McGuigan announces suspense of campaign for AG

McGuigan announces suspense of campaign for Attorney General

PIERRE SD – Charlie McGuigan announced his intention to suspend his campaign seeking the Republican nomination for Attorney General at the GOP’s State Convention in 2018. “After careful consideration and consultation with my family, I have decided that the stress of the campaign is not in my health’s best interest,” McGuigan said.

“Over the past year, I have had the opportunity to meet many South Dakotans and discuss the issues with them,” McGuigan stated. “I appreciate the support that has been shown to me across the State and hope the same support and consideration will be shown for my decision to suspend my campaign.”

65 thoughts on “McGuigan announces suspense of campaign for AG”

  1. Fitzgerald should surge now. This is not good for Ravnsborg or Russell. I don’t know which one.

    1. Fitzgerald is the only candidate running who can beat the democrat in the fall. Period. No one questions his knowledge, experience or integrity.

      My perception is the Dems are running a great candidate for AG. Randy Sieler is the former US Attorney. They really hit a home run that he chose to run.

      I’m concerned Ravnsborg doesn’t have the experience or skill to run a general election to win. And I think a lot of others feel the same way.

      Russell is a skilled political mind but he might lose a ton of Republican votes.

      1. You are kidding right…Fitzgerald is running a horrible campaign.

        Ravnsborg AND Russell are both running circles around him.

  2. Votes Percent
    REP Party Stace Nelson 13,179 17.69%

    REP Party Mike Rounds 41,377 55.54%

    REP Party Dr. Annette Bosworth 4,283 5.75%

    REP Party Jason Ravnsborg 2,066 2.77%

    REP Party Larry Rhoden 13,593 18.25%

    1. 2.7% of the vote when it’s actually on the ballot should tell you all you need to know about the importance of electability.

      That was a primary. Imagine now that it’s a general election.

      1. That is the 2014 primary race for US Senate.

        Republicans have to nominate someone who can win the general and then has the experience to run the office.

        1. How does the disclaimer go on ads for investment opportunities? “Past performance is not indicative of future results.” I can think of no reason this wouldn’t apply in other avenues of our world…

    2. That was then, this is now. Can’t you even give Ravnsborg credit for his tenacity and work ethic?

      1. Which I was trying to allude to…but I thought do it gently so that the Chicken Littles of the talk-backs didn’t freak out some more because the strongest candidate isn’t the establishment candidate thus the Democrats will win EVERYTHING and “that’s all it takes. The next thing you know, there’s money missing off the dresser, and your daughter’s knocked up. I seen it a hundred times.”
        (that is a quote from the movie Tommy Boy…only added to provide some hopeful levity…DO NOT think anything is implied other than an attempt at a cheap laugh!)

      2. Ravnsborg is a nice guy and a hard worker. I like him but I don’t think I can turn the Attorney Generals office over to him at this time. Good guy but Fitzgerald is just more qualified and he won’t lose to the democrat.

  3. Charlie is a class act and a great deputy. The winner should keep him on.

    I just think Fitzgerald beats Ravnsborg or Russell head to head. He seems like the logical choice.

    1. Fitz has no support…WAKE UP PEOPLE.

      How I see this playing out is if they can lie long enough about Ravnsborg and bring him down to force a second ballot (because everyone I talk to is supporting Ravnsborg) then it is him vs Russell and things could get crazy…we cannot risk Russell winning and so we need to unite behind Ravnsborg now…

      1. I completely agree! Ravnsborg vs Seiler in the general election. Bets are now being placed.

  4. I think the only chance we have is a Fitz or a new candidate. Otherwise you will see the dems win this seat, Sieler will win some crossover vote. Quietly the Dems may pick up a huge statewide office here.

    1. I guess that’s one way to promote your choice by saying that he is the only one who could beat the Democrat, but I don’t think that makes it so.

  5. There are talented people out there who could jump in and make an impact. However, the clock is ticking.

  6. If Russel or Ravensborg win the nomination there is nothing wrong with Randy Seiler winning in the general. He is a great candidate with experience that goes beyond party affiliation. Seiler would make a great AG for South Dakota.

    1. As GOP Chairman Lederman doesn’t want to lose a statewide office like AG to any democrat. The GOP needs to nominate the strongest candidate now that the Dems are running Seiler. The dems see a path to victory.

