Ken Knuppe

Ken Knuppe is a member of the Republican Party, who ran for the governor of South Dakota in the South Dakota gubernatorial election in 2010. In a Republican primary election on June 8, 2010, Knuppe lost to Lt. Gov. [Dennis Daugaard]. Knuppe received just 3.8% or 3,186 of the 83,832 ballots cast.

If Knuppe had become governor, Knuppe would have been the third cowboy in South Dakota history to be elected to the state's top office.

Apart from his political ambitions, he is a rancher and lives near Buffalo Gap, South Dakota.

As a rancher, Knuppe eventually became president of South Dakota Stock Growers Association. He then spent three years lobbying for the Stock Growers at the legislature in Pierre, the capital of South Dakota. During that time, he became interested in politics.

Knuppe grew up in New Underwood, South Dakota. He attended South Dakota State University where he met his wife Monica. The two moved to a ranch 30 miles northeast of Buffalo Gap, South Dakota. They raised four children: Clay, Richard, Kendra and Kerry.