Tony Venhuizen is a Republican politician and attorney serving as the 40th Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota since January 2025. He was appointed to this role by Governor Larry Rhoden and unanimously confirmed by the South Dakota Legislature. Previously, he represented District 13 in the South Dakota House of Representatives from 2023 to 2025, where he served as vice chair of the House Appropriations Committee and chaired the 100th Session Planning Committee in 2024.

Notable achievements include serving as chief of staff to Governors Dennis Daugaard and Kristi Noem , managing Daugaard's 2010 gubernatorial campaign, and working on multiple gubernatorial transitions. He chaired the 2012 Open Government Task Force and the State Board of Finance , and served two terms on the South Dakota Board of Regents . Venhuizen is a recipient of the 2004 Harry S. Truman Scholarship and co-authored "South Dakota’s Citizen Legislature: 100 Sessions of Constancy and Change" for The South Dakota Law Review in 2025.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: Earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and history from South Dakota State University and a juris doctorate from the University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law .
• Political Experience:
  • Chief of staff and senior advisor in Governors' Offices .
  • South Dakota House of Representatives, District 13 ; vice chair, House Appropriations Committee; member, Legislative Procedure Committee.
  • Appointed Lieutenant Governor .
  • Campaign roles: Managed Daugaard’s 2010 campaign; worked on Rounds’ 2002 and 2006 campaigns.
  • Board service: South Dakota Board of Regents, State Board of Finance, Open Government Task Force.