Author: @SoDakCampaigns

WHO’S AFRAID OF THE PRECINCT PEOPLE?
by State Rep. Scott Odenbach (Dist. 31)

A bill with the potential to radically change South Dakota’s political landscape has been introduced this session that would throw out our time-tested tradition of choosing statewide candidates. It should be opposed by all those who would preserve our Republican form of government.

Unlike SB 13 which would change state law to let the candidate for Governor choose his/her own Lieutenant Governor, which most everybody supports, HJR 5001 (https://sdlegislature.gov/Session/Bill/24594) would clutter the November ballot with an unnecessary CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT requiring ALL non-judicial statewide nominees to be selected during the primary election, rather than chosen by the convention delegates as has been done since 1917.

Currently SDCL 12-5-21, states:

The state convention shall nominate candidates for lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, state auditor, state treasurer, commissioner of school and public lands, and public utilities commissioner and in the years when a President of the United States is to be elected, presidential electors and national committeeman and national committeewoman of the party.

Using this tried and true method, we’ve elected Attorneys General such as Bill Janklow, Mark Meierhenry, Mark Barnett and Marty Jackley; Secretaries of State such as Gladys Pyle in 1927, Alice Kundert in 1979, Joyce Hazeltine in the 1980’s; Monae Johnson in 2022, and long-time public servant and good guy Chris Nelson (who may hold the world record for attending Lincoln Day dinners); School and Public Lands Commissioners such as Jarrod Johnson, Brock Greenfield and Ryan Brunner; Auditors like Alice Kundert and Vern Larson; Public Utilities Commissioners like Kristie Fiegen and Gary Hanson; and Treasurers including Rich Sattgast and Josh Haider.

Not a bad record of good public servants in my opinion! And NOT a system that is broken or needing radical change.

HJR 5001 is a continuation of the outrage expressed by some in the establishment wing of the GOP because too many movement conservatives showed up and caused trouble for their favored candidates at the last convention. To fix the situation, they’d upend decades of grass-roots involvement by “We the People” of South Dakota, replacing it with more expensive, nasty, statewide primaries, cutting off their nose to spite their face while enriching campaign consultants. A never-ending deluge of postcards, ads, robo-calls and signs would follow every two years. All for a bill that had so little support in the legislature last year that it’s now been resurrected this session as a constitutional amendment. If every losing bill is just later referred to the voters, why have session every winter?

A few headlines from the past few years illustrate the high stakes:

“George Soros’ quiet overhaul of the U.S. justice system” (Politico, August 30, 2016);

“How George Soros funded progressive ‘legal arsonist’ DAs behind US crime surge” (NY Post, December 18, 2021).

“George Soros’ prosecutors wage war on law and order” (Heritage Foundation, June 22, 2023);

Who really believes that in a small state like South Dakota, we’re better off letting big corporate donors or out of state interests bankroll and select their favored candidate(s) for our statewide offices rather than local party activists who live here and care about their respective platforms and party principles? Precinct people personify “educated voters,” as they are some of the most involved individuals amongst the electorate. They have put themselves out there to run for office to be able to participate at the convention.

I haven’t spoken to one voter who is asking for this. They want us to protect property rights, balance economic growth with preservation of our land and water, and cut taxes. This is a manufactured crisis by politicos who think they can get their way by buying future elections. Who really thinks that a good candidate for Attorney General should have to raise a minimum of $500,000.00 just to compete with the favored candidate of an establishment able to raise that kind of money with a few phone calls? Who would ever run for Commissioner of School and Public Lands if they needed to come up with hundreds of thousands of dollars just to get in the ring? Who’s ready for Summit Carbon to spend $2 million against Kristie Fiegen next time so they can force their way through our PUC?

All people who love our South Dakota way of life should call their legislators and demand a NO vote on HJR 5001.

I was noticing that “Congressional explorer” Toby Doeden has placed advertising over at the Dakota Scout, once again using “general public political advertising to publicize (his) intention to campaign,” despite the fact he has not registered a committee with the Federal Elections Commission (FEC).  Also saw that Doeden is hosting an event in Aberdeen tonight, featuring a cash bar & free meal, and the mayor of Aberdeen promoting his exploratory effort.

Did they need the cash bar, or the mayor of Aberdeen to get people to attend?

So what will the topic of the event be?  Given Doeden’s history of postings to the Internet, I’d say that we could hear about America’s most important topic.. the state of Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift’s romance, and how it’s a plot by the superwealthy to push the COVID vaccine!

“Reportedly, #traviskelce was paid $20m to push the covid vaccine… And you thought Travis and Taylor Swift dating was organic and cute.  When will ALL Americans wake up and realize that the super wealthy control what you do, what you think, and soon will control even more.”

And that person who publicly posted that to facebook wants to actually represent our state in Congress?

Oooookayyy…

Stronger, Healthier SