Will Mortenson Explained

Will Mortenson
Office:Majority Leader of the South Dakota House of Representatives
Term Start:January 10, 2023
Predecessor:Kent Peterson
State House1:South Dakota
District1:24th
Alongside1:Mike Weisgram
Term Start1:January 12, 2021
Predecessor1:Tim Rounds
Mary Duvall
Birth Place:Pierre, South Dakota, U.S.
Party:Republican
Education:University of South Dakota (BA)
University of Virginia (JD)

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]

External links

Notes and References

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