Author: @SoDakCampaigns

The chief executive of the GEVO bio-jetfuel project had some harsh words for Speaker of the House Jon Hansen after he took to twitter claiming that the billion dollar project took state money when it actually didn’t, as reported by KELOland News:

Gevo is taking its aviation jet fuel project to North Dakota but it isn’t taking any South Dakota state money with it, Gevo Chief Executive Officer Pat Gruber said Monday.

“Not one dime. Not one dime came from South Dakota,” Gruber said. Although approved for state money, Gevo did not take or receive it because no plant was built, he said.

and..

Republican Speaker of the House Jon Hansen posted on his X account two days ago calling the $12 million “big corporate welfare” that he would stop if elected Governor. Hansen said the approved $12 million was a “hand out” and that GOED and the Governor’s office were duped.

and..

But that kind of misrepresentation was part of the difficulty and uncertainty of doing business in the state, Gruber said.

Read the entire story here at KeloLand.com.

Between the self-inflicted fire he’s taking on misrepresenting state money on the GEVO project, and the self-inflicted fire he’s taking over his last-minute attempt to derail the prison project, Jon Hansen seems to be the Hansen for Governor campaign’s worst enemy.

And we haven’t even started the 2026 legislative session yet.

SECRETARY MONAE JOHNSON ANNOUNCES “CIVICS IN THE 605: STATEWIDE STICKER SHOWCASE”

PIERRE, S.D. — Secretary of State Monae L. Johnson today announced the return and rebranding of the statewide student sticker contest—formerly the “I Voted” Sticker Contest—now titled Civics in the 605: Statewide Sticker Showcase. Student artists from across South Dakota are invited to submit original designs by February 1, 2026. Winning entries will be used during the 2026 General Election.

To honor student artists and spotlight civic engagement, the Secretary of State’s Office will host an Inaugural Award Ceremony on Wednesday, February 24, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. in the Capitol Rotunda. Finalist artwork will be displayed, and winners will be recognized on-site during the Legislative Session, with opportunities for students and families to tour the Capitol.

“Civics in the 605 is about taking pride in participation and giving students a real connection to their government,” said Secretary Johnson. “These stickers travel with every voter—they’re small but powerful symbols of civic duty and South Dakota pride. I can’t wait to showcase our students’ creativity at the Capitol.”

Submissions will be judged in four grade-level categories: K–2, 3–5, 6–8, and 9–12. A panel of judges will help select the winning designs prior to the ceremony.

The competition will open on November 1^st, 2025 and will close on February 1^st, 2026. How to Enter:

Full contest details, design guidelines, and submission information are available at: https://sdsos.gov/elections-voting/voting/kids-voting-southdakota.aspx

The Senate Republican PAC is hosting a golf fundraiser.. at the start of pheasant hunting season.. according to the e-mail I was forwarded from Senate Majority Leader Jim Mehlhaff.

Hearing the wind blow outside as I’m writing this, and I’m wondering if the weather is going to cooperate?  Maybe something hunting related would be a better draw for the end of October?

As part of the event, Sen. Mehlhaff is asking Republican Senators to carve out time & show up early as he indicates that “a major contributor has asked for 5 minutes to visit with the caucus.”

I wonder who that could be. Does that mean Sen. Perry has switched allegiances again, and is going to force them to listen to Toby Doeden? We’ll see. The identity of the major donor could be the most interesting tidbit to come out of the whole thing.

Update – my inside sources tell me that it’s not Toby, but Auto Dealers, who attend every year. (Not sure why they made a big thing out of it.)

Press releases and filings for candidates are starting to filter in (as we saw yesterday with Allison Renville), so I thought I’d share as much as I can find in preparation with adding them to my newly updated candidate list:

