Just had this sent to me..

Yeah.. Kind of gives new meaning to AI slop. Not thinking Rickey Joel actually input any information..

Hot out of yesterday’s mail, I received a slate mailer for my local legislative district from Republicans.

And once again, the South Dakota Federation of Republican Women have stepped up to the plate when the South Dakota Republican Party lacked the funds to do statewide slate mailers for the candidates running for office. Good on them.

I mean, this year, the SDGOP is reporting that they have over 100k in their state account. It would have not been a big stretch for something like this to have come from the party. I used to help them do them year after year for around a decade.  Yet, this year, when they show $113,306.97 in their state account, the SDGOP’s spending on candidates has been ZERO. And at the same time, just yesterday, I saw the chairman in print attacking another one of our statewide officeholders, yet again.

I’m not sure what the State Republican Party views it’s role as anymore. But there’s a lot of self-gratification, and not a lot towards doing the job they are actually supposed to be doing.

So, kudos to the SDFRW. At least someone is getting it right.

Referring back to yesterday’s story on the spate of fundraising coming from the Minnehaha County GOP.. except it’s not coming from them, and they had to announce that it’s not them, but people pretending to be them.  One person in that orbit had an interesting note to me this morning about what these pretend fundraisers are actually for..

Hey Pat, re: Minnehaha GOP fundraiser. It’s a back-channel fundraiser for one of the house candidates in D9, Megan Tschetter. She claims to be a hair stylist and small business owner yet her license is expired and the salon didn’t renew theirs and is up for sale. She also told someone she’s going to win because she was “anointed by God.”

She also had about 14-15 judgements against her and her husband over the years.

Oh, my.

Well, if you go to the Cosmetology Commission website, that is correct in that you won’t find Megan Tschetter there. But, I can’t speak to the whole anointed by God thing. I didn’t hear it myself, so you’d have to ask him.

And yes, there are very real records according to UJS. There’s what you might say are a few “oops,” where as recently as 2024, Midwest Credit Management and others would not appear to have been happy and asked the court system to sort it out.  I mean, many went back several years, but the more recent ones would certainly give someone pause about a candidate’s fiscal responsibility.

But it gets more concerning when it’s potentially coupled with the whole “fake fundraiser” mess coming out of Sioux Falls where people are pretending to raise money for the County Republican Party, but as I’m told may be raising it directly for her instead?

I mean honestly, what is going on?

First off, it tells me that people should avoid those events like they are contaminated with plague rats. If someone wants to throw a fundraiser for someone, there’s NOTHING on god’s green earth that stops them from doing so, and organizing it under their own name. To do so otherwise smacks of deception.  And that’s a bad way to help a candidate begin their political career.

As for the rest, it’s too bad that this wasn’t disclosed in the Primary election. It might have given people the heads up that a different choice might have been a better one for Republicans to move forward to the general.

 

Well, this is a new one.

Apparently a few people are going around in Sioux Falls sending out fundraising invites, and raising money using the name of the Minnehaha County GOP… except they aren’t. And the actual Minnehaha County GOP has issued a statement disavowing all this stuff being done in their name:

And here’s how the “fake Minnehaha County Republican” events are being billed..

Yeah..  I think if I was the Minnehaha County GOP, I’d be calling for a cease and desist order and calling law enforcement as opposed to sending a notice through their e-mail system. The bigger problem is that what’s going on is that that since it involves people going renegade to raise money and hold events, it’s not just the typical back-biting within the Minnehaha County GOP. There are some laws being broken when it comes to campaign finance and disclaimers.

They might not be big things, but when you’re trying to gather checks $500 and $250 at a time, and not portraying yourself accurately, the people behind the renegade and potentially fraudulent political fundraising might be inviting some real world consequences for their actions.

(Just ask Tom Pischke what happens when you go to far with your infighting..)

SECRETARY OF STATE MONAE L. JOHNSON PROVIDES NOTICE OF FEDERAL ELECTION DAY MONITORING IN MINNEHAHA COUNTY

 (Pierre, S.D.) – The South Dakota Secretary of State’s Office has received notification from the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) Civil Rights Division of its intent to send federal election monitors to Minnehaha County during the November 3^rd, 2026, General Election.

