Author: @SoDakCampaigns

Did I blink, because while I wan’t looking Governor Kristi Noem just put away big bucks into her federal PAC in the second quarter of this year:

2024 2q KristiPAC by Pat Powers on Scribd

While none of us were looking, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem just underlined why she’s a force to be reckoned with in politics, raising nearly 3/4 of a million when she doesn’t have a race. Well, yes, we all know she was one of the top possibilities to be VP during this period. Even though that didn’t happen yesterday, having nearly a million in this account, 2.1 million in her state account, and other minor amounts in joint fundraising committees, Governor Noem has a lot of cash at her disposal.

Why is this worth noticing? Because of term limits and speculated retirements, (not to mention what jungle primaries could possibly do) 2026 will see a major reset of South Dakota Politics across the board.  We haven’t had major battles between popular politicians since Jackley v. Noem.. but 2026 could give us even fiercer races more akin to Janklow v. Abdnor.

A million here and a couple million there provides a massive war chest to launch a major campaign of this type.  And there is speculation that the US Senate Seat currently held by Senator Rounds might hold an interest for Governor Noem once her term of office is up in 2026.

So when the Governor is able to tuck away an extra million since the first of the year – it’s worth noticing.

Kristi Golden was nice enough to send over an infographic she had put together on why home rule is an attractive option for our state’s most populated county, and what home rule would do for Minnehaha County:

You can download and distribute a pdf of this infographic here.

Sheryl Johnson had her first full fundraising quarter after announcing for office on March 6th of this year.

Would it be too harsh to suggest she might not have bothered?

2q FEC Sheryl Johnson for Congress by Pat Powers on Scribd

Sheryl Johnson posted $39,389 in contributions, against $31,427.43 in expenses, allowing her to bank $7961.57, giving her a total of cash on hand of $38,578.77. Well, that’s about 1/3 – 1/2 of a statewide candidate mailing. That’s a sad war chest to build if you’re running for Congress. 

Subtract expenses from contributions, and divide her net of $8k among the three months it took her to raise that – That’s about $2653.85 a month that she’s clearing for the fall campaign. 

What is she doing? Because she should have been clearing ten times that every week just to be taken seriously.  And no, that’s not a ridiculous amount. $26k times 10 weeks is only $260k. A pittance in a Congressional race.

Sheryl seems to be running at a Sioux Falls School Board level of effort when her opponent is having a very strong showing at a statewide level.

Senator Mike Rounds has never had the focus on off-year fundraising that his fellow members of the Washington delegation have found necessary for preparing for the blocking and tackling of the campaign cycle. However, Rounds has been able to raise what he’s needed to get the job done.

But fast-forward to this latest FEC report, and Senator Rounds has $1.6 million in the bank two years ahead of any potential primary contest campaign. That does not sound like anyone who plans to walk away from politics anytime soon. It sounds like someone who is quietly putting the capital together to wage an election.

Rounds for Senate 2024 2q FEC by Pat Powers on Scribd

Detail on the numbers?  $190,405.65 in total reciepts, against $134,758.64 in total disbursements.

Leaving the Senator with $1,619,386.09 to build on for an election two years away, whether it’s a race to return to the US Senate, or something closer to home.

From facebook, Dan Lederman posts this snapshot of the South Dakota Republican delegation at the National Republican Convention in Milwaukee this week:

South Dakota US Senator John Thune continues to be the king of South Dakota fundraising in his latest FEC Report:

John Thune 2q 2024 FEC by Pat Powers on Scribd

Senator Thune is reporting this afternoon that in this last quarter, he raised $349,905.48, against $164,772.43 in expenses. Also, $76,600.00 came in from another committee with his account helped along by earning $173,582.63 in interest. Leaving the Senator with $18,518,497.66 in his campaign account as we roll into the fall election season.

And if all goes well this fall, we may be looking at Senator Thune as the next US Senate Majority Leader.

Keep your fingers crossed.

Interesting result in the Life Defense Fund lawsuit, as the judge in the matter has ruled that since the petitions were validated, only the Secretary of State can provide relief at this point:

Pekas ruled that since Dakotans for Health is no longer in control of the ballot measure after the Secretary of State’s Office validated it, the relief that the Life Defense Fund sought — removing the measure from the November ballot — should have been sought from the Secretary of State’s Office, not solely from Dakotans for Health.

and..

“Let the people vote, let the people decide,” Dakotans for Health attorney Jim Leach told reporters after the hearing.

Read that all here.

Life Defense fund had it’s own thoughts in the matter in a release sent today, as Leslee Unruh offered her own legal opinion:

There are no legal grounds for this dismissal as Life Defense Fund clearly followed the appropriate procedures. This unexpected dismissal further plays into their motive to delay our case and refuse to answer our documented allegations. We will follow the judge’s invitation to appeal this case.

Obviously, the judge disagreed.

Republicans, we’ve got our ticket! President Trump and @JDVance1 will unite this country, and I look forward to doing whatever I can to help them win.

— Kristi Noem (@KristiNoem) July 15, 2024

Today, former President and Republican nominee Donald Trump selected JD Vance as his pick to be Vice President in his next attempt at office.

Any thoughts?

Dusty Johnson’s campaign is raising big cash in preparation for the fall election against Democrat Sheryl Johnson.

Dusty Johnson 2q 2024 FEC by Pat Powers on Scribd

Dusty filed his FEC report today showing $232,162.19 raised against only $71,148.41 in expenses, allowing him to report cash on hand of $4,665,427.25 as he prepares for his fall contest. Thats not counting another $90,924.99 he raised through his Dakota Leadership PAC, which Johnson is also using to support candidates in North Dakota, Iowa and other states.

Dem Sheryl Johnson has not reported her most recent fundraising period, but at last report showed $30,617.20 cash on hand.

South Dakota Ends Fiscal Year with $80 Million Surplus  

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Kristi Noem announced that South Dakota closed the 2024 budget year with a surplus of $80.7 million. As she did last year, Governor Noem announced her intention to set aside the surplus to offset the cost of prison construction.

“South Dakota makes common sense decisions based on small government, low taxes, and spending within our means. We don’t just talk about fiscal responsibility – we follow through!” said Governor Noem. “We will continue to budget responsibly for the people, and we will avoid unnecessary debt by using this surplus for prison construction costs. This will help South Dakotans keep more of their hard-earned money in their pockets.”

State government spent $56.4 million less than appropriated in fiscal year 2024, with the total revenue finishing above the legislative adopted forecast by $24.3 million.

South Dakota maintains a AAA credit rating and is one of the only states with a fully-funded pension. South Dakota also has the lowest unemployment rate in America.

By law, the fiscal year 2024 surplus was transferred to the state’s budget reserves. The state’s reserves now total $322.8 million or 13.3% of the fiscal year 2025 general fund budget.

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