Kristen K. Langer (born August 17, 1969) is an American politician who served as a member of the

South Dakota Senate The South Dakota Senate is the upper house of the South Dakota Legislature. It consists of 35 members, one representing each legislative district. It meets at the South Dakota State Capitol in Pierre. Composition :''99th Legislature (2025)' ...

for the 25th district from 2017 to 2021. She was appointed by Governor

Dennis Daugaard Dennis Martin Daugaard (born June 11, 1953) is an American attorney and politician who served as the 32nd governor of South Dakota from 2011 to 2019. A member of the Republican Party, he was the first chief executive of a U.S. state to be the ...

to the South Dakota House of Representatives after Jon Hansen resigned. In 2019, she became the South Dakota State Senate Majority Leader.

Elections

South Dakota House of Representatives

In the November 4, 2014 general election, Langer ran unopposed for the South Dakota House of Representatives. She received 4,601 votes.

South Dakota State Senate

In the November 2016 general election, Langer ran for election to the South Dakota State Senate against Democrat Jeff Barth, whom she defeated by a margin of 7,254 to 4,301. In the November 2018 general election, Langer ran for reelection against Independent Brian Wirth and Independent Peter Kiebanoff. She won, receiving 6,583 votes; Wirth received 1,931 votes and Kiebanoff received 1,15 votes. In 2020, Langer was uncontested for the Republican nomination but drew two Independent challengers for the general election. On August 4, 2020, Langer announced she would not seek re-election to the state senate, but would complete her term.

Controversy

Admonishment by State Senate

On March 30, 2020, during a late-night session of the legislature Langer was accused by fellow State Senator Phil Jensen of being intoxicated at the Capitol. In April 2020, a bipartisan committee established to look into the allegations against Langer and President Pro Tempe

Brock Greenfield Brock L. Greenfield (born October 5, 1975 in Watertown, South Dakota) is an American politician serving as School and Public Lands Commissioner of South Dakota. He previously served as a Republican member of the South Dakota Senate. Greenfield wa ...

, voted 9-0 to admonish both of Langer and Greenfield for their conduct. During the hearing, Langer and Greenfield acknowledged drinking alcohol during a break in Senate proceedings. They apologized "for this bad judgment on our part and for any delay this may have brought about for other members."

References

External links

Official page
at the

South Dakota Legislature The South Dakota Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of South Dakota. It is a bicameral legislative body, consisting of the South Dakota Senate, which has 35 members, and the South Dakota House of Representatives, which has 7 ...

* 1969 births 21st-century American women politicians Living people Republican Party members of the South Dakota House of Representatives People from Dell Rapids, South Dakota Place of birth missing (living people) Republican Party South Dakota state senators Women state legislators in South Dakota 21st-century members of the South Dakota Legislature {{SouthDakota-politician-stub