      They know it’s in play if the GOP nominated a weak candidate.

      2014 The GOP won every statewide office in 50 years. Let’s not screw up now and not with the AG’s office.

      1. Well that would be Ravnsborg so i agree, he is the strongest candidate for the fall…he has ideas, he can raise money, can get endorsements and has leadership and management background…stop me when I get to anything the other candidates have…oh that’s right they don’t have any of those things.

    2. Sorry, if you identify as a Democrat you are stating you believe a certain platform with which I don’t agree, so I don’t want Seiler to win.

      1. What platform would an AG have that happens to be a Democrat? The law is the law. I do not identify as a Democrat.

  7. The choice is Fitzgerald. The other two give the race to Sieler. I totally agree.

    If we are going to go down to Sieler though I’d rather run Russell than Ravnsborg. Russell is pretty crafty and a lot of fun.

    Fitzgerald is a winner.And with him the GOP sleeps soundly in 2018 November.

    1. The choice is Ravnsborg. I am sick of the old guard in South Dakota. You don’t get to run the show just because you have been around forever. We need younger blood and new ideas instead of the cronyism of a Fitzgerald.

      1. Cronyism would be the last thing you get with Fitzgerald. Whatever else you could possibly throw out there, he is high integrity and very committed to upholding the law both in letter and spirit.

        1. Better check your facts …

          Fitz has a scandal that i think would end his campaign, but I have been surprised that the candidates have talked about it yet.

          Maybe they are holding off for when the time is right.

  8. Fitzgerald is a no energy candidate with not enough on the resume to be AG. Lack of leadership and management, he has law as his only qualifier. Additionally, all I hear around the state is that most people don’t like him and don’t get a long with him. Additionally, didn’t he raise like zero zero dollars? That tells me he doesn’t have support.
    Russell, do we need to bring up the censorship? Sorry, I don’t trust him. I think he is better off staying in the senate.
    Ravnsborg is the the most Qualified of candidates out there. Law, check. Leadership, check. Management, check. I know most of the anonymous comments above are probably either Mary or Stace as they have no good argument against Ravnsborg other than they want their person to win and for some reason don’t like him. Add in that Ravnsborg has the support of the majority of the Sheriffs and he is a Republican, there is no way he loses in the general election.
    What Fitzgerald and Russell should do is drop out and support Ravnsborg so he can start focusing on the general election.

    1. A little easier to read.

      Fitzgerald is a no energy candidate with not enough on the resume to be AG. Lack of leadership and management, he has law as his only qualifier. Additionally, all I hear around the state is that most people don’t like him and don’t get a long with him. Additionally, didn’t he raise like zero zero dollars? That tells me he doesn’t have support.

      Russell, do we need to bring up the censorship? Sorry, I don’t trust him. I think he is better off staying in the senate.

      Ravnsborg is the the most Qualified of candidates out there. Law, check. Leadership, check. Management, check. I know most of the anonymous comments above are probably either Mary or Stace as they have no good argument against Ravnsborg other than they want their person to win and for some reason don’t like him. Add in that Ravnsborg has the support of the majority of the Sheriffs and he is a Republican, there is no way he loses in the general election.

      What Fitzgerald and Russell should do is drop out and support Ravnsborg so he can start focusing on the general election.

      1. Attorney General Randy Seiler is not what I want. I’ll vote Fitzgerald.

        Barnett, Long and Jackley are not flashy but solid and dependable. Fitzgerald Fitz that mold.

        1. Fitzgerald does not fit the mold. So tired of people on here stating he fits mold because he is a prosecutor. It takes a lot more to be an AG that being a prosecutor. He does not fit the mold. Under qualified Fitzgerald is.

          1. Under qualified Fitzgerald is.

            This one a long time have I watched. All his life has he looked away – to the future, to the horizon. Never his mind on where he was. Hmm? What he was doing. Hmph! Adventure. Heh! Excitement. Heh! An AG craves not these things. Fitzgerald is reckless!

          2. I agree completely Tom.

            He has the least amount of experience in the areas that matter for Attorney General, he acts like he is going to try cases every day as AG, if so he does not understand the job and do you know ANY other attorneys that have kept track of how many trials they have done?, I can’t name one.

