Jackley To Hold Election Night Party in Rapid City

Pierre: Attorney General Marty Jackley will be joining Governor Larry Rhoden for an Election Night Party at the Hyatt Place, 525 St. Joseph Street in Rapid City. Doors will open at 6:30pm

Attorney General Jackley will be available for live interviews at the event. He will also be available for phone interviews.

To arrange a phone interview, contact Jason Glodt at 605-280-7767 or email at jason@martyjackley.com

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Here we are. It’s time for the big show on a somewhat chilly day.  We’ve taken all the dice, thrown them in the yahtzee cup, and it’s time to roll.

What are we going to end up with?  I think it’s going to be up to the individual candidates themselves, as this election more than any preceding it, both major political parties in the state have become living, breathing examples of the peter principle, and serve little purpose but to have an annual rubber chicken dinner.

Is there hope? There could be. But again, it really depends on the people we’ve elected more than any other factor. Can they help us weather this economic storm we’re in the middle of? Or are we going to return to a legislature of lunacy where they are going to try to jail librarians, shoot down airplanes suspected of weather control, and build a new prison for women who have had an abortion?

With all that in mind, go vote now, or you have no right to complain for the next few years.

A message from the SDGOP state party chairman:

That’s kind of an ironic statement coming from a 32-year Democrat.

I don’t have a copy of it yet, but I’m told that there was an e-mail that went out from Secretary of State Candidate Heather Baxter to several auditors this AM.   If correct, it sounds as if she’s already making assumptions that she’s going to be the person who comes out of the election.

The rumor I’m hearing it that – allegedly – an email went from Baxter to all the auditors this morning demanding that they save all digital records, computer voting records, etc.  Which seems a bit.. premature.. to be dictating to auditors what they will and will not do, considering that the Secretary of State actually isn’t anything resembling the boss of county auditors, and has no authority over them.

I have the feeling that even if she pulls enough votes out tomorrow to win her election, there might be a rude awakening to come.

Update here it is:

 

Please notice that it was generated by AI. So, not only does she not know what she’s talking about, but she relies on a data center for her written ignorance.

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A little more public is that State Senator Lauren Nelson may find herself with worse seating and less responsibility than a legislative page after her latest missive:

Apparently, as a Sitting Republican Senator, Nelson decided she should team up with the Independent in the D8 senate race to attack Republican Senator Casey Crabtree.

I’m sure that will go well for her.

Which Democrat do you think she’ll be seated with in the next session? I’m sure she’ll enjoy being a junior member of retirement laws by the time committee assignments are done.

I have the feeling the infighting is going to get worse before it gets better.

In September of 1814, Francis Scott Key sat detained aboard a British ship in the Chesapeake Bay. For 25 hours, he watched America’s Fort McHenry being bombarded byenemy fire. The Americans were almost destined to lose, but by the “dawn’s early light” on September 14, Key saw the stars and stripes of our flag still proudly flying over the fort. In that moment, he was inspired to write a poem that we now know as the Star-Spangled Banner.

America is, as our national anthem says, “The land of the free, and the home of the brave.” America is unique among nations. We are the only country founded not on a shared background or ethnicity, but on a value system rooted in freedom. 250 years ago, our founding fathers created these United States and declared their independence, arguing that, “all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Our nation will only be around for the next 250 years if we continue to engage in and protect democracy. After all, South Dakota’s motto is “Under God, the People Rule.” We the people are responsible for selecting our leaders, making our voices heard, and standing up for the freedoms our forefathers fought so desperately to defend.

Election Day is one of the primary ways American citizens can participate in democracy and exercise their freedom. The right to vote gives each of us a voice in the direction of our communities, our state, and our country. And it is a right we should not take for granted.

Just over 100 years ago, women were still actively fighting for the right to vote. They gave everything to secure one of the most fundamental rights in America. And today, all you have to do is walk into the county courthouse and show your ID.

As Election Day approaches, I encourage every South Dakotan to make a plan to vote. Take time to learn about the candidates and the issues on the ballot. Ask questions, seek out reliable information, and make an informed decision.

When Francis Scott Key looked across the Chesapeake Bay that September morning in 1814, he saw the American flag still flying. It was a symbol that our nation had endured and that the fight for freedom continued. Today, that flag still flies over our communities, our schools, and our State Capitol. It represents the freedoms generations of Americans have fought to preserve.

It is our duty to exercise the rights they helped secure. In 250 years, I hope Americans will still be singing about the star-spangled banner waving “o’er the land of the free, and the home of the brave.” And voting is one important way we can secure freedom for generations to come.

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A Transformative Investment in Rural Health Care
By Sen. John Thune

Having grown up in Murdo, I know firsthand both the joys and the challenges of life in rural South Dakota. Everything from package delivery to internet reliability can be more difficult far outside a major city, and whether it’s fixing rural roads, expanding broadband, or ensuring access to critical services like health care, rural communities are a priority for me.

Last year, as part of the Working Families Tax Cuts, Republicans created the Rural Health Transformation Program, which invests $50 billion in America’s rural health care. This multi-year initiative promises to put rural health care providers on a more sustainable footing for the future, and after its first year, we’re seeing its impact in South Dakota and around the country.

