Chris Karr
Senator · State senate · South Dakota · District 11
Republican
Biography
Chris Karr (Republican Party) is a member of the South Dakota State Senate, representing District 11. He assumed office on January 14, 2025. His current term ends on January 12, 2027. The South Dakota Senate elected Karr Senate president pro tempore on January 14, 2025. The president pro tempore presides over the Senate body in the absence of the Senate president, which in the case of South Dakota is the lieutenant governor. Karr was born in Tabor, South Dakota, in 1980. He received a B.S. in business economics from South Dakota State University and an M.B.A. from the University of South Dakota. He owned a business and served as an accredited valuation analyst and a financial consultant. Before joining the Senate, Karr represented South Dakota House of Representatives District 11 from 2017 to 2025. He chaired the House Appropriations Committee from 2019 to 2022 and was majority whip from 2019 to 2020. As a representative, Karr "led efforts to reduce the overall sales tax from 4.5 to 4.2 percent." Karr was elected to the Senate in 2024, defeating Steve Natz (D) 58.9%-41.1%. As of April 2025, he chaired the Senate Legislative Procedure Committee and the Senate Select Committee on the Nomination for Lieutenant Governor.
On the record
- Education
- South Dakota State University; University of South Dakota
- Profession
- Financial consultant (Accredited Valuation Analyst)
- Born
- 1980-01-31
Contact
- Capitol office
- Capitol Building 500 E. Capitol Ave., Pierre, SD 57501 · 605-773-3821
- Phone
- 605-773-3821
- chris.karr@sdlegislature.gov