Phil Jensen Explained

Phil Jensen
State House1:South Dakota
District1:33rd
Term Start1:January 12, 2021
Alongside1:Taffy Howard (2021-present)
State Senate2:South Dakota
District2:33rd[1]
Term Start2:January 8, 2013
Term End2:January 12, 2021
Predecessor2:Elizabeth Kraus
Successor2:David Johnson
State House3:South Dakota
District3:33rd
Term Start3:January 2009
Term End3:January 8, 2013
Successor3:Scott Craig
Alongside3:Jacqueline Sly (2009–2013)
Birth Date:24 July 1952
Birth Place:Wichita, Kansas
Nationality:American
Party:Republican
Spouse:Janet Jensen[2]
Residence:Rapid City, South Dakota

Phil Jensen (born July 24, 1952), is an American politician from Pennington County, South Dakota who is a current member of the South Dakota House of Representatives and has served as a Republican member of the South Dakota Senate representing District 33 from 2013 to 2021.[3] Jensen served consecutively in the South Dakota Legislature from January 2009 until January 8, 2013 in the South Dakota House of Representatives District 33 seat. He supplements his legislative income as a cookware dealer.

Political controversies and disputes

Jensen attracted attention nationally for his assertion in an interview with the Rapid City Journal that the free market, not government, should be allowed to decide whether or not racial discrimination is acceptable, and that his SB 128 introduced in 2013, which would allow discrimination by business owners, would serve to protect "the constitutional right to free association, the right to free speech and private property rights." (The bill failed, having drawn such reactions as fellow Republican State Senator Mark Kirkeby terming it "a mean, nasty, hateful, vindictive bill.")[4] Jensen's stance was repudiated by Republican Governor Dennis Daugaard, who issued a press release stating, "I found his comments to be completely out of line with South Dakota values. I don't agree with him and I haven't talked to anyone who does.[5] Jensen is uncertain about the assertion that he is South Dakota's most conservative politician, describing himself as simply a true Reagan conservative; but asserts that "too many" members of his own party are Republicans In Name Only.[6]

In 2022, it emerged that Jensen had been a member of the far-right militia group, the Oath Keepers.[7]

Elections

South Dakota House of Representatives

South Dakota Senate

South Dakota House of Representatives

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Senator Phil Jensen . . . January 24, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151212151805/http://legis.sd.gov/Legislators/Legislators/MemberDetail.aspx?Member=465 . December 12, 2015 . dead .
  2. Web site: Phil Jensen's Biography . . January 24, 2014.
  3. Web site: South Dakota Legislature.
  4. http://www.diversityinc.com/news/lawmaker-government-shouldnt-prevent-racial-discrimination/ Catalan, Julissa. "Lawmaker: ‘Government Shouldn’t Prevent Racial Discrimination’" diversity.com n.d.
  5. Web site: Simmons-Ritchie . Daniel . Governor distances himself from state senator's Ku Klux Klan remark . rapidcityjournal.com.
  6. http://rapidcityjournal.com/news/phil-jensen-south-dakota-s-most-conservative-lawmaker/article_4ac9d76a-8226-5ad5-bc40-4d8cf2d51668.html Simmons-Ritchie, Daniel. "Phil Jensen: South Dakota's most conservative lawmaker?" Rapid City Journal March 16, 2014
  7. Web site: Rep. Phil Jensen confirms 1-year membership in Oath Keepers, 8 years ago . 2022-07-27 . Rapid City Journal Media Group . en.
  8. Web site: 2008 South Dakota Official Primary Election Results June 3, 2008 . Secretary of State of South Dakota . Pierre, South Dakota . January 24, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140116103442/http://sdsos.gov/content/viewcontent.aspx?cat=elections&pg=%2Felections%2Fpastelections_electioninfo08_primarylegislature.shtm . January 16, 2014 . dead .
  9. Web site: 2008 South Dakota Official General Election Results Legislature November 4, 2008 . Secretary of State of South Dakota . Pierre, South Dakota . January 24, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140116103400/http://sdsos.gov/content/viewcontent.aspx?cat=elections&pg=%2Felections%2Fpastelections_electioninfo08_generalleg.shtm . January 16, 2014 . dead .
  10. Web site: Official Results Primary Election June 8, 2010 . Secretary of State of South Dakota . Pierre, South Dakota . January 24, 2014.
  11. Web site: 2010 South Dakota Official General Election Results Legislature November 2, 2010 . Secretary of State of South Dakota . Pierre, South Dakota . January 24, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140116104333/http://sdsos.gov/content/viewcontent.aspx?cat=elections&pg=%2Felections%2Fpastelections_general2010_leg.shtm . January 16, 2014 . dead .
  12. Web site: Official Results Primary Election - June 5, 2012 . . Pierre, South Dakota . January 24, 2014.
  13. Web site: Official Results General Election November 6, 2012 . Secretary of State of South Dakota . Pierre, South Dakota . January 24, 2014.
  14. News: 2020 General State Canvass Final Certificate. sdsos.gov. August 21, 2021.
  15. News: 2020 Primary State Canvass Report and Certificate. sdsos.gov. August 21, 2021.

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