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
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
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
Tobin and her ex-husband, Travis, have two children. She lives in Winner, South Dakota.[9][10]
References
- 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.