A Yankton-based business owner is now running for the U.S. Senate.
Jay Williams announced his candidacy Friday at a press conference in Sioux Falls. Williams was born in Gettysburg, South Dakota. He says he’s a 4th generation South Dakotan. Williams is a Democrat, but he says both of his grandparents were Republicans.
“But the Republican party of their day bears little resemblance to the Republican party of today,” says Williams. “ My dad’s Republican Party of 1956 had a platform that contained planks to provide federal assistance for low income communities, to protect social security, to provide asylum for refugees, to extend the minimum wage, to improve the unemployment benefit system so it covered more people, to strengthen labor laws so workers could more easily join unions, and to ensure equal pay for equal work regardless of sex,” says Williams.
Williams holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a Master's Degree in Computer Science. He has served in the Navy and the Peace Corps. He also served on the Yankton school board.
Williams faces incumbent Republican U.S. Senator John Thune in the November election.
Officials with the state GOP issued a statement expressing confidence South Dakota residents will continue to support the policies and platform of Senator Thune.