Author: @SoDakCampaigns

Compared to last week, we’re up about 20 in the hospital, and up a few on ventilators, while ICU patients are down by about 7.  But important to note that as has always been the case, most of the people who are getting so sick they have to go in the hospital are all unvaccinated.

I went in and got my booster yesterday myself, and feel like garbage today. But, it’s far better than being sick as a dog.

Just had this new candidate pointed out to me:

According to Facebook John Sjaarda intends to run for D2 House, where Jake Schoenbeck is the only other announced candidate at the moment.

Word is that this could be a big House primary with up to 5-6 people in it if rumors hold true.

This one is hot off the press this afternoon, as Rick Rylance of Aberdeen, former Executive VP of Dacotah Bank has filed paperwork to form a Campaign Committee for a run for District 3 House.

Rylance, a registered Republican, would potentially be in a 3-way primary race against current Representatives Drew Dennert and Carl Perry for the two House seats if they file as expected to run for another term.

We’ll continue to monitor candidate filings as they continue coming in for what’s already shaping up to be a very active primary campaign season.

Stay tuned for more.

Thune: Democrats Receive “F” on 2021 Report Card

“Despite massive inflation, Democrats spent the second half of 2021 trying to double down on the reckless spending strategy that helped cause so much inflation in the first place.”

Click here or on the picture above to watch the video.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today honored the life of former Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), who passed away last month. Thune also discussed the many Democrat-led crises that unfolded in 2021 and noted that Democrats should permanently abandon their reckless tax-and-spending spree and instead focus on inflation and the border crisis and commit to bipartisan solutions for the American people.

I’d heard rumors of this new candidate coming. In a filing today, former Pierre City Councilor Jim Mehlhaff has filed paperwork to form a committee to run for District 24 State Senate, a seat currently held by State Senator Mary Duvall.

Former State Senator Jeff Monroe is serving as Mehlhaff’s treasurer according to the filing.

An announcement was made this AM via KCCR Radio, where Mehlhaff cites wanting “to cut down on what he calls the “outsourcing” of state jobs from Pierre” and wanting “to return liberty and moral authority to the family unit” as some of his reasons for running.

Davis Announces Candidacy for District 17 Senate

BURBANK, SD – Representative Sydney Davis, a nurse anesthetist, cattle producer, wife and mother, is announcing her candidacy for the District 17 State Senate in the upcoming 2022 election cycle. Her three priorities are healthcare, agriculture and education.

“There are a variety of healthcare issues facing South Dakotans. Access to EMS and mental health services is especially critical given our state’s rural nature,” said Davis. “I think our state can benefit from having healthcare providers from small and rural communities help shape policy. It takes all perspectives to keep the public safe, costs low and maintain access to quality care that our smaller and rural communities deserve.”

Davis, a 4^th generation cattle producer’s agriculture roots run deep in South Dakota. “I’m passionate about agriculture. Growing up in South Dakota, active in 4-H and FFA, I learned the value of hard work and perseverance early on.  Agriculture is faced with many challenges ahead. I want to provide a voice to protect and preserve opportunities for future generations.”

Davis is a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist providing anesthesia services in Vermillion. Sydney and her husband Garrett are cattle feeders and own a cow-calf operation in Clay County. The couple live in rural Clay county and are parents to a four-year-old son, Bo and a six-month-old daughter, Pepper. As a working mother of two young children, Davis also understands the need for quality daycare and educational opportunities for children in our communities.

Given the recent changes to the legislative districts, District 17 will look different for the 2022 election. The areas included in District 17 include Vermillion, Meckling, Burbank, Elk Point, Jefferson, McCook Lake, North Sioux City, Dakota Dunes, and rural areas of southern Union and Clay counties.

“I’ve enjoyed serving the people of District 17 and look forward to continuing those efforts in the State Senate. As a healthcare provider, rancher and parent, I want to use my background to help South Dakota continue to be a great place to live, work and raise a family,” said Davis. The current seat is held by District 17 Senator Arthur Rusch, who is term-limited.

