Mike Weisgram announces re-election campaign as that race blows up into large primary

How would you like to go from a stable legislative district where re-election is all but guaranteed into a 5-way free for all?  That would be District 24 House, including Haakon County, Hughes County, Hyde County, Stanley County & Sully County, including the communities of Pierre & Ft. Pierre, where Mike Weisgram is announcing his re-election campaign today:

During session, District 24 House looked as stable as could be with Will Mortenson and Mike Weisgram as State Representatives..  And then Will Mortenson bowed out, leaving an open seat.

Immediately, a very heavy hitter for Pierre dropped in. Laurie Gill – former Mayor, former cabinet member of 2 positions, and long-time state employee announced her race… but then the announcements didn’t stop.

Regan Bollweg, a graduating SDSU Student has thrown his name in the ring, planning to run at the same time he rejoins his family’s hunting & farming operation in Harrold.

Then, out of the blue, former long-time State Representative Tim Rounds, brother to US Senator Mike Rounds, who is also on the ballot this year decided to attempt another run at the office.

And I’m hearing of yet another candidate who has rented an apartment in Pierre – a Brian Burge from Beresford –  who was showing up going door to door with a petition in hand.

And we still have a week to go.

You and should believe that Weisgram does still have some advantage of incumbency. But in this kind of race with known names, and the vote being split at least 5 ways, it’s going to come down to who campaigns the best.

In the middle of what you might term a wild-west environment where anything goes.