Rosebud Sioux Tribal Citizen to Lead Democrats in South Dakota State Senate

South Dakota Senator Troy Heinert is the new Democratic leader in the state Senate. Photo: Troy Heinert

Published November 24, 2018

PIERRE, S. D. — Troy Heinert, a tribal citizen of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, has been selected to lead the Democrats in the South Dakota state Senate when the South Dakota legislature begins its session in January 2019.

Heinert will become the first tribal citizen to hold this post in the South Dakota legislature’s history.

“The Democratic Party is proud to be led by the first Native American caucus leader in the State Legislature,” an announcement said earlier this week.

Heinert won his third term to the state senate in the midterm election. A resident of Mission, South Dakota, he represents Brule, Buffalo, Jones, Lyman, Mellette and Todd counties in the state senate’s District 26.