Bill Janklow - Return To Governorship

Return To Governorship

Janklow returned to politics in 1994, when he defeated incumbent Walter Dale Miller in the Republican gubernatorial primary. He was handily elected that year and was reelected in 1998. In his second two terms, he cut property taxes for homeowners and farmers by 30%, but was able to make up the revenue loss caused by the voters' repealing the inheritance tax. Janklow is the longest-serving governor in South Dakota history. He is the only person in the state's history to serve eight full years as governor, which he did twice.

Although controversial, Janklow is among the more electorally successful politicians in South Dakota's history. He was elected to statewide office six times.