According to the DOJ, the purpose of the monitoring is to observe election procedures and assess compliance with federal voting rights laws. These include the Voting Rights Act, the Help America Vote Act, and other federal laws intended to protect voting rights and ensure accessibility.

The DOJ has indicated that its monitors will observe and take notes without interfering in the voting process. Monitors will identify themselves to election officials, follow state and local election laws, and report any concerns through their designated DOJ leadership. The DOJ has also stated that its monitors will not speak to voters inside polling places or carry firearms.

Under South Dakota Codified Law (SDCL) 12-18-9, members of the public are permitted to observe voting and counting activities at polling locations, provided they do not interfere with election operations. Federal DOJ personnel conducting election monitoring are subject to the same privileges and restrictions as other members of the public serving as poll observers.

All election observers are expected to respect voter privacy, comply with election laws, and refrain from interfering with election workers or the voting process. Any concerns regarding activities at a polling location should be directed to the precinct superintendent or appropriate election officials.

The Secretary of State’s Office remains committed to ensuring that South Dakota’s elections are conducted in a fair, secure, transparent, and orderly manner. The presence of federal election monitors does not change the responsibilities of local election officials or the procedures established under South Dakota law.

For additional information regarding election observation requirements, please visit the Secretary of State’s website at www.sdsos.gov.

The campaigns asked me to get the word out, as the top three campaigns in South Dakota are on the trail with a bus tour across South Dakota to bring their message to the voters of the state. Check it out at a stop near you!

Starting out this morning, the team will begin their stops today out west, as they slowly make their way back to Eastern South Dakota, ending in Brookings on Thursday night.

 

 

Socialism Finds A Home With Democrats
By Sen. John Thune

There’s no doubt that the Democrat Party has moved left in recent years, but lately the party has taken a step further toward full-blown socialism. New York City’s mayor – a self-proclaimed democratic socialist – might be the most notable example, but he’s far from alone. Around the country, socialists and socialism are gaining a prominent new role in the Democrat Party.

When you look at the platform of the Democratic Socialists of America, right away you see some predictable things, namely government control. Democratic socialists believe the government should be in charge of health care, business, housing, education, and energy. Essentially, they want to make the government the ultimate decision-maker in most aspects of Americans’ lives.

Freedom and choice are important aspects of the American way of life, especially here in South Dakota. But freedom and choice don’t last very long when government takes over. Take health care as an example. Under democratic socialism, the traditional doctor-patient relationship would involve a third party: the government. It’s the government that would decide what health care Americans can receive, what medications they can take, and when and where they can access care.

In most respects, democratic socialists’ vision involves a bigger government, but they do have a couple of things they would like to cut. They would like to defund the Pentagon, abolish immigration enforcement, and eliminate the police. Their official platform calls for “fully abolishing the police and prison system.” In what world are communities safer after abolishing police and prisons? That’s the world democratic socialists would like to bring about.

Republicans have spent the last two years implementing a much different agenda. We’ve gotten government out of the way, reducing taxes and cutting burdensome regulations that drive up costs. We made significant investments in border security, and in our national defense. And we’ve focused on helping create new opportunities for the next generation to get ahead and live their American Dream.

Democratic socialists may have a home in the Democrat Party, but their ideas remain far outside the mainstream in America. The American people don’t want a radical expansion of government. They don’t want to defund the police or abolish prisons and borders. Freedom, choice, and opportunity are still the American way, and they are at the heart of Republicans’ vision for our future.

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In 1919, the first South Dakota pheasant season began as a one-day hunt in Spink County! Since then, pheasant hunting has taken South Dakota by storm. Last year, we harvested around 1.35 million pheasants – the highest count in recent history. I don’t think there are many other states who find joy in shooting their state bird. And, as we see visitors dressed in blaze orange filling our lodges and hotels across the state, we know it’s not just South Dakotans who enjoy this century-old tradition.

My family has always had a very close tie to the outdoors. We’ve ranched my whole life, and we’ve hunted as far back as I remember. Having four sons and now ten grandchildren, I never tire of sharing South Dakota’s hunting tradition. We are fortunate to have something so unique that also keeps us focused on conservation, drives our economy, and strengthens our communities.

