Donald Trump selects Ohio senator J.D. Vance over Kristi Noem to be running mate

Former president Donald Trump announced Monday that his vice presidential pick would be Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, ending speculation that South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem could have been on a presidential ticket this November.

For much of Trump's third campaign for president, Noem's name has been whispered as a potential pick for his second-in-command — following a term in office that saw her rise to a household name as she espoused personal responsibility and a strong distaste for mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic and served as a fierce supporter of Trump both while he was in office and after.

"Republicans, we’ve got our ticket!" Noem posted on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, on Monday afternoon. "President Trump and @JDVance1 will unite this country, and I look forward to doing whatever I can to help them win.

More: Ohio Senator JD Vance is Donald Trump's pick for vice president

What may have counted her out?

Whether she'd ever truly been in the running or not, the release of her book "No Going Back" in May 2024 signaled to many that being a heartbeat away from the presidency wasn't in the cards.

More: For Gov. Noem's political career, there's 'No Going Back' after dog story: Analysis

Noem's office had to walk back several inaccuracies in the book, including a claim that she had met North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un and that she was the only member of South Dakota's Congressional delegation who didn't call for Trump to step down following the Access Hollywood tape.

Perhaps most famously, the book also outlined that she had shot and killed a 14-month-old family dog named Cricket, who she called "untrainable" and said that "I hated that dog." In the same anecdote, she also said she had killed a goat that she called "nasty and mean."

Vance's connections to South Dakota senators

Vance — once a fierce critic of Trump who said he could be "America's Hitler" but who is now one of his most steadfast allies — was elected to the Senate in 2022 and serves on Senate committees with both of South Dakota's senators.

He sits on the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee alongside Sen. Mike Rounds, and on the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation alongside Sen. John Thune.

In a post on Monday afternoon, Thune said "Excellent choice by President Trump selecting @JDVance1 to serve as VP. I've worked with J.D. for years & I've seen his commitment to serving the American people firsthand. He will be a key partner to a Senate Republican majority in reversing the dangerous Biden-Schumer agenda."

Rounds' office sent a statement over text message to the Argus Leader on Monday afternoon, in which the senator offered congratulations to Vance, whom he called his "friend and colleague."

"We fully support former President Trump and his Vice Presidential running mate selection," Rounds said in the statement. "We look forward to strongly supporting this unified Republican team and anticipate a great victory in November."

What's next for Noem?

Where Noem goes from here isn't clear. She's term-limited in her role as governor, and cannot run again in 2026. Though if she'd like to head back to Washington, Rounds' seat would be up for election that same year. Should Trump be elected president in November, Noem could also be in the running for a Cabinet position.

There's also the possibility she's interested in leaving government entirely. An Axios story from May cited two unnamed sources in a report that she had pitched herself to the National Rifle Association as a replacement for Wayne LaPierre, the organization's former CEO and executive vice president.

More: Top NRA positions rumored to be sought by Kristi Noem have been filled

Noem spokesman Ian Fury told Axios that "She loves her job as Governor of South Dakota," and the NRA's board later elected former Congressman Bob Barr to be their president and Doug Hamlin to serve as CEO and executive vice president.

This story is developing. Check back for more.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Kristi Noem not selected by Trump to be running mate in 2024 election