Taxus Baccata

by | Mar 15, 2018 | Taxus Baccata

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Will D. Mortenson is an American attorney and a member of the South Dakota House of Representatives representing District 24 since January 2021.[1]

Early life and education

Will Mortenson was born in Pierre, South Dakota and graduated from T. F. Riggs High School. He is an enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe.[2]

Mortenson attended University of South Dakota where he received his B.A. He ran the 2010 reelection campaign of Public Utilities Commissioner Dusty Johnson, then worked in the Office of Governor Dennis Daugaard as a policy analyst, before attending the University of Virginia School of Law graduating with his J.D. in 2016.

Political career

Mortenson first ran for the South Dakota House of Representatives from District 24 in 2020. He won the primary in June 2020 and the general election on November 3, 2020. In 2021, Mortenson filed articles of impeachment against Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg,[3] and again in 2022,[4] leading to Ravnsborg's removal from office.[5]

In 2022, Mortenson was selected to serve as House Majority Leader by his Republican colleagues in the State House of Representatives.[6] He is the youngest Republican to serve as House Majority Leader in state history, and the first tribal member to lead a majority caucus.[7]

Election history

2020 South Dakota House of Representatives District 24 General election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Will Mortenson 8,410 43.63%
Republican Mike Weisgram 7,786 40.39%
Democratic Amanda Bachmann 3,079 15.97%
Total votes 19,275 100.0%
Republican hold
Republican hold

References

  1. ^ "South Dakota Legislature". sdlegislature.gov. Retrieved 2021-03-17.
  2. ^ "Mortenson announces candidacy for District 24 House of Representatives". drgnews.com.
  3. ^ "District 24 Rep. Will Mortenson files Articles of Impeachment against Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg". drgnews.com.
  4. ^ "Mortenson files impeachment resolution". keloland.com. 11 April 2022.
  5. ^ "South Dakota Removes Its Attorney General After Fatal Crash". The New York Times.
  6. ^ "Will Mortenson elected to serve as House Majority Leader in SD Legislature". argusleader.com.
  7. ^ "SD House Republicans pick leadership team". sodakgovs.wordpress.com. 19 November 2022.

External links

South Dakota House of Representatives
Preceded by Majority Leader of the South Dakota House of Representatives
2023–present 		Incumbent


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