            Russell is a legislator and knows the workings to get legislation passed and Ravnsborg has lots of leadership/management experience to me both are more qualified with a wider array of skills.

            I am done with career politicians talking down to me that it has to be a career prosecutor.

            1. Hasn’t Fitzgerald changed his number of trials he claims multiple times. Seems to me he his unsure about things, that doesn’t look good for a candidate running.

      2. I can’t say Ravnsborg would be bad, but I do think you characterize Fitzgerald very wrongly. His energy is focused and when he brings it to bear it is very well delivered. I think too many in the political arena mistake showmanship with leadership. Actions always speak louder than words to me.

        As for Fitzgerald’s leadership, I look no further than the people in Lawrence County. They have consistently reelected him because he delivers. The officers in his county trust that he will work their cases and get results. The county commissioners always talk about his responsible management of his office.

        As for the Sheriff’s, I work in law enforcement and all the Sheriff’s I have spoken with are a little miffed that it is being put out there that they support Ravnsborg already. The vast majority have said that they want to avoid endorsing a candidate until the primary is done and then will back the Republican nominee.

        I get it if Ravnsborg is your guy then by all means support him, but please show respect to the reality of what Fitzgerald brings as well. For me I want an Attorney General that has shown through his actions that he supports fair and appropriate laws and Fitzgerald has certainly got that in Spades.

        1. Ravnsborg has signed endorsements from the sheriffs I remember seeing in the blog when that was announced. Sorry but I don’t buy those sherrifs who signed don’t support Ravnsborg. Why would someone sign something without understanding it. Seems more like propaganda against the fact that Ravnsborg has the support of the sheriffs and the other two don’t.

  9. Is McGuigan getting out to make room for a new candidate? Seward? Some other establishment-type?

      1. Well that is a positive…the guy that supported and pushed SB 70 and his folks gave Fitzgerald money….tells me all I need to know.

  10. There is no way SD goes from Jackley to Ravnsborg. It’s insane. He is not qualified.

  11. The next one to drop out should be Fitzgerald…. ask attorneys he’s hard to get along with he doesn’t settle cases so they all go to trial.

    I laugh every time he says he’s experienced. He has none of the skills to be Attorney General.

    He’s about as experienced to be Attorney General as his son is a Republican or wait he’s his son just switched from being a Democrat. Check it out.

    1. So JOOP would have been prosecuted? Sounds good to me.

      No more probation and measly fines? Sounds good to me.

      No more settlements?

      Let’s go to trial. Let’s elect Fitzgerald.

  12. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again….

    Just because you have a law degree and served in the military does not necessarily make you 1) smart and 2) qualified. We am not enamored with fitz but I KNOW Ravnsborg isn’t qualified. Seriously, someone please ask him how many Supreme Court cases he’s filed and argued… how many Federal appeals court arguments he’s made, how many serious felonies he’s prosecuted, and if he is even familiar with death penalty cases – prosecutions and appeals because it’s clear he’s never touched one. Does anyone really believe he can manage 30 plus attorneys and a bunch of DCI agents? I do not – this isn’t an office for on the job learning. It’s way too important for that.

    Maybe someone else will step up – in the meantime I’m probably for Fitz or maybe Russell but not thrilled with my choices.

    1. Well I am going to support Jason. Given it a lot of thought and tired of these BS attacks on him, so time to step up.

      Makes you wonder why they attack Jason like this last ignorant poster…because he is winning, he has worked harder than any candidate I have ever seen and I don’t say that lightly and it does not fit the anonymous attackers from Lawrence and Fall River Counties agenda. He has gone out and EARNED people’s support. They have to tear him down to win…SAD. No wonder good people don’t want to run.

      You keep saying it as YOU say but it does not make any of it true.

      I KNOW he has worked on a US Supreme Court case…he has talked about it. Can any of the other candidates say that? (let me help ya, no)

      What do you think he has been doing for the last 20 years practicing law? I bet you are the same guy that asked about federal cases before, they showed here he has worked on what was in 200 – 400 bankruptcy cases, but that was all discounted as that wasn’t the right type of federal law. WEAK I have heard him speak about the supreme court case and from his postings on FB or twitter, somewhere I saw he knew people at the US Supreme Court. Use your brain man…

      Management of people, as you admit he is in the military…clearly from your ignorance you have never served. Read his resume, anyone selected for a battalion command (600-1000 generally) can handle a platoon size element (40) of lawyers….Where do the other 2 even come close to doing that? THEY DO NOT. I’d love to hear it. I could go on and on in this area, as his record of leadership is fantastic from my observations, but too bad he couldn’t be home doing more trials that selfish bastard skipped out on that to lead our great men and women in combat zones for all of our freedoms. He put his life on hold for ALL of you reading this….think about that a minute.

