Speaker of the House Mark Mickelson says he’s not going to run for re-election this year.
Mickelson is both the son and grandson of former governors. In 2016, the Sioux Falls Republican even explored a run for the state’s highest office.
Mickelson says he thoroughly enjoyed his time in the legislature and as Speaker of the House.
“My DNA and my family name have given me a lot of opportunities and also a lot of expectations. I felt an obligation to serve and made the decision to run for the legislature sitting at Bill Janklow’s funeral,” Mickelson says. “I’m so glad I’ve run down the path and seriously considered a run for governor. Unless my perspective changes, I don’t have any political plans.”
The Sioux Falls Republican served six years in the House of Representatives.
Mickelson says it’s time for him to focus on his family and his business.
The District 13 representative has over 94,000 in political cash on hand, according to most recent disclosure forms.
Mickelson is currently the sponsor of two ballot measure questions approved for a vote in November. One increases the tobacco tax to fund the state’s tech schools. The other bans out-of-state money for ballot measure questions.