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Morning Edition
Phil Picardi, Heidi Raschke and Lukas Levin

President-elect Trump brings South Dakota politicians into national spotlight

Trump Tranistion
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem speaks before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at a campaign town hall, Oct. 14 in Oaks, Pa.
Matt Rourke | AP

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President-elect Donald Trump has nominated South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem to be the Secretary of Homeland Security. And on Wednesday, longtime Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., was elected as the Senate’s new majority leader. Now both have seen their national prominence elevated.

“I think a lot of this comes down to ground game that has been laid, pretty well over the last decade and a half,” said Lee Strubinger, a Rapid City-based public radio reporter on MPR’s Morning Edition. He covers politics and public policy for South Dakota Public Broadcasting.

To listen to the full conversation, click play on the player above.

Sen. John Thune, R-S.D.
Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., questions Xavier Becerra, nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services, during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Finance Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Greg Nash | Pool | Getty Images 2021

Correction (Nov. 18, 2024): An earlier version of this story misspelled Lee Strubinger’s last name.