The 2019 South Dakota Legislative Session is underway, with many fresh faces headed to Pierre. But despite the shifts in many areas of leadership, the status quo in the South Dakota State Legislature remains largely unaffected.

People across the state directed their attention to the gubernatorial swearing-in ceremony last weekend as the state’s first female governor, Kristi Noem, took her oath of office. The Republican Noem won a tight race last November against Democrat Billie Sutton by a margin of 51 percent to 47.6 percent respectively, according to the NYT. Noem assumed the role of governor from Republican Dennis Daugaard in a largely uneventful ceremony, with the new leader of South Dakota being met warmly by the crowd in the Capitol.

In the House of Representatives, the Republican Party retained many of their leaders for another term, while the Democratic Party revamped their leadership positions.

Representative Steve Haugaard of Minnehaha County was elected as Speaker of the House. Haugaard, an incumbent legislator from District 10, will serve as the communication line between the S.D. Congress members and their new governor. Representative Lee Qualm, a long time member of the Legislature, was elected for another term as House Majority leader, with Representative Arch Beal assuming the role of

Assistant Majority Leader. These two men will speak for the other 56 members of the Republican Party in the House.

Across the aisle, new Democratic leaders were appointed across the board in the House. Incumbent Representative Jamie Smith was elected Minority Leader. Smith, serving his second term as a representative, will work with new Assistant Minority Leader Steven McCleerey, as well as the other nine Democratic representatives in the House.

New leaders were elected on both sides of the aisle in the Senate, despite a number of familiar faces.

Republican Larry Rhoden, the new Lieutenant Governor, will fulfill his duties as President of the Senate, with Senator Brock Greenfield stepping into the position of Speaker Pro Tempe. Rounding out the Senate Republican leadership is Majority Leader Senator Kris Langer of Dell Rapids. The leadership team will be accompanied by 28 other Republican Senators for the new term.

The five Senate Democrats will be led into the new year by Minority Leader Senator Troy Heinert, with Senator Craig Kennedy serving as Assistant Minority Leader and Senator Reynold Nesiba serving as Minority Whip. While they may be small in size, the Democratic Senators will push for bipartisan legislation for the next two years.

With the status of the federal government looking uncertain, the South Dakota State Legislature is up and running under new leadership. What remains to be seen is what legislation will be passed over the next term. But with bipartisan relations looking strong, hope for a cooperative state legislature is alive and well.

For a complete list of the South Dakota legislators, head to the official SDLRC website.