Conservation. Pheasants depend on healthy, diverse ecosystems. For over a century, South Dakota has benefitted from the conservation efforts of sportsmen across the state. We’ve enrolled tremendous amounts of new acres in additional habitat programs. Under the Noem-RhodenAdministration, we launched the Second Century Initiative to make sure that South Dakota remains the best place in the world to hunt pheasants for the next 100 years. We’ve already invested nearly $5 million dollars in habitat conservation through the Second Century Habitat Fund and millions more through other programs under the Initiative.

Economy. Our hunting tradition is good for the outdoors, and it’s good for our economy. When hunters travel here from across the country, they aren’t just filling their game bags – they’re supporting South Dakota communities. You can see new faces dressed in blaze orange staying at our hotels, eating at our restaurants, buying our guns, and shopping at our small businesses. In 2025, hunter spending generated $304.5 million in revenue for our state.

Community. I always love dropping a few roosters – but what I love even more about pheasant hunting is walking in the field with old friends and making new ones. I’ve already been out hunting a few times this year, and I look forward to many more weekends filled with good stories, great company, and plenty of reasons to be proud to call South Dakota home.

Pheasant hunting is important for the next generation, as well. Our Department of Game, Fish and Parks is constantly finding new ways to get kids involved in our natural beauty. Our Youth Trapping Recruitment Program is getting more and more youth involved in the great outdoors each and every year. In two weeks, we will cut the ribbon the Outdoor Campus Sioux Falls expansion that will help us recruit and retain even more hunters, anglers, trappers, campers, and more.

South Dakota is the most Second Amendment-friendly state in the nation, and our hunting tradition is one way generations of South Dakotans have exercised that freedom. We will keep working to protect those freedoms so that our kids and grandkids can continue to enjoy the great outdoors and yell “Rooster!” for generations to come.

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Memorable Moments: Fixing the Supply Chain Crisis
By Rep. Dusty Johnson
October 23, 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.

In 2021, dozens of cargo ships were stranded outside American ports due to COVID-19 shutdowns. On top of the already difficult economic environment, China had been discriminating against American manufacturing and agriculture products, causing many cargo ships to leave America without taking any of our goods. China’s malpractice and cargo issues off the coast of California had real impacts in our state—Valley Queen Cheese had two million pounds of South Dakota lactose waiting for an empty container ship to become available to export their product and Strider Bikes struggled with port delays and equipment access issues. Nationwide, tens of billions of dollars were lost in ag exports in just six months.

This was a big problem for those who work in South Dakota’s manufacturing and agriculture economy, so I got to work on drafting the first major update to maritime shipping laws in more than 30 years. My bill, the Ocean Shipping Reform Act, was signed into law in 2022, which decreased the average shipping rate by 60% and significantly drove down shipping costs. I’m grateful for the real, tangible impact the Ocean Shipping Reform Act had on the global economy and American businesses.

Johnson’s Ocean Shipping Reform Act signed into law

Working on this legislation opened my eyes to the countless other ways China seeks to undermine America. For the last four years, I’ve had the honor of serving on the House Select Committee on China, where I’ve learned more about the Chinese Communist Party’s threat to our national security. Some of my work on the Select Committee focused on stopping China from collecting Americans’ deeply personal data from TikTok, buying American farmland, and illegally selling dangerous vapes.

Throughout my time in Congress, I’ve worked to ensure America remains competitive on the global stage and has proper safeguards in place when it comes to China. I focused on keeping America and South Dakota first—protecting our interests and standing up for the people who keep our economy moving. Even South Dakota farmers, ranchers, and small businesses depend on fair access to global markets. Protecting American interests starts with recognizing the challenges we face and taking meaningful action to address them.

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Just had a note from the Brandon area.

So, the word is Dist 2 candidate for House and California transplant Manuel Luschas seems to be actively campaigning for Frank Kloucek for PUC.  Apparently, his idea of “Republican Values” are to put Democrats in office.

I’m told Luschas’ wife was dropping these packets around the area.  Featuring he, Heather Baxter for Secretary of State, and Frank Kloucek for PUC.

Again, here’s another one who incoming leadership should take notice of.

California Carley 2.0. Except less Republican.