Phil Jensen

Phil Jensen
Jensen at the 2024 Hazlitt Summit hosted by Young Americans for Liberty Foundation
Member of the South Dakota House of Representatives
from the 33rd district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 12, 2021
Serving with Curt Massie
Member of the South Dakota Senate
from the 33rd district
In office
January 8, 2013 – January 12, 2021
Preceded byElizabeth Kraus
Succeeded byDavid Johnson
Member of the South Dakota House of Representatives
from the 33rd district
In office
January 2009 – January 8, 2013
Serving with Jacqueline Sly (2009–2013)
Succeeded byScott Craig
Personal details
Born (1952-07-24) July 24, 1952 (age 74)
Wichita, Kansas
PartyRepublican
SpouseJanet Jensen
Websitephiljensen.org

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. 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 currently serves as the Chairman of the South Dakota Freedom Caucus. 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.") 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. 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.

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

In 2025, Jensen purposed a bill which would have directed the South Dakota Department of Education to withhold money from the Huron School District. Jensen explained to the Argus Leader that the bill was intended to get district leaders to testify in Pierre to explain why "it is allowing boys to go into girls' bathrooms." The bill received statewide condemnation including from fellow Republican lawmakers, leading to Jensen being demoted as Vice Chair of the House Education Committee and withdrawing the bill less than 24 hours.

Elections

South Dakota House of Representatives

South Dakota Senate

South Dakota House of Representatives

References

  1. ↑ "Senator Phil Jensen". Pierre, South Dakota: South Dakota Legislature. Archived from the original on December 12, 2015. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Phil Jensen's Biography". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
  3. ↑ "South Dakota Legislature".
  4. ↑ "Freedom Caucus is a 'no' to new men's prison". KELOLAND.com. 2025-09-10. Archived from the original on 2025-09-19. Retrieved 2026-01-04.
  5. ↑ Catalan, Julissa. "Lawmaker: ‘Government Shouldn’t Prevent Racial Discrimination’" diversity.com n.d.
  6. ↑ Simmons-Ritchie, Daniel. "Governor distances himself from state senator's Ku Klux Klan remark". rapidcityjournal.com.
  7. ↑ Simmons-Ritchie, Daniel. "Phil Jensen: South Dakota's most conservative lawmaker?" Rapid City Journal March 16, 2014
  8. ↑ "Rep. Phil Jensen confirms 1-year membership in Oath Keepers, 8 years ago". Rapid City Journal Media Group. Retrieved 2022-07-27.
  9. ↑ Dausch, Dominik (February 6, 2025). "SD lawmaker has 'no regrets' over demotion for bill targeting Huron schools, trans youth". Argus Leader.
  10. ↑ "2008 South Dakota Official Primary Election Results June 3, 2008". Pierre, South Dakota: Secretary of State of South Dakota. Archived from the original on January 16, 2014. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
  11. ↑ "2008 South Dakota Official General Election Results Legislature November 4, 2008". Pierre, South Dakota: Secretary of State of South Dakota. Archived from the original on January 16, 2014. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Official Results Primary Election June 8, 2010". Pierre, South Dakota: Secretary of State of South Dakota. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
  13. ↑ "2010 South Dakota Official General Election Results Legislature November 2, 2010". Pierre, South Dakota: Secretary of State of South Dakota. Archived from the original on January 16, 2014. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Official Results Primary Election - June 5, 2012". Pierre, South Dakota: Secretary of State of South Dakota. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
  15. ↑ "Official Results General Election November 6, 2012". Pierre, South Dakota: Secretary of State of South Dakota. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
  16. ↑ "2020 General State Canvass Final Certificate" (PDF). sdsos.gov. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 18, 2020. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  17. ↑ "2020 Primary State Canvass Report and Certificate" (PDF). sdsos.gov. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 13, 2020. Retrieved August 21, 2021.