Jason Gant is a lifelong resident of South Dakota growing up in Geddes, South Dakota as a fifth generation South Dakotan. In fact, two of Jason’s great, great grandfathers homesteaded in the very same town adjacent to the Missouri river.

In his youth, Jason helped his father work the family farm, and in his free time raised feeder pigs as an FFA project. After graduating from Geddes High School, Jason went on to graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of South Dakota in political science and a minor in business administration.

After graduation, Jason began working for a health insurance company, and eventually started his own healthcare consulting business in Sioux Falls. Jason has been an active member of the Sioux Falls community through volunteer efforts with the Sioux Empire United Way, Junior Achievement, Rotary Club, Knights of Columbus, and the Republican Party. Jason was also a Leadership Sioux Falls participant through the Sioux Falls Chamber.

Jason was elected to the State Senate in the fall of 2004 and re-elected in 2006 and 2008. During his three terms in the South Dakota Legislature, Jason has served as Chairman of the Senate Government Operations and Audit Committee and Chairman of the Senate Local Government Committee, as well as a member of the Commerce, Health and Human Services, Transportation, and Appropriations Committees. Jason sponsored many bills ranging from identity theft to open government to numerous bills related to the Secretary of State's Office.

Jason was elected South Dakota's 27th Secretary of State in November of 2010. His first few months in office have been marked by several technology initiatives to help better provide information to the public. Secretary Gant already has more information on-line than any other agency in State Government, and further plans are being made to make his offices’ historic archives searchable by the taxpayers of South Dakota.

Jason’s wife, Chris, is a Nurse Practitioner. Chris is an O'Gorman High School graduate and she received her Bachelor of Science and Masters Degrees in nursing from South Dakota State University. Jason and Chris have three daughters, Abbi, Sophie, and Mallory. They are members of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Pierre, and enjoy visiting friends and family, golfing, and reading.