      They don’t just make anyone Battalion Commanders, they go through years of training on management and leadership and it is tough to be selected. I know as I served also, again I ask did you?.

      Educate yourself, you are looking foolish.

      Ravnsborg will represent us well…plus he has the support of law enforcement already. He is ALREADY in a strong position for the fall. He is the only candidate to raise money. Russell can’t win in the fall and Fitzgerald has little to no support now. I believe the choice is obvious.

    2. You don’t think Ravnsborg can manage 40 people when he has managed hundreds before and is currently?

      That is ridiculous.

      I haven’t seen anything to say the others have managed anything anywhere close to that.

      Who is not qualified?

      1. If he can fly an A-10 Warthog (photos from his old US Senate campaign in front of an A-10 w/ flightsuit and aviotor glasses) smashing those Iraq Republican Guard Tanks and volunteer a few hours for a prosecutor for Union County he’s got my vote. Drug mules & enemies of the state passing thru South Dakota beware!

    3. Ravnsborg isn’t electable. That is my biggest concern.

      He ran for statewide office and got 2.7% of the vote. Not good. I don’t want a Dem AG.

    4. I am a veteran army officer. You don’t make lieutenant colonel and battalion commander without leadership and management of hundreds upon hundreds of soldiers. Shame on any on you saying that doesn’t qualify Ravnsborg. If anything, the military has given qualification to Ravnsborg’s ability to lead and manage.
      Fitzgerald and Russell are not even in the same playing field as Ravnsborg. I don’t want those two that leadership and management as AG.

  13. The streak of USD Law graduates will now continue. Charlie was the only non-USD graduate in the field of candidates.

    #GOYOTES

    1. Did Seiler go to USD? Ravnsborg guarantees the democrat wins.

      My order of voting for AG goes:

      1. Fitzgerald
      1a. Russell
      2. Last minute nomination
      3. Ravnsborg

      1. I just can’t support someone who brought Lee Stranahan to SD and trashed Jackley. He has never apologized for such terrible judgements. Would his hires in the office be that bad? I can’t take the risk.

    1. Exactly Charlie….he has never run statewide either…and no one knows who Randy Seiler is either. so far I have not seen any organizational skills by him either.

  14. Fitzgerald is running a horrible campaign and you think he can run an office of 40 people? PLEEEEEEEEEEEEASE

  15. So can anyone argue that Fitzgerald is not running the worst campaign of the 3? The only thing that happened here was Charlie was 4th and dropped out and Fitz remains in 3rd, but now it is considered last.

    I can’t –even Ravnsborg’s detractors here admit he is a good campaigner and works tirelessly. I know I marvel at all that he gets done.

    Russell clearly has organizational skills and his followers are motivated.

    I don’t see either from Fitzgerald…he himself does not appear motivated and does he even have supporters…I can name like 3 people I have heard of supporting him. Everyone I talk to him says LOW ENERGY and NO PERSONALITY. He can’t run an effective campaign in the primary and so he is going to run a better one in the general? and then somehow after NO EXPERIENCE running anything more than a few people he is the choice to run the office.

    You have to be kidding.

  16. A lot of the comments on this thread are off way off topic.

    So I would like to bring it back.

    It is never easy to run a campaign especially one for a statewide office, it takes a lot of time, money and effort to win. You have to have all of those qualities to be successful. Charlie is a good man, but a poor campaigner. I wish him well.

    I do not think this changes the race much as I did not perceive him to have much support in the first place. It needed to happen and I commend him for having the courage to know when to get out, that does take a lot of guts when people around you may be giving you false hope that you can win or trying to profit off of your campaign for the wrong reasons.

    You ran an honorable race and for that you should be proud.

  17. I agree John. Charlie is a good man and has been valuable to a succession of AG’s in service to our state.

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