1. Billie Harmon Sutton was born on March 16,1984 and is an American former professional bronc rider and politician.
14 Facts About Billie Sutton
1. 2.
Billie Sutton was a member of the South Dakota Senate from 2011 to 2019, served as Minority Leader, and was the 2018 Democratic nominee for Governor of South Dakota, which he narrowly lost to Republican nominee Kristi Noem in the general election.
3.
Billie Sutton went to college at the University of Wyoming and became a successful rider as the university's all-time leader in rodeo points.
4.
Billie Sutton graduated in May 2008 with a degree in finance.
5.
Billie Sutton competed professionally on the PRCA circuit, reaching a top 30 worldwide ranking.
6.
In 2007, Billie Sutton was paralyzed from the waist down when his horse flipped upside down in the chute prior to a bronc ride at a rodeo in Minot, North Dakota.
7.
Billie Sutton was 23 years old at the time of the accident.
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In 2010, Billie Sutton was elected to the South Dakota Senate, representing District 21.
9.
Billie Sutton served as Senate Assistant Minority Leader from 2013 to 2015.
10.
Billie Sutton was succeeded in this position by Troy Heinert from District 26.
11.
In 2015, Billie Sutton became the South Dakota Senate's Minority Leader.
12.
In May 2017, Billie Sutton announced his candidacy for Governor of South Dakota in 2018 at his family ranch in Burke, SD.
13.
Billie Sutton lost in the 2018 South Dakota gubernatorial election, 51.0 to 47.6 percent, in the closest gubernatorial election in South Dakota since 1986.
14.
Billie Sutton is a "pro-Second Amendment" moderate Democrat with an anti-corruption focus.