Frank Farrar holds a strong educational foundation, having earned a B.S. and LL.B. from the University of South Dakota. He began his career as an Internal Revenue Service Agent and later served as a Judge and State's Attorney for Marshall County. Farrar was elected Attorney General of South Dakota three times, during which he focused on drug enforcement and financial regulation. He then served as Governor of South Dakota, where he navigated complex criminal justice and energy sector reforms. Post-governorship, he practiced law, became a successful banker, and engaged in philanthropy.

Frank Farrar's political identity is marked by a complex blend of strict law enforcement and surprising clemency, particularly in high-profile cases involving Indigenous rights. His tenure saw aggressive crackdowns on drug enforcement and financial regulation, yet he demonstrated an unexpected willingness to question the death penalty and grant clemency, revealing a nuanced approach to justice. Farrar's policy stances often juxtapose ideological rigidity with moments of calculated leniency, raising questions about the underlying motivations behind his decisions.