s looking forward to working with the Trump Administration on a new tax bill. He points to stacking the federal courts with 187 conservative judges as another success under the current administration. He says he believes he has a great record to run on.
According to the latest FEC filings, Rounds has about $1.8 million cash on hand.
State Representative Scyller Borglum is challenging Rounds for the Republican ticket. She has about $24,000 on hand.
Dan Ahlers and Clara Hart are vying for the Democratic ticket.
To hear a conversation with SDPB’s Lee Strubinger and US Senator Mike Rounds on his announcement to run in 2020, click play below