South Dakota received $189.4 million in the first year of this program and that money is already going toward important initiatives in our state. This fall, the Trump administration announced $7.2 million to strengthen emergency medical services and a $13 million investment in behavioral and mental health in South Dakota. These come after another announcement in August for funding to modernize technology and strengthen cybersecurity among rural health care providers in our state.

When we created this program, Republicans didn’t take a top-down, Washington-centered approach. Instead, we chose to give states the resources and freedom to find solutions to their unique challenges. I’m proud to see South Dakota taking the same approach when it comes to distributing the funding our state is receiving from the program, including gathering input from South Dakotans in rural communities.

The Rural Health Transformation Program promises to live up to its name and be truly transformational for health care in America’s small towns and farm country. It’s already getting to work here in South Dakota to get our rural providers on a firmer footing so more South Dakotans can access quality health care closer to home.

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Memorable Moments: Open and Accessible
By Rep. Dusty Johnson
October 30, 2026

 As I reflect on my time in Congress, I’m reminded of the accomplishments and moments that have made these last eight years so meaningful. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be highlighting some of the work I’m most proud of from my time serving South Dakota and the people who make our state such a special place.

One of my top priorities throughout my time in Congress has been keeping the lines of communication open and making sure South Dakotans know what I’m working on in Washington. I believe being a good representative means more than casting votes and passing legislation. It means listening to the people you represent, answering their questions, and being transparent about the decisions being made on their behalf.

During my time in office, my team has worked hard to make it easy for South Dakotans to share their thoughts, ask questions, and get answers. I’ve held more than 250 tele-town halls, public forums, and other constituent outreach events, allowing me to connect directly with people from every corner of our state, whether on a manufacturing room floor or in an ice cream shop. In 2021, my team and I were awarded the Constituent Accountability and Accessibility Award by the Congressional Management Foundation for our efforts to remain open and accessible to people like you.

Johnson speaking with South Dakotans at his “Inside Scoop” town hall

Serving in Congress means making decisions that affect my neighbors, business owners, and friends across the state. Hearing directly from South Dakotans has helped me understand those impacts and bring their concerns to the table in Washington. It has challenged me to ask better questions, consider different viewpoints, and stay focused on the needs of our state. I’ve enjoyed meeting with community leaders, touring South Dakota businesses, and speaking at events. I held more than 2,000 South Dakota-based meetings, which also kept me connected to the folks I represent.

I’m grateful to everyone who has taken the time to attend an event, call my office, or share their thoughts with me over the years. Their willingness to speak up has made me a better representative, and I’m proud of the work we’ve done to keep those conversations going. Public service works best when the people and their representatives stay connected.

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This might be one of the absolutely dumbest complaints coming from candidates sure to lose that I’ve ever heard:

Independent candidate for U.S. Senate Brian Bengs and Democratic U.S. House candidate Nikki Gronli criticized the optics of a bus tour launched by their Republican opponents.

and..

Jackley said they were treating the midterms like any other election.

“We’re all of the same mindset,” Jackley, who is currently South Dakota’s attorney general, said. “We treat like every race like we’re five points down.”

and..

Card told KOTA Territory News in an Oct. 27 interview that the last-minute campaign pitch is more likely a way to encourage Republican enthusiasm in other South Dakota contests, such as the closely contested secretary of state race, as well as legislative races.

Read the entire story here.

Wasn’t this the same Nikki Gronli who went on her own tour months before her own campaign began?  A word of advice to “Three-shell Gronli,” Many people aren’t paying attention to the elections until the last few weeks, and it has been so this year more than most. So, their tour makes a lot more sense than the one she did in 2025.  If either Nikki had been paying attention, or if Dem-Independent Bengs had actually lived in South Dakota at the time, Republican candidates and office holders have been doing this kind of “bus tour” for years. 

Such as this Noem/Thune bus tour in 2010…

Like a bus carrying rock stars on tour, the campaign bus carrying congressional candidate Kristi Noem and Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., was greeted by a crowd of fans Friday night in Mitchell.

Noem also had one in 2018..

Congresswoman Kristi Noem is preparing for one final push in her quest to obtain the Republican nomination for South Dakota Governor. Noem, who is in a tight battle with Attorney General Marty Jackley for that governor nomination, is planning an “All In Tour” that includes stops in eight cities in less than 36 hours starting in Aberdeen on Sunday, June 3. 

Poor Jason Glodt with the Rounds team had a camper/bus he drug out for touring around the state darn near every election. I think he finally wore that old campaign war-wagon out as we saw it election after election.  In fact, It’s more unusual in Republican circles for there not to be a big GOTV campaign tour towards the end to rally the troops.

At the end of the day, this story is a matter of candidates who are 20% and 30% behind complaining when opponents, who were busy working much of the year, are actually out campaigning.  And they’re stuck as an afterthought when these statewide officeholders, likely to win once again, are the news story.

Next obvious story up tonight? Water is wet.