Modernizing Government
By Rep. Dusty Johnson
May 30, 2025

BIG Update

The 250 students at Girls State in Vermillion had great questions and high enthusiasm about being civically involved. We had a great conversation about politics and policy in D.C., why that matters in South Dakota, and the importance of civility in politics. The American Legion Auxiliary always puts on a great event, and I was happy to join them.

Johnson speaking at Girls State

BIG Idea

America’s environmental review process is still done on paper, which slows down a process that already takes years to complete. This slow, laborious process disincentivizes investments and expansion of our economy.

I introduced the Interactive Federal Review Act to modernize this process that is stuck in the 90s. My bill would direct the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to use interactive, digital platforms to complete the permitting process, cutting the review times in half.

President Trump recently issued a memorandum encouraging federal agencies to adopt this electronic approach to permitting. I look forward to working with the Trump Administration and Congress to speed up vital infrastructure projects in our country and let America build again.

BIG News

The Senate recently voted to prohibit California’s zero-emissions mandates from going into effect. These mandates would force all vehicles sold in California to be zero-emissions—electric vehicles—by 2035, restricting consumer choice. If someone wants to drive an EV, they have the right to do so, but I don’t think the government should be choosing the car that is best for you.

As a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I’ve long opposed policies like this that would create harmful patchworks of different regulations. The House voted on this issue in early May, and it now awaits President Trump’s signature.

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Opportunities in Education
By: Gov. Larry Rhoden
May 30, 2025

May is graduation season. Kids across South Dakota are looking forward to enjoying the summer, and they’re also looking ahead to whatever comes next. Hopefully, they have the opportunity to enjoy the warm summer weather – then get to work on whatever their futures have in store!

On my Open for Opportunity tour, I’ve been able to visit many schools across all levels of education – including an elementary school in Winner, a high school in Aberdeen, a tribal school on the Standing Rock Reservation, several of our tech colleges, and every one of our Board of Regents institutions. I’ve seen a wide variety of high-quality educational opportunities that are setting our kids up for success in their careers and lives. More than that, I’ve seen hard-working South Dakotans full of passion for helping our kids learn and grow.

I’ve also had the opportunity to speak to several groups of young South Dakotans. About a month ago, I spoke to a lunch where we honored students who were in the top 1% of their high school graduating class – a terrific accomplishment! I also visited with young female leaders at Girls State and will be doing the same at Boys State.

With each of these groups of young leaders, I shared a simple bit of advice that I got from a pastor long ago: “Don’t wait for doors to open. Check and see if they’re locked. Oftentimes, you’ll find that they’re unlocked.” The same is true for each of us – and for our entire state – as we pursue opportunities.

In each of these audiences, I looked around the room and saw hundreds of bright-eyed South Dakotans eager to make their mark on the world. I see the same energy and enthusiasm in the eyes of my own young grandchildren. If they check the doors, they’ll find more unlocked doors than they anticipated – and they’ll have even more opportunity to make their mark on South Dakota.

The purpose of education is to prepare our students to be strong citizens with the potential for productive careers. And every South Dakota student should have the opportunity to get the right education for their needs. As we continue working to keep South Dakota strong, safe, and free, I will be prioritizing our kids’ education – because they truly are our future.

Opportunity is not limited by my vision, or even the vision of any individual South Dakotan. It is as broad as the South Dakota prairie and as high as Black Elk Peak. Our young South Dakotans know how to dream big, and they have the youth and vitality to chase down those big dreams. I wish them well and will support them however I can as we work together to chase down opportunities for South Dakota.

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Out and About in South Dakota
By Sen. John Thune

I recently had the opportunity to travel all over South Dakota: to Clark and Redfield, Beresford and Dakota Dunes, and to Wall and Philip. I appreciate the chance to travel the state far and wide to get feedback on my work in Washington, and it’s always nice to see some familiar faces and meet new folks along the way.

During my travels, I had valuable conversations with South Dakotans. I visited Redfield Community Memorial Hospital, where I heard from talented and dedicated health care professionals. In Wall and Philip, I sat down with local leaders to hear about their communities’ needs and how I can be helpful to them. I had a chance to catch up with local leaders over the famous pies at Leo’s Good Foods on Main Street in Redfield. And I had a great conversation with the sheriffs of Pennington, Meade, and Jackson counties about their important work keeping their communities safe.

South Dakota small businesses were also on my calendar. I enjoyed meeting a number of business owners at the Dakota Valley Business Roundtable in Dakota Dunes, and I had good conversations with the Clark Chamber of Commerce. I visited Tony’s Collision Center, Westside Implement, and Dakota Style Foods in Clark.

As the Senate is preparing to take up legislation to extend the 2017 Trump tax cuts for families and businesses, South Dakota small businesses’ input is especially valuable. Farms, ranches, and small businesses in our state benefited from lower tax rates and incentives to invest in their employees and in new technology after Republicans passed pro-growth tax reforms in 2017. With much of that policy set to expire at the end of this year, I’m working to provide tax certainty to South Dakota businesses so they can help get our economy moving again.

These tax policies have been especially impactful for American manufacturers. I appreciated the opportunity to meet with workers at Spartan Emergency Response’s facility in Brandon, where South Dakotans build emergency vehicles used across the country. I had a great time visiting Long Creek Steel north of Beresford and learning about water tank and tower production at the Maguire plant in Sioux Falls.

As I travel around the state, I also appreciate meeting young South Dakotans. Whether addressing Girls State at the University of South Dakota, cheering on runners at the state track meet in Sioux Falls, or just interacting with community members of all ages, it’s always heartening to meet the next generation of leaders and hear what’s on their mind.