The Argus Leader posted an article on the Argus website last night discussing the people they speculate who we’ll be talking about in 2022.

While I might not necessarily agree with the headline about these people being the ‘movers and shakers,’ there is an interesting tidbit about the leaders of the state legislature, and speculation that there’s a move afoot to remove Spencer Gosch as Speaker of the State House of Representatives:

The fracture between the two men is in part leading to behind-the-scenes conversations among moderate Republicans and Democrats in the House about picking a new House Speaker to start 2022. And a recent spat between Gosch and Schoenbeck regarding transparency in the impeachment proceedings of Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg has further fanned the flames.

Read the story here.

I’ve heard rumors as well, but I think it has less to do with any divide between the Senate and the House as much as unrest in the House.

We’ll know more next week.

South Dakotans Decide Healthcare Officially Receives Place on November Ballot

South Dakotans Decide Healthcare, a broad coalition of patient advocates, nurses, healthcare providers, farmers, faith leaders, educators, and more, announced today that the Secretary of State has officially validated the signatures and that their Medicaid expansion constitutional amendment will have a place on the ballot in November.

Zach Marcus, campaign manager for South Dakotans Decide Healthcare, said, “We are grateful for the support of the tens of thousands of South Dakotans who signed our petition to enable us to be on the ballot. Medicaid expansion will be an economic driver for South Dakota. It will boost our economy, save rural hospitals, create jobs, help ensure hard working South Dakotans don’t drown in medical debt, and bring our hard earned tax dollars home. This is a healthcare issue, but it’s also a commonsense dollars and cents issue.”

Medicaid Expansion will appear on the ballot as Amendment D.

South Dakotans Decide Healthcare has been endorsed by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, AARP South Dakota, South Dakota State Medical Association, South Dakota Nurses Association, South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations, South Dakota Education Association, South Dakota Farmers Union, Community HealthCare of the Dakotas, Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Health Board, Avera Health, Monument Health, Sanford Health, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, South Dakota Faith in Public Life, and more. It is one of the broadest coalitions to ever launch a ballot measure campaign in the state’s history.

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The pre-filed bills for the 2022 South Dakota Legislative Session are now available at the South Dakota Legislative Research Council web site:

What are we seeing? Among the various measures there is Lots of marijuana related legislation. There’s also a women sports bill in there, as well as a vaccination measure creating a new cause of action for lawsuits if someone thinks they got sick from an employer required vaccination.

Thoughts?

Becky Drury Announces Bid for District 32 House Seat

RAPID CITY, SD—- Becky Drury proudly announces her re-election bid for the SD House of Representatives in District 32.

“It has been an honor to serve Rapid City in the SD House of Representatives and I look forward to serving District 32 during the 2022 session. I believe in collaboration between city, county, tribal and state governments. and will continue my efforts to improve these relationships into the future,” Drury said. “I work to improve the quality of life in Rapid City, the Black Hills, and South Dakota through fiscally responsible efforts.”

Drury serves on Taxation, Local Government and the Military Affairs committees during the Legislative session. During the upcoming session she is co-sponsoring a bill to pipe water from the Missouri River to the Rapid City and the surrounding areas. She feels that the availability of water for future generations is of vital importance. 

While representing Ward One on the Rapid City Common Council, Drury served as Vice Chair during the 2018-2019 term and served as the Chair of Legal and Finance during the 2019-2020 term. She also served on the Library Board of Trustees, the Black Hills Council of Local Governments, the Airport Board, Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District Project Review Committee, Business Improvement District-Hotel Board, Capital Improvement Projects Committee, Emergency Services Users Board, Insurance Board, Rapid City Area Air Quality Board and the RC Economic Development Partnership Board Executive Committee. 

Drury volunteers as a board member for Passages – Women’s Transitional Living program. She is a member of Skyline Toastmasters, the Military Affairs Committee, the Pennington County Republican Women’s Organization and the Pennington County Republican Party.

Becky and her husband, Neal, own a small business in Rapid City. Her daughters and grandchildren live in the Rapid City area.