• Nick Fosness – District 1 House (R), Filed paperwork on 9/2 with the SOS. Appointed by Gov to vacancy.
• Brett Bastian – District 2 Senate (R), Filed paperwork on 5/6 with the SOS.
• Fred Deutsch – District 4 House (R), Filed paperwork 8/13 with the SOS.
• Gary Hudiburgh – District 4 House (R), Filed paperwork on 9/23 with the SOS. 
• Sam Froehlke – District 4 House (I), Announced in newspaper, filed paperwork on 10/15 with SOS.
• Austin Wolf – District 6 House (D). Filed paperwork on 8/4 with the SOS.
• Adam Bair – District 10 House (D). Filed paperwork on 8/11 with the SOS.
• Claire Ketcham – District 10 House (D), Filed paperwork 6/28 with the SOS.
• Kimberly Petterson – District 10 House (R), Filed paperwork on 9/3 with the SOS. (Minnehaha SD GOP chair’s spouse).
• Erinn Williams – District 14 House (D), Filed paperwork 7/30 with the SOS.
• Keith Block – District 14 House (D), Filed paperwork on 3/25 with the SOS.
• Carrie Sanderson – District 25 House (R), Filed paperwork on 8/2 with the SOS.
• Bart Sample – District 25 House (R). Filed paperwork on 6/11 with the SOS.  (And apparently recycling the overused “faith family freedom” slogan.)
• Jeff Marlette – District 33 House (R), Filed paperwork on 10/7 with the SOS.
• Victor Dominquez – District 34 House (D), Filed paperwork on 9/29 with the SOS.
• Dale Bartscher – District 35 House (R), Filed paperwork 6/17 with the SOS.
• Emmett Reistroffer – District 35 House (R), Filed paperwork 7/23 with the SOS.

Any candidate announcements I’m missing? Drop me a note.

**Updates and Omissions**

Add John Marquart – (D18 House R) who has announced to the list.  I knew that, His committee was pre-existing.  I think you can also add new appointee John Shubeck (D16 House R) to the list as well.

10/21 update.. Also add Brandon Wipf (D22 Senate R) who was appointed in July, and filed paperwork on 8/15 when he was sworn in.  In D16 House Jason Vandentop (R) announced at the Lincoln County LDD he’s running. In D19 House Tanner Hempto (R) announced at the Bon Homme County LDD.

Jeff Church, (D17 Senate – R) is also telling people he’s running again. But he’s not going to beat incumbent Senator Sydney Davis, who will walk all over him again.  Think I also heard anecdotally that Robin Schiro (D17 House) might give it another run.

 

There will be a number of additions coming, as I’m told a group will likely be announcing all at once in the near future.

 

Roscoe’s Treichel Elected President of the South Dakota Municipal League

FORT PIERRE, S.D. – Leland Treichel, President of the Board for the City of Roscoe, was elected president of the South Dakota Municipal League (SDML) at the association’s annual membership meeting earlier this month.

As board president, Treichel will lead 18 other municipal employees and elected officials from across South Dakota to comprise the Board of Directors for the Municipal League, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that facilitates the cooperative improvement of municipal government in the state.

Treichel’s service in Roscoe city government has spanned 40 years, serving as mayor, alderman, and in his current role as president of the board following the change of Roscoe’s form of government to a Trustee form a few years ago.

Treichel has been actively involved with the Municipal League, serving as district chair for many years and as a board trustee.

The association also elected Michelle DeNeui, Finance Officer of Spearfish, to serve as First Vice President and Dawn Murphy, Finance Officer of Tea, as Second Vice President. Treichel succeeds Carolynn Anderson, Finance Officer of Wall, who will continue to serve on the board as Past President.

Board trustees include Rick Boschee, Mayor of Bowdle, Leah Braun, Chief of Staff for Rapid City, Paullyn Carey, Finance Director of Huron, Richard Thomason, Councilmember for Sioux Falls, and Laurie Woodward, Finance Officer/City Administrator of Custer.

The board also includes representatives from the 10 SDML districts, which are elected in the spring of each year.

The SDML Board of Directors is responsible for all the affairs of the League. The board meets once each year during the annual meeting and at other times as the officers determine.

The election of the SDML Board of Directors occurred Oct. 3 during the annual membership meeting in Pierre. Duties for new positions began immediately, and individuals will serve until the next annual meeting in Oct. 2026.

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I recently heard a rumor that Democrats allegedly had a mainstream candidate for Governor; someone who had won an election or two, and was somewhat known.

Yet today it was dropped that the newest candidate for Governor is community organizer Allison Renville, whose claim to fame is coming in third for a Democrat primary for State Senate in D1 (receiving 248 votes) and in the 2024 race for “At Large City Council Member Sioux Falls” again came in third with just under 15%.

I hate to bring it up, but is she running as a Democrat? Her press release doesn’t say.

Because if she is, I don’t think they’re going anywhere with a community organizer who keeps coming in third.

** Update **

I’m seeing some initial reports on-line that she may be running as an independent. If that’s the case.. we’ll see if she makes the ballot.

