U.S. Sen. John Thune of South Dakota is seeking reelection to a fourth term in 2022. Thune, who turned 61 on Friday, is second-ranked in Senate Republican leadership. But he had considered retiring in recent months.
FILE - Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021. Thune is seeking reelection to a fourth term in 2022. He turned 61 on Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, and is second-ranked in Senate Republican leadership.
Thune, who turned 61 on Friday, has mulled retiring from the Senate for months. But he has a clear path to reelection in reliably-red South Dakota even after he drew the ire of then-President Donald Trump late in 2020 for speaking out against his attempt to overturn the results of the presidential election. Since then, Thune has offeredat times, but mostly focused on scuttling the Democrats’ plans.
Thune’s choice signals a willingness to defy Trump, whose clout has often forced other previously politically secure Republicans to leave Congress. Elected Republicans who have previously crossed Trump and subsequently retired include former Republican Sens. Jeff Flake of Arizona and Bob Corker of Tennessee.