Erin Tobin
Erin Tobin | |
|---|---|
| Member of the South Dakota Senate from the 21st district | |
| In office January 12, 2021 – January 14, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Lee Qualm |
| Succeeded by | Mykala Voita |
| Personal details | |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Travis |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | South Dakota State University (BS, MS) |
Erin Tobin is an American politician and nurse practitioner who served as a Republican member of the South Dakota Senate from 2021 to 2025. Elected in November 2020, she assumed office on January 12, 2021 representing the 21st district of South Dakota.
Education
[edit]After graduating from Colome High School in Colome, South Dakota in 2001, Tobin earned a bachelor's degree in nursing from South Dakota State University in 2005, followed by a master's degree in 2010.[1]
Career
[edit]Before becoming a politician, Tobin was a nurse practitioner who had opened a clinic in her hometown of Winner.[2] She became involved in politics during a lobbying effort to introduce a bill in the South Dakota Legislature that would allow the state's nurses to have full practice authority.[3] Tobin later lobbied against legislation when her predecessor, then-State House Majority Leader Lee Qualm, introduced a bill that would remove vaccination requirements for South Dakota students.[4] In 2020, Tobin ran against Qualm in the Republican primary for a seat in the South Dakota Senate, defeating him by 22.4% of votes cast. She then defeated Democratic nominee Dan Kerner Andersson in the November general election and assumed office on January 12, 2021.[5]
In the 2024 elections, Tobin lost a close primary to Mykala Voita by 48 votes, in a race that was defined by Tobin's support for a controversial bill that would allow construction of a new pipeline.[6] She is running to rematch Voita in the 2026 elections.[2]
In the Senate, Tobin sponsored a bill supported by then-Governor Kristi Noem to create increased regulation of land sales to foreign countries, such as China.[7] Tobin supports enacting term limits for members of the United States Congress.[8] In 2024, she became the South Dakota State Chair for the advocacy organization U.S. Term Limits.[1]
Personal life
[edit]Tobin and her ex-husband, Travis, have two children. She lives in Winner, South Dakota.[9][10]
References
[edit]- 1 2 Velasco, Donna (August 14, 2024). "Erin Tobin tapped as South Dakota State Chair for U.S. Term Limits". U.S. Term Limits. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
- 1 2 Mercer, Bob (April 21, 2026). "It's Voita vs. Tobin in GOP rematch for Senate 21". Keloland. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
- ↑ Graves, Dan (November 30, 2020). "Nurse practitioner wins in landslide for State Senate". News@SDState.
- ↑ Kaczke, Lisa (June 3, 2020). "South Dakota Primary Election roundup: House majority leader defeated in Republican primary". Sioux Falls Argus Leader.
- ↑ "Erin Tobin". Ballotpedia. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
- ↑ Hult, John; Haiar, Joshua; Tupper, Seth (June 5, 2024). "Incumbent SD Republican lawmakers suffer losses over pipeline and property rights issues". Nebraska Examiner. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
- ↑ Mercer, Bob (February 14, 2023). "Gov. Kristi Noem's anti-China bill survives ag opposition". Keloland. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
- ↑ Velasco, Donna (July 12, 2021). "Senator Erin Tobin pledges to support Congressional term limits". U.S. Term Limits. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
- ↑ Powers, Pat (March 13, 2020). "Release: Republican Erin Tobin Running for District 21 Senate Seat". South Dakota War College. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
- ↑ Haiar, Joshua. "Meet the Candidates: Erin Tobin". listen.sdpb.org. Retrieved May 6, 2021.