Jackley Attends Orientation for New House Members
The South Dakota Republican will take over the state's lone U.S. House seat from Dusty Johnson when Congress convenes in January.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Legislative Policy
Live Poll
Do you trust Congress to work across party lines to get things done?
Marty Jackley is attending freshman orientation in Washington, DC, this week after defeating Democrat Nikki Gronli for South Dakota's lone U.S. House seat. He will succeed Dusty Johnson, who leaves office at the end of the current session.
Why it matters
Jackley's arrival comes as Democrats have flipped control of Congress, leaving Republicans in the minority when he takes office. Johnson has said he expects a divided government to produce a more productive legislative agenda.
Jackley takes office in January 2027 after succeeding Dusty Johnson, who leaves at the end of the current session. Social Security must be fixed by 2032, a deadline Jackley has said he wants addressed, though how he plans to approach it has not been specified.
The players
Marty Jackley
Marty Jackley is a South Dakota Republican who previously served as the state's attorney general and has held leadership roles with the National Association of Attorneys General.
Dusty Johnson
Dusty Johnson is a South Dakota Republican who has represented the state's lone U.S. House seat and is leaving office at the end of the current session.
Nikki Gronli
Nikki Gronli is a Democrat who ran for South Dakota's lone U.S. House seat and lost to Marty Jackley in the general election.
The details
New members of Congress attend orientation sessions in Washington, DC, that outline their duties. Johnson has discussed Jackley with House colleagues to ease the transition, and Jackley has built working relationships through his leadership roles with the National Association of Attorneys General.
Timeline
November 13, 2026: Jackley attends orientation in Washington, DC, this week.
End of the current session: Dusty Johnson leaves office.
January 2027: Jackley takes office in Congress.
2032: Social Security funding deadline Jackley wants fixed.
Political Context
Republicans will enter the new Congress as the minority party, which means Jackley will serve in a chamber controlled by Democrats following the 2026 midterm results. Opposition priorities and counter-proposals will shape how much of his agenda can advance.
Residents of South Dakota will have a new U.S. House representative beginning in January 2027. Changes to federal policy on Social Security, which must be fixed by 2032, could affect benefits for those in the state who rely on the program.
The takeaway
A divided Congress means that bipartisan negotiation will likely determine which policies advance, making the new South Dakota representative's coalition-building skills an important factor for residents to watch.
What happens next
Jackley takes office in January 2027 when Congress convenes, and the Social Security funding deadline he wants addressed falls in 2032.
Further reading
For more on how federal lawmaking is shaping up, see Legislative Policy coverage for South Dakota.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KELO-LAND TV.
Live Poll
Do you trust Congress to work across party lines to get things done?
