| Office | Majority Leader of the South Dakota Senate |
|---|---|
| Term start | January 8, 2019 |
| Term end | January 12, 2021 |
| Predecessor | Blake Curd |
| Successor | Gary Cammack |
| State senate 1 | South Dakota |
| District 1 | 25th |
| Term start 1 | January 10, 2017 |
| Term end 1 | January 12, 2021 |
| Predecessor 1 | Tim Rave |
| Successor 1 | Marsha Symens |
| State house 2 | South Dakota |
| District 2 | 25th |
| Alongside 2 | Scott Ecklund |
| Term start 2 | August 15, 2013 |
| Term end 2 | January 10, 2017 |
| Predecessor 2 | Jon Hansen |
| Successor 2 | Tom Pischke Daniel Ahlers |
| Birth date | August 17, 1969 (age 57) |
| Birth place | Brookings, South Dakota, U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Tracy [1] |
| Education | South Dakota State University (BS) |
Kristen K. Langer[2] (born August 17, 1969) is an American politician who served as a member of the South Dakota Senate for the 25th district from 2017 to 2021.[3] She was appointed by Governor Dennis Daugaard to the South Dakota House of Representatives after Jon Hansen resigned. In 2019, she became the South Dakota State Senate Majority Leader.[4]
Elections
South Dakota House of Representatives
In the November 4, 2014 general election, Langer ran unopposed for the South Dakota House of Representatives. She received 4,601 votes.[5]
South Dakota State Senate
In the November 2016 general election, Langer ran for election to the South Dakota State Senate against Democrat Jeff Barth, whom she defeated by a margin of 7,254 to 4,301.[6]
In the November 2018 general election, Langer ran for reelection against Independent Brian Wirth and Independent Peter Kiebanoff. She won, receiving 6,583 votes; Wirth received 1,931 votes and Kiebanoff received 1,15 votes.[7]
In 2020, Langer was uncontested for the Republican nomination but drew two Independent challengers for the general election. On August 4, 2020, Langer announced she would not seek re-election to the state senate, but would complete her term.[8]
Controversy
Admonishment by State Senate
On March 30, 2020, during a late-night session of the legislature Langer was accused by fellow State Senator Phil Jensen of being intoxicated at the Capitol.[9] In April 2020, a bipartisan committee established to look into the allegations against Langer and President Pro Tempe Brock Greenfield, voted 9-0 to admonish both of Langer and Greenfield for their conduct.[10] During the hearing, Langer and Greenfield acknowledged drinking alcohol during a break in Senate proceedings. They apologized "for this bad judgment on our part and for any delay this may have brought about for other members."[11]
References
- ^ "Kris Langer". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2025-04-15.
- ^ "Kris Langer's Biography". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
- ^ "South Dakota Legislature"
- ^ "Republican leaders". Sioux City Journal. 2019-01-08. p. A6. Retrieved 2024-06-08. – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "State Legislative Races". South Dakota Secretary of State. Archived 2014-11-26 at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ "Official Results General Election November 8, 2016". Pierre, South Dakota: Secretary of State of South Dakota. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
- ^ "Official Results General Election November 6, 2018". Pierre, South Dakota: Secretary of State of South Dakota. Archived from the original on April 21, 2021. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
- ^ "Senate Majority Leader Kris Langer drops reelection bid". Dakota News Now. August 4, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
- ^ "Senate Committee begins investigation of two state senators". keloland.com. April 21, 2020. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
- ^ Kaczke, Lisa (24 April 2020). "Legislators rebuke South Dakota Senate leaders for being drunk at the Capitol". Argus Leader. USA Today. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
- ^ "Senate Interim Investigation Committee". sdpb.com. April 23, 2020. Retrieved April 26, 2020.