Who was James Abourezk? Former Democrat Senator from South Dakota dead at 92

Former United States Senator James Abourezk, who had been released into hospice care earlier this week, died on Friday. He was 92. Abourezk died at his home in Sioux Falls on his birthday, his son Charles Abourezk said. He was surrounded by his wife Sanaa Abourezk and other family members while in hospice.

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Who was James Abourezk?

Abourezk was a South Dakota Democrat who grew up on the Rosebud Indian Reservation. He became the first Arab American US Senator. He was known for his quick wit as he advocated for populist causes.

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Abourezk represented South Dakota for single terms in the United States House and the US Senate during the 1970s. He was the first chair of the Senate Committee on Indian affairs and successfully pressed for the American Indian Policy Review Commission.

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James Abourezk was born in Wood, South Dakota to Lena, a homemaker, and Charles Abourezk, owner of two general stores. Abourezk served in the US Navy during the Korean War between 1948 and 1952. He earned a degree in civil engineering from the South Dakota School of Mines in Rapid City in 1961. In 1966, he earned a J.D. degree from the University of South Dakota School of Law in Vermillion. He started a legal practice in Rapid City, South Dakota.

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In 1968, Abourezk ran for Attorney General of South Dakota from the Democratic Party but was defeated by Fordon Mydland. He was elected as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives in 1970 and served from 1971 to 1973.

Abourezk married Margaret Bethea in 1982. They later divorced. He started a law practice in Rapid City where he specialized in American Indian law, but also remained active in advocacy on international policy.

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He met restauranteur Sanaa Abourezk at an embassy event in Washington. They got married in 1991.

Abourezk is survived by his wife, his four children Charles Abourezk, Nikki Pipe On Head, Paul Abourezk, and Alya Abourezk; step-daughter, Chelsea Machado; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.