Helene Duhamel

American politician and journalist

Helene Duhamel

Member of the South Dakota Senate
from the 32nd district

Incumbent

Assumed office
December 3, 2019
Preceded by| Alan Solano
Personal details
Born| 1962 (age 62-63)
Palo Alto, California, U.S.
Political party| Republican
Education| Stanford University (BA)

Helene Duhamel (born 1962)[1] is an American politician and journalist serving as a member of the South Dakota Senate from the 32nd district.[2]

## Career

[edit]

After graduating from college, she worked as a news anchor for KDUH in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. In 1989, she returned to Rapid City.[3][4]

Duhamel was appointed to the Senate by Governor Kristi Noem in 2019 to fill the vacancy left by Alan Solano.[5][6] Duhamel had previously served as a television news anchor for KOTA-TV and as the public information office for the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office.[7][8]

## Electoral history

[edit]

In 2020, Duhamel ran for re-election to the South Dakota State Senate to represent District 32; she was unopposed in the Republican primary. Duhamel beat Democratic challenger Michael Calabrese by 64% to 36%. Calabrese was a small business owner and served on the Rapid City Board of Parks and Recreation.[9]

2020 General Election: South Dakota State Senate District 32[10] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Republican |  Helene Duhamel  | 7,397  | 64%
| Democratic | Michael Calabrese  | 4,413  | 36%

## Legislative History

[edit]

### 2020 Legislative Session

[edit]

After her appointment to the State Senate, Duhamel represented District 32 during the 2020 South Dakota Legislative Session.

Senate Committee Membership  Position  | Committee

|

Vice-Chair  | Local Government
Member  | Health and Human Services

Duhamel also served on the Local Government Interim Committee and as the Vice Chair of the Health and Human Services Interim Committee.

Duhamel's 2020 Prime Sponsored Legislation[11] Bill Number  | Bill Title

|

HB 1056  | revise drone surveillance protections
SB 60  | adopt the Physical Therapist Licensure Compact
SB 61  | revise certain provisions regarding a municipal office nominating petition
SB 70  | revise the offenses for which an order for interception of communications may be granted

In 2020, all four pieces of legislation that Duhamel prime sponsored were passed into law and signed by the Governor Kristi Noem.[11]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "A face for the fight". Gillette News Record. June 17, 2004. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
2. ^ "SDLRC - Senator Helene Duhamel - 2020". sdlegislature.gov. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
3. ^ staff, Jim Holland Journal (March 10, 2017). "Helene Duhamel looks back at 30 years at KOTA". Rapid City Journal Media Group. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
4. ^ "Helene Duhamel - Speaking at TEDx Rapid City". tedxrapidcity.com. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
5. ^ Kaczke, Lisa. "State Sen. Alan Solano resigns from Legislature, citing professional responsibilities". Argus Leader. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
6. ^ "South Dakota State News Home". news.sd.gov. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
7. ^ "Helene Duhamel, longtime West River journalist, appointed to state Senate". kotatv.com. December 3, 2019. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
8. ^ "Helene Duhamel". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
9. ^ staff, Nathan Thompson Journal (September 29, 2020). "Duhamel, Calabrese running for Senate District 32 seat". Rapid City Journal Media Group. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
10. ^ "South Dakota Secretary of State". electionresults.sd.gov. November 3, 2020. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
11. ^ a b "South Dakota Legislature". sdlegislature.gov. Retrieved January 1, 2022.

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Members of the South Dakota Senate

South Dakota Legislature (2025–present)

President of the Senate
Tony Venhuizen
President pro tempore
Chris Karr (R)
Majority Leader
Jim Mehlhaff (R)
Minority Leader
Liz Larson (D)

1. ▌Michael Rohl (R)
2. ▌Steve Kolbeck (R)
3. ▌Carl E. Perry (R)
4. ▌Stephanie Sauder (R)
5. ▌Glen A. Vilhauer (R)
6. ▌Ernie Otten (R)
7. ▌Tim Reed (R)
8. ▌Casey Crabtree (R)
9. ▌Joy Hohn (R)
10. ▌Liz Larson (D)
11. ▌Chris Karr (R)
12. ▌Arch Beal (R)
13. ▌Sue Peterson (R)
14. ▌Larry Zikmund (R)
15. ▌Jamie Smith (D)
16. ▌Kevin D. Jensen (R)
17. ▌Sydney Davis (R)
18. ▌Lauren Nelson (R)
19. ▌Kyle Schoenfish (R)
20. ▌Paul Miskimins (R)
21. ▌Mykala Voita (R)
22. ▌David Wheeler (R)
23. ▌Mark Lapka (R)
24. ▌Jim Mehlhaff (R)
25. ▌Tom Pischke (R)
26. ▌Tamara Grove (R)
27. ▌Red Dawn Foster (D)
28. ▌Sam Marty (R)
29. ▌John Carley (R)
30. ▌Amber Hulse (R)
31. ▌Randy Deibert (R)
32. ▌Helene Duhamel (R)
33. ▌Curt Voight (R)
34. ▌Taffy Howard (R)
35. ▌Greg Blanc (R)

* ▌Republican (32)
* ▌Democratic (3)

* South Dakota Legislature
* South Dakota House of Representatives
* South Dakota Senate

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