John Wiik

Chairman John Wiik grew up in Big Stone City, South Dakota, and is the son of small business owners. John’s father was the local fire chief, and his mother served on the city council and as mayor for nine years. John’s brother would eventually take over the family business and follow in his fathers footsteps as the fire chief.

John felt a calling to take a different path. He began a career as a radio DJ and became interested in politics while listening to Rush Limbaugh. In 1997, while living in Watertown, South Dakota, John ran to be a Republican Precinct Committeeman for his community. From that point on, John was active in Republican activism. In 2004, he played a key role in the grassroots efforts to elect Senator John Thune. Again in 2010, he helped get then-Congresswoman Kristi Noem elected. John later ran for the state legislature, first as a state representative and later as a state senator, where he currently serves.

On January 14, 2023, John was elected as the Chairman of the South Dakota Republican Party.