SECRETARY JOHNSON CELEBRATES CONSTITUTION DAY

(Pierre, S.D.) – Secretary of State Monae L. Johnson is celebrating Constitution Day on September 17 and encouraging South Dakotans to reflect on the rights and responsibilities established by the United States Constitution.

Constitution Day marks the anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution in 1787. The Constitution established the framework of the federal government and remains the foundation for many of the rights exercised by Americans today, including participation in the election process.

“Constitution Day is an opportunity to remember that our system of government depends on citizens understanding and participating in it,” Secretary Johnson said. “One of the most important ways South Dakotans take part in that system is through voting.”

The Secretary of State’s Office encourages South Dakotans to take time this week to review their voter registration information, learn more about the upcoming election, and become familiar with the resources available through the state’s election website.

Absentee voting for the November 3, 2026 General Election begins this Friday, September 18^th. Voters may check their registration, review election information, and access voter resources through the Secretary of State’s VIP portal on our website at https://vip.sdsos.gov/VIPLogin.aspx.

“Whether someone votes absentee or on Election Day, being informed and prepared is an important part of participating and protecting our Constitutional Republic,” Secretary Johnson said.

For additional election information, visit sdsos.gov.

Speaking of fundraising, here’s one candidate who is doing well raising money inside South Dakota.  Representative Taylor Rehfeldt is having a big fundraiser this Thursday in Sioux Falls, with a yuuuge list of supporters.

Former State Senator Erin Tobin went to Facebook today pointing out that pretend Indy Brian Bengs has only 20% of his campaign funds coming from South Dakotans:

Read it here.

Bengs is whining everyday about money in politics, yet his FEC reports show he’s a shill for out of state liberals supporting Dindependents (Democrats running as Independents).

Just a few highlights from Bengs’ report:

No Surrender PAC is dedicated to flipping red states to blue states. They maxed out to Bengs in 2026. Their other candidates include progressive socialist Senate candidates like James Talarico in Texas and Jon Ossoff in Georgia.

Colorado millionaire Robert Chew, who’s a lefty running as an Independent, maxed out to Bengs. He’s also given to liberals running as Independents in other states like Dan Osborn in Nebraska, Todd Achilles in Idaho, and Seth Bodnar in Montana.

Berkley, California, billionaire Scott Shenker is a major donor across the United States to progress liberal Democrats, including phony Indies Bengs and Bodnar. His largest contributions are to Democrat Super PACs like Swing Left.

Ryan Offutt of Fargo is also fueling the Dem/Indie movement. He’s also given huge sums to the Democratic party committees and candidates throughout the United States.

So, what do these out of staters care about South Dakota? Nothing. They’re trying to left Chuck Schumer and Bernie Sanders expand the Democrat caucus in DC.

KELOland news is reporting that State Senator Tom Pischke has asked for a jury trial on his charges of election fraud. As if that’s going to somehow get him off of the charges against him for trying to do sneaky crap by falsifying election forms?

Tom Pischke, a Republican Senator for District 25, appeared at the Minnehaha County Courthouse for an arraignment hearing Tuesday morning, where his attorney entered a not guilty plea.

and..

Pischke is facing two charges of offering a false or forged instrument for filing. Pischke is accused of forging precinct committeeman or committeewoman statement forms, a felony offense.

and..

A jury trial is scheduled for early December. Minnehaha County State’s Attorney Daniel Haggar will represent the state.

Read the entire story here.

Flags at Half-Staff at State Capitol in Honor of Lars Herseth

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Larry Rhoden ordered that flags be flown at half-staff at the State Capitol from sunrise until sunset on Sunday, October 4, 2026, in honor of former state legislator R. Lars Herseth. He served in the South Dakota House of Representatives from 1975 until 1986 and the South Dakota Senate from 1989 until 1996.

A memorial service will be held at 2 pm CT on Sunday, October 4, 2026, at the Johnson Fine Arts Center, Northern State University, 12th Ave. SE, Aberdeen, SD.

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From Facebook, Indy/Dem/Whatever US Senate Candidate Brian Bengs was showing his Liberal Democrat face this weekend as he was campaigning with Democrats to woo Labor Union support this past weekend:

That adds another question in terms of where Bengs is on South Dakota being a right-to-work state, and whether or not Labor Unions can force membership on a businesses’ employees?  So far from his campaign, I’m getting the impression that when Bengs complains about a two-party system, it means he wants to get rid of all Republicans so Democrats can be back in charge.

 

 

Spirit of America
By Rep. Dusty Johnson
September 11, 2026

BIG Update

The process of becoming a United States citizen takes time, dedication, and a fair amount of willpower. This week, I welcomed 138 individuals from 48 countries as America’s newest citizens. Naturalization ceremonies are a special reminder of what makes our country unique. These individuals bring different backgrounds, experiences, and stories, but share a common commitment to becoming Americans. This makes our country stronger. I spoke about the promise of America and the importance of being engaged. Being an American citizen is more than a legal status; it carries a responsibility to participate in the American experiment and contribute to our communities. Hearing their stories, excitement, and reasons for wanting to become citizens was inspiring. Congratulations to our newest Americans!

BIG Idea

I joined the East River Electric Power Cooperative annual meeting to talk about the importance of American energy dominance. Reliable and affordable energy is the foundation of a strong economy, and South Dakota’s communities and businesses need dependable power to grow. Producing more American energy is only part of the equation. We also need the generation and transmission infrastructure to get that power to the people and businesses that need it. An all-of-the-above approach, combined with smart investments in our electric grid, will strengthen our energy security, support economic growth, and ensure South Dakota is prepared to meet the demand.

