James Abdnor
Encyclopedia
James Abdnor is a Republican
politician
from the state
of South Dakota
.
Fraternity. He served in the United States Army
during World War II
and from 1957 to 1969 was a member of the South Dakota Senate
. A common, plain spoken man, he was affectionately known as "the people's Senator." He was also described as a "nice-guy public servant" with a "down-home, warm and fuzzy way." Like his South Dakota Congressional colleague James Abourezk
, he is a second-generation Lebanese-American.
in 1969 to 1971, and unsuccessfully sought the nomination for House of Representatives
in 1970. In 1972 he was elected to the House of Representatives as a Republican.
He ran in the 1980 election
against George McGovern
for the United States Senate
. Abdnor claimed McGovern was out of touch with the state and he defeated McGovern by a large margin. In 1986, after winning a bruising re-election primary campaign against then Governor Bill Janklow
, Abdnor narrowly lost his Senate seat to then-Congressman Tom Daschle
. He served as the administrator of the Small Business Administration
from 1987 to 1989, and served in an advisory capacity for John Thune
's successful campaign against Daschle in 2004. Thune had been a member of Senator Abdnor's staff.
Other notable members of Abdnor's staff who went on to fill important public service roles include John Hamre
, Undersecretary of Defense; Jeff Trandahl
, Clerk of the House
; Bruce Knight, Undersecretary, Marketing and Regulatory Programs, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA); Larry Parkinson, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Law Enforcement and Security, U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI); Phil Hogen, Chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC); Vern Larson
, South Dakota State Treasurer and Auditor; South Dakota State Senators Mike Vehle and Scott Heidepriem
; South Dakota State Representatives Sean O'Brien and Lee Schoenbeck; and Charlotte Fischer, South Dakota Public Utilities Commissoner.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from the state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
.
Personal
He graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1945 where he became a member of the Sigma ChiSigma Chi
Sigma Chi is the largest and one of the oldest college Greek-letter secret and social fraternities in North America with 244 active chapters and more than . Sigma Chi was founded on June 28, 1855 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio when members split from Delta Kappa Epsilon...
Fraternity. He served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and from 1957 to 1969 was a member of the South Dakota Senate
South Dakota Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the South Dakota State Legislature. It is made up of 35 members, one representing each legislative district, and meets at the South Dakota State Capitol in Pierre.-Composition:-Officers:-Members of the 86th Senate:...
. A common, plain spoken man, he was affectionately known as "the people's Senator." He was also described as a "nice-guy public servant" with a "down-home, warm and fuzzy way." Like his South Dakota Congressional colleague James Abourezk
James Abourezk
James George Abourezk is a former Democratic United States Representative and United States Senator, and was the first Arab-American to serve in the United States Senate. He represented South Dakota in the U.S...
, he is a second-generation Lebanese-American.
Politics
He was the Lieutenant Governor of South DakotaLieutenant Governor of South Dakota
The Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota is the lieutenant governor of the U.S. state of South Dakota.He or she is the second-ranking member of the executive branch of South Dakota state government and also serves as presiding officer of the South Dakota Senate...
in 1969 to 1971, and unsuccessfully sought the nomination for House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
in 1970. In 1972 he was elected to the House of Representatives as a Republican.
He ran in the 1980 election
United States Senate election in South Dakota, 1980
The 1980 United States Senate election in South Dakota was held on November 2, 1980. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator George McGovern ran for re-election to a fourth term, but was defeated by Republican James Abdnor.-Results:-Results:...
against George McGovern
George McGovern
George Stanley McGovern is an historian, author, and former U.S. Representative, U.S. Senator, and the Democratic Party nominee in the 1972 presidential election....
for the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
. Abdnor claimed McGovern was out of touch with the state and he defeated McGovern by a large margin. In 1986, after winning a bruising re-election primary campaign against then Governor Bill Janklow
Bill Janklow
William John "Bill" Janklow served as the 25th Attorney General of South Dakota, before being elected as South Dakota's 27th and 30th Governor, as well as to the United States House of Representatives where he served for a little more than a year. A Republican, Janklow's career has continued as a...
, Abdnor narrowly lost his Senate seat to then-Congressman Tom Daschle
Tom Daschle
Thomas Andrew "Tom" Daschle is a former U.S. Senator from South Dakota and former U.S. Senate Majority Leader. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
. He served as the administrator of the Small Business Administration
Small Business Administration
The Small Business Administration is a United States government agency that provides support to entrepreneurs and small businesses. The mission of the Small Business Administration is "to maintain and strengthen the nation's economy by enabling the establishment and viability of small businesses...
from 1987 to 1989, and served in an advisory capacity for John Thune
John Thune
John Randolph Thune is the junior U.S. Senator from South Dakota and a member of the Republican Party. He previously served as a U.S. Representative for .-Early Life, Education:...
's successful campaign against Daschle in 2004. Thune had been a member of Senator Abdnor's staff.
Other notable members of Abdnor's staff who went on to fill important public service roles include John Hamre
John Hamre
John J. Hamre is a specialist in international studies, a former Washington bureaucrat and the current president and CEO of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a position he has held with that think tank since April 2000.-Education:Hamre is the son of Melvin Sanders and Ruth Lucile...
, Undersecretary of Defense; Jeff Trandahl
Jeff Trandahl
Jeffrey Joseph Trandahl served as the thirty-second Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives. He was elected Clerk on January 6, 1999 and held office until November 18, 2005.-Personal:...
, Clerk of the House
Clerk of the United States House of Representatives
The Clerk of the United States House of Representatives is an officer of the United States House of Representatives, whose primary duty is to act as the chief record-keeper for the House....
; Bruce Knight, Undersecretary, Marketing and Regulatory Programs, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA); Larry Parkinson, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Law Enforcement and Security, U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI); Phil Hogen, Chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC); Vern Larson
Vern Larson
Vernon L. Larson is South Dakota State Treasurer. He was born October 25, 1948, at Vivian, South Dakota. He graduated from Vivian High School and received a degree from Northern State University, Aberdeen, South Dakota in 1970....
, South Dakota State Treasurer and Auditor; South Dakota State Senators Mike Vehle and Scott Heidepriem
Scott Heidepriem
Scott Heidepriem is a Democratic member of the South Dakota Senate, representing the 13th district since 2007. He was the 2010 Democratic nominee for Governor of South Dakota.-Personal life:...
; South Dakota State Representatives Sean O'Brien and Lee Schoenbeck; and Charlotte Fischer, South Dakota Public Utilities Commissoner.