Jim Bradford
James Arnold Bradford is a rancher, teacher, politician and Democratic member of the South Dakota Senate, representing the 27th district since 2009. He first was elected to office in the South Dakota House of Representatives. He is an Oglala Sioux.Career
Bradford had a career as a public school teacher before deciding to run for office. He lives on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, where he also has a ranch.Political career
Bradford was first elected to office as a Democratic member of the state House of Representatives.
In 2008, he switched parties to the Republican Party after having lost the Democratic primary to the incumbent Democratic senator Theresa Two Bulls. No Republican opposed him, and he narrowly won the election over Two Bulls by 277 votes. A year after winning re-election to the state senate, Bradford switched back to the Democratic Party.