BIG News

Twenty-five years ago, our nation changed forever. On September 11, 2001, nearly 3,000 Americans lost their lives. We remember them, their families, and the first responders who put themselves in harm’s way to save others. True evil sought to divide our country that day, but Americans came together in the face of tragedy. We must continue to remember those we lost, honor the heroes of that day, and remain grateful to those who continue to protect Americans from harm.

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Patriots and Unity
By: Gov. Larry Rhoden
September 11, 2026

25 years ago, the United States of America experienced one of our most horrific tragedies. Our nation was attacked by terrorists – enemies who hate us because of what we stand for. America is the only nation founded on the principle of freedom, and those terrorists despised that fact.

In their hatred, they sought to tear us apart. They failed. In fact, their attempt backfired.

If you remember 9/11, you also remember what came next. There was a profound unity that came over our country. In the days and weeks after, the United States of America was more united than it has ever been in my lifetime.

Our nation was devastated. We were shaken to our core. But in that moment of grief and loss, we didn’t turn on each other – which was what the terrorists hoped would happen. Instead, we turned to each other. We united.

2,977 innocent lives were lost that day. Most of them didn’t sign up to give their lives for their nation; nonetheless, their deaths were not in vain. They will forever be patriots. Though it’s a small solace to their loved ones who lost friends and family in an instant, their sacrifice brought our nation closer together.

In those days, it didn’t matter if you were a Republican, Democrat, Independent, or something else entirely. We were all Americans first and foremost. And that’s how it should be!

It’s a shame that it took such a tragedy to unify our nation. And it’s equally a shame that our nation’s unity has since diminished.

Our nation’s very name is a statement of unity. We are the United States of America. Our Founding Fathers pulled together a group of people from very different geographical and cultural backgrounds and united them, not on heritage or history, but on values – namely, on freedom.

In the years since, 9/11 has been given a new name: Patriot Day. A patriot is someone who loves their country. For Americans, that doesn’t mean loving any one culture or heritage. It means loving the foundational values that our nation was built on.

As we commemorate 25 years since the horrific 9/11 attacks, we must remember those values. We must remember our freedoms. And we must look inside ourselves and see how we can be better examples of American patriotism.

I will leave you all with this challenge: resolve to focus on what unites us, not what divides us. Focus on interacting with your friends, neighbors, acquaintances, and even strangers on the street with civility and respect.

And don’t do it for yourself – or because I asked you to.

Do it for the 2,977 patriots who perished 25 years ago. Do it for the brave first responders who charged into those towers and afterwards into the rubble. Do it for the men and women who gave their lives in the War on Terror.

Let’s unite around the principles of civility and freedom so that we can pass those values down to our kids and our grandkids. If we do that, then we will surely keep South Dakota – and our entire nation – strong, safe, and free.

God bless America.

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South Dakota Conversations
By Sen. John Thune

Who do you turn to for advice? For me, the answer is easy: South Dakotans. The people of our state are my top advisers, and your feedback is invaluable to me when I’m in Washington working for you. During the last few weeks, I’ve had the chance to spend a lot of time traveling our state far and wide to hear directly from South Dakotans.

I met with ranchers in Bison, and I visited small businesses in Flandreau, Sturgis, Sisseton, and Sioux Falls. In Lemmon, I stopped by the grain elevator and met with volunteer firefighters who serve their community. And I had a chance to catch up with local leaders in Meade County and local sheriffs at a meeting in Moody County, and I got to visit the Belle Fourche Irrigation District Field Site in Newell with the ranchers it serves.

Summer is also fair season in South Dakota, and it’s one of my favorite times of year. Like any fairgoer, I have my favorite foods, but fair season is also a chance for me to have some important conversations. I connected with folks at the Butte & Lawrence County Fair, the Turner County Fair, and the State Fair. The Aberdeen Area Chamber of Commerce hosts a terrific agribusiness meeting at the Brown County Fair, and the Dakotafest congressional forum always provides me with a lot of valuable feedback from South Dakota farmers and ranchers. In fact, a lot of my priorities that make their way into the farm bill come from conversations like these with producers in our state.

I’ve also had the chance to spend some time visiting schools across our state and meeting with students and educators. I had great conversations with students at Black Hills State and at Spearfish High School. In Spearfish, I was able to tour the high school’s Career and Technical Education Center and see firsthand the opportunities available for students to pursue a variety of career paths. On the other side of the state, I was pleased to be on hand for the groundbreaking of the James Abdnor Center for Advanced Manufacturing at Southeast Tech. This new center will help countless young South Dakotans find success, and it’s a fitting tribute to Jim Abdnor who was so committed to helping young people.

I’ve traveled a lot of miles these past few weeks, and whether I’m talking to a high school student about their future or a farmer about their harvest, I rely on these conversations to guide my work on behalf of our state when I’m back in Washington.

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If you were looking for an area where Republican Mike Rounds was worlds apart from his opponent, Indy/Democrat/Liberal Brian Bengs, the National Rifle Association just put it in an easy reference for you:

You have to work hard in defending the Second Amendment to get an “A+.” Equally, you have to be against everything that South Dakota stands for on gun rights to get an “F”.