Depending on the day, politics can be either a rewarding or a frustrating occupation. Either way, you can't really leave your work at the office when the day is done. That's especially true for a pair of Yankton lawmakers, because politics is all in the family.
Hunhoff has been a household name in South Dakota politics since 1993.
"The name is certainly popular across the state," says State Senator Jean Hunhoff.
It's also a topic of conversation around the capitol.
"Wherever I go, it's always that question."
The question:"Is Bernie your husband?"
The answer: no. Jean is married to Bernie's younger brother, Dan.
"When I miss my husband I say 'ok Bernie I need to see you so I quit missing Dan," Sen. Hunhoff says.
As brother and sister-in-law the pair are pretty close, though not politically. Bernie heads the Democratic minority, Jean is a Republican.
"We have had some pretty lively conversations at the cracker barrel's back home," says Rep. Hunhoff.
"I respect his opinion very much, and sometimes, you know, it's ok to disagree," adds Sen. Hunhoff.
The elder Hunhoff served the state senate for six years beginning in 1993. He left in 1999, but the Hunhoff name stayed at the state capitol, as Jean joined the house in 2000. Jean's interest in serving her state started in high school, when she served as a page at the state capitol.
Bernie came back to the capitol in 2009, and the two have been serving together every since.
Representative Hunhoff says he sees more of his sister-in-law back home in Yankton, than he does here at the legislature.
"Because she's in the Senate and I'm in the House," explains Rep. Hunhoff.
What are holidays at the Hunhoffs like? In Yankton, Bernie and his five brothers and their wives, including Jean, crowd around the dinner table, where politics is often on the menu.
"We have people off all political persuasions, and we have some Yankees fans and Twins fans there in the whole bit," describes Rep. Hunhoff.
"I always have to say Dan, remember who you sleep with now. It's Jean. So, hopefully we can get on the same page, it's not Bernie anymore!" laughs Sen. Hunhoff.
All politics and kidding aside, the two are pretty quick to sing each others praises.
"I certainly respect her views and on many issues, we're not that far apart," says Rep. Hunhoff.
"I couldn't ask for a better brother-in-law or a better colleague in the legislature," agrees Sen. Hunhoff.
They may serve in opposite ends of the capitol, and the political spectrum, but in a town where relationships are key to getting things done, it's the family ties that really bind.
