Austin Hoffman Campaign Announces Endorsements from Former Attorneys General Mark Vargo and Roger Tellinghuisen
Hoffman Says Support Reflects Need for Independent Leadership, not Political Establishment Control
EUREKA, S.D. — Austin Hoffman, Republican candidate for South Dakota Attorney General, announced today that he has received endorsements of former South Dakota Attorneys General Mark Vargo and Roger Tellinghuisen.
Vargo served as Pennington County State’s Attorney from 2013 to 2022 and as South Dakota Attorney General from 2022 to 2023. Tellinghuisen served as South Dakota Attorney General from 1987 to 1991.
Vargo praised Hoffman’s character and judgment, noting that he has demonstrated a “strong moral compass and an ability to seek out and consider all citizens and then make his own decisions,” calling that measured collaboration a rare quality in modern politics.
Tellinghuisen emphasized Hoffman’s fairness and dedication to the principles of justice. He said at a time when public trust in the justice system is strained, the Attorney General’s Office requires a leader whose integrity is unwavering. “Austin Hoffman embodies those qualities,” Tellinghuisen said.
Hoffman said he is honored to receive support from two former Attorneys General who understand the demands of the office and recognize the need for steady, independent leadership in the Attorney General’s Office. According to Hoffman, the role requires listening, following the law, and making decisions based on what is right for the people of South Dakota.
“South Dakotans do not need an Attorney General who is chosen by insiders or controlled by the political establishment,” Hoffman said. “They need an Attorney General who understands that the law belongs to the people, not the powerful. My commitment is to serve the citizens of South Dakota, protect their rights, support law enforcement, defend the rule of law and put the law above politics.”
“This campaign is about restoring trust and making sure the Attorney General’s Office works for the people of South Dakota,” Hoffman said. “I am grateful for the support of Mr. Vargo and Mr. Tellinghuisen, and I will continue working to earn the trust and support of Republicans across this state.”
Hoffman, a Eureka native, announced his candidacy late last year. He currently serves as McPherson County State’s Attorney and sits on both the South Dakota Open Meetings Commission and the South Dakota Board of Elections.
The Republican nominee for South Dakota Attorney General will be selected at the Republican convention at the end of June 2026.
For more information about Austin Hoffman, visit HoffmanForAG.com.
“South Dakotans do not need an Attorney General who is chosen by insiders or controlled by the political establishment.” Mr. Hoffman is right, but unfortunately that is exactly how the AG is chosen, since we don’t get to have a primary.
The right man for the job. A sane hope amidst the crazies up there in McPherson county.
Austin has taken the far right Rinos of McPherson on time and time again. It’s why they hate him so badly. He backs up his arguments with facts. He knows the law, has prosecuted criminals in court and done an outstanding job of it. He might be young, but he’s absolutely the right person for the job!
There was a zoom meeting of some sort and Hoffman said he had two trials, one was an A&N he did not say the subject of the other trial. He lost one, won one. We don’t need an insurance man in the attorney generals office. Hoffman also tried to be a tv anchor. Another Jason.
I was on that same Zoom call and came away with a very different impression. It seems like you may have taken away what you wanted to hear, because that’s not how I understood his comments about trials.
For context, he spent five years as a reporter at KELO before leaving to attend law school, and during that time he earned both an Emmy and an Edward R. Murrow Award. That’s a pretty strong track record of professionalism and credibility.
At this point, it feels less like a disagreement over facts and more like a difference in perspective. My sense is that some of the criticism—especially coming out of McPherson—has more to do with the fact that he’s been willing to do his job, and do it wel
It’s well known that in McPherson it’s not what the laws actually read and what case law has been presented, but how you yourself interpret the law. We hear it all the time. Austin will present the law and documents to back it up and the RINO righties will say “that’s not how we interpret it “ you know what? No one gives a shit how you interpret it. YOURE WRONG! It’s why they dislike him so much.