Getting to interact with South Dakotans from every walk of life is one of my favorite parts of my job. It’s a pleasure to be able to see our state and hear from its people. I hope to see you around this summer, and I hope you will come say hello.

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Minnehaha County Democrats are already drawing up battle lines over the Sioux Falls mayoral race, if we’re to believe their social media:

We’ll see how that turns out for them.

From Facebook, and I’m sure coming to an unwanted text message near you, apparently Taffy Howard is endorsing Toby Doeden for Governor:

Given Taffy’s track record, I’m not so sure Mr. Scowly Face should be clucking about that one.

There are rumors that Howard could be Doeden’s running mate. Which will have us watching next years’ session closely, as the last time Taffy Howard ran for Statewide office in 2022, out of 377 recorded roll call votes on the House floor she skipped 53 votes, or 14% of them.  (seriously, I counted).  She also skipped the vote to send impeachment to the Senate for trial on the impeachment for Jason Ravnsborg.

Who’s going to be the next endorsement? Phil Jensen?

Stay tuned.

Are you already weary of staring at your teenager texting away their first week of vacation? Ship them off to summer camp for a week!  Teenage Republican Camp is quickly approaching, and it’s a great way to entertain your teenager about government, politics, and to send them away for fun in the Black Hills for a week.  According to the website..

TAR Camp is back, and is an incredible opportunity to learn, to grow, and to have a whole lot of fun! The week is jam-packed with exciting speakers, enlightening trainings, and fun activities, including visits to Mt. Rushmore, WaTiki Waterpark, and Rush Mountain Adventure Park! TARs Camp gives Teenage Republicans an opportunity to bond in a very special way. Teens come together as strangers and leave as lifelong friends.

Camp is July 21-26 (6 days, 5 nights) at the Rimrock Campsite, just outside of Rapid City in the beautiful Black Hills. Republicans from 13 to 18, including recent high school graduates, may attend.

We do have sponsorships available — your support makes TARs Camp possible! We believe in saying thank you loudly and often! Unless you tell us otherwise, we’ll be sure to thank you in our Camp program, in our announcements, on our Facebook page, etc. Gold Sponsorships include a special thank you that will last for years: your name will be immortalized on the back of the 2025 TARs Camp t-shirt that all campers receive! To be featured in the program and shirt, please submit sponsorships by June 15. For more information, contact Catherine Barranco at TeenageRepublicansSD@gmail.com.

You can find out more about camp costs and sponsorships by clicking here, or on the image to the left!

Had a note this morning from a reader and good Republican.  And it was an ominous note indeed.

One that seems to indicate that there might be no escaping the Toby Doeden campaign:

Received a text from Doeden campaign. Replied stop to opt out. got a message that said it couldn’t be delivered. Right now, it appears I can’t opt out of Doeden’s campaign texts. 

and with that, they provided the evidence, where his text system would not accept the “Stop” message.

Maybe there needs to be a law…

Remember when several candidates were running to be chair of the SDGOP? And the eventual person who won, (former 32-year Democrat) Jim Eschenbaum was telling people on a zoom call that that the party should be involved in primary elections because that’s our wrestling match.

About ten minutes ago, Eschenbaum started walking that back in an e-mail to County Chairmen that Toby Doeden’s campaign is reaching out to get county parties to endorse him, and they should not do that:

In other words, the way that it has always been done ends up apparently being fine.

Now if they can only figure out that they have to raise money to keep the lights on.

This made me laugh.

Apparently Hannah Determan, the Director of the Free-dumb caucus, and the person behind the effort to shoot down planes with jet vapor trails is hosting a forum on “education reform,” featuring State Rep’s Dylan Jordan and Phil Jensen.

I would venture this is a similar effort to blow up public education in South Dakota much like she was advocating for legislation to shoot down planes, featuring two of the state’s most anti-education legislators that consume oxygen on the House legislative floor.

Yes. This is the same Phil Jensen who was stripped of being Education vice-chair during session, only because House Leadership lacked the will to remove him from the committee entirely.

When you’re tapping those guys to improve education in the state, I really doubt Hanna Determan’s definition of improvement matches the definition contained in anyone’s dictionary.

Dakota News Now is reporting that State Senator Jamie Smith is already looking for another political job as he prepares to join the race for Sioux Falls Mayor:

This is coming after serving as State Senator since January of this year, giving him a tenure of 5 months as State Senator.   Smith previously had been the Democrat candidate for Governor against Kristi Noem in the last election, receiving roughly 35% of the vote, closer to 45% in Minnehaha County.  However, Noem did out-poll Jamie Smith in both Minnehaha and Lincoln Counties, which make up the Sioux Falls Metro area.

State Rep. Greg Jamison was also expressing an interest in the article linked to the facebook post.. but that comes at at interesting moment, after Jamison has aligned himself fully with the Hansen for Governor effort, endorsing him for Governor after he was named as a House Majority Whip earlier this year. In a contest for Mayor, it might earn him some endorsements from the Hansen confederates, but not necessarily all the legislators, by far. Not to mention it does little to reach out to the City’s heavy financial hitters needed to run the mayoral contest.

The 800 lb gorilla yet to tip her hand, and not mentioned in the article is SD Trucking Association/SD Auto Dealers Association President/CEO Christine Erickson. Christine is a former member of the South Dakota House of Representatives and at-large member of the Sioux Falls City Council, and is expected by many to announce her intentions for the race soon. Having previously served as the at-large Council member, she has the advantage of having ran city-wide on a couple of occasions.  She will likely be the person to beat in the contest, having wide contacts in state politics, and significant resources to draw on.

There will be others, Joe Batcheller, the zombie guy, and another one or two rumored, but we’ll see. The field will tighten up quickly as the next big race in South Dakota politics heats up.

Stay tuned.