Thune, who is 63 and in his fourth Senate term, has promised to work closely with President-elect Donald Trump despite differences between the two over the years.

South Dakota Republican Gov. Kristi Noem is President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to run the federal Department of Homeland Security. After CNN and other news outlets reported the news early Tuesday,

President-elect Donald Trump is expected to select South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem to fill the role of Homeland Security secretary, according to reports on Tuesday.

Trump, in a statement, cited Noem’s strong background in securing the border for the appointment as the Republican looks to crack down on illegal immigration.

A DOJ press release does not specifically state why the counties have been chosen for monitoring, though during South Dakota's June primary, South Dakota Canvassing Group President Jessica Pollema successfully got 132 absentee ballots rejected from the election through a challenge that both local and state officials said fell outside of state law.

Voters in South Dakota have rejected a proposal to add protections for abortion rights to the state constitution, preserving a near-total ban there

The first time Kristi Noem met Donald Trump, she did what any aspiring governor would do — tried to drum up a little tourism. Come to South Dakota, she told him. See the sights. “I shook his hand, and I said,

Another ballot measure could give grocery shoppers relief by removing the state sales tax on food. South Dakota lowered its general sales tax last year from 4.5 percent to 4.2 percent, and the new initiative would eliminate taxes on most food items, excluding alcohol and prepared meals.

Sen. John Thune has won an internal election among Republican senators to become the chamber’s next majority leader

President-elect Donald Trump picked South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem to head the Department of Homeland Security, as he zeroes in on border security.

Learn about South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, President-elect Donald Trump's reported pick for Homeland Security secretary.

South Dakota Republican Gov. Kristi Noem is President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to run the federal Department of Homeland Security, according to CNN.