** More Updates **

The Argus Leader confirmed that Renville is running as an Independent in their story filed this afternoon:

April 28, 2026 is the deadline for Independent candidates to submit a nominating petition to run for South Dakota governor, according to the South Dakota Secretary of State’s website. Renville has not filed for a candidate committee with the Secretary of State’s Office as of Oct. 19.

Renville, a former Democrat, will not need to participate in a primary election and will be placed on the general election ballot should she file with the state.

And she intends to do so “soon … When we have our campaign sites and contribution links ready,” Renville told the Argus Leader on Oct. 19

Read the entire story here at the Argus Leader.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 4, 2025

Allison Renville Announces Candidacy for Governor of South Dakota.

Native South Dakotan and Community Advocate Enters 2026 Gubernatorial Race

Sioux Falls, SD — Allison Renville, a longtime community advocate, political organizer, and outspoken voice for equity and rural revitalization, has officially announced her candidacy for Governor of South Dakota in the 2026 election.

Born and raised in Northeast South Dakota and based in Sioux Falls, Renville brings a unique blend of grassroots experience, cultural insight, and policy advocacy to the race. A citizen of the Oceti Sakowin (Great Sioux Nation) and a respected public speaker, she has been a leading voice in regional and national discussions surrounding civil rights, social justice, and sustainable economic development through political engagement.

“I’m running for Governor because South Dakota deserves leadership that listens to every voice—from our farmers and small business owners to our tribal communities and working families,” said Renville. “We need bold, inclusive leadership that focuses on real solutions, not politics as usual but with a legacy deeply embedded in South Dakota history.”
Renville’s campaign will center on key issues including:

• Expanding access to healthcare across rural, the cities and underserved areas.
• Investing in education to strengthen rural and urban schools while supporting teachers and students.
• Protecting South Dakota’s natural resources while fostering renewable energy innovation including land, water and wind.
• Championing Tribal Sovereignty and building stronger partnerships between state and Tribal governments.
• Growing the economy through support for small businesses, agriculture, and workforce development that encourages systemic change and equity.

With a reputation for bridge-building and a deep commitment to community engagement, Renville is poised to bring a new kind of leadership to the Governor’s office—one rooted in transparency, inclusion, and a classic vision for the future of South Dakota.

More information about Allison Renville’s campaign, platform, and upcoming events will be available soon, for interviews or communications: allisonrenville@gmail.com.

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South Dakota Searchlight has an article on the “No Kings” rally that took place in Sioux Falls yesterday, as well as the counter protest in support of President Trump. And it seems there was a bit of a difference in the numbers of people who attended:

About 3,500 people gathered in downtown Sioux Falls on Saturday for the latest No Kings protest — making it the city’s largest protest so far this year, according to organizer crowd estimates.

The protest was the 13th in South Dakota for the day, organizer Craig Brown with Indivisible 605 said. Protesters gathered to listen to speakers, display homemade signs and chant “this is what democracy looks like” and “we love America; that’s why we’re here,” and call for President Donald Trump “to go.”

and..

A counter protest, dubbed the Real American Rally, was held during the same time a block away from the No Kings protest. It drew about 30 people.

John Small, an organizer of the counter protest, said the gathering was intended to be positive and show “love for the country we live in.”

Read the entire story here.

If this isn’t an indication that the mid-term elections are going to be tough, I don’t know what is.

And this is why I harp on the faction of populists who have driven the Republican Party into shambles and such stupidity as the 32-year Democrat who pretends to chair the party declaring he want to weed the RINO’s out.

Mid-term elections are traditionally challenging for the party in charge of the White House, and our opponents are motivated while the Republican Party struggles to raise a dime.  And with the leadership we have declaring war on the people working for the future of the state, and promoting new taxes, the handwriting is on the wall that Republican candidates are going to face rough seas in 2026.

Governor Larry Rhoden’s Director of Communications Ian Fury has some pointed words for gubernatorial wannabe Jon Hansen:

Either @SpeakerHansen is uninformed about how economic development works, or he’s knowingly lying. Neither is a good look for a gubernatorial candidate.

To-date, Gevo has received ZERO dollars and ZERO cents from @sdgoed. https://t.co/dvAYKrZ93u

— Ian Fury (@IanTFury) October 18, 2025

Thune Joins The Briefing with Steve Scully

 “[T]he Democrats are under an enormous amount of pressure from their hard left, and they’ve got this big rally in town this weekend, and, you know, they’re just demanding that they fight, no matter what the issue is”

Click here to listen to The Briefing with Steve Scully

 WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today joined The Briefing with Steve Scully on SiriusXM radio.