[1] With her election, St. John became the first and only Native American Republican woman to ever serve in the South Dakota House of Representatives.

She attended Sisseton Public School and has a certificate in cultural heritage tourism from George Washington University.

St. John works as an historian, genealogist and has spent many years in the area of historic preservation, along with currently serving as the archivist for the Sisseton Wahpeton Tribal Archives and Collections.

[4] St. John served on the South Dakota Humanities Council as a member of the board of directors from 2016 to 2021.

Tamara St. John was the only Republican candidate to run in District 1, challenging former legislators Steven D. McCleerey and H. Paul Dennert in a three-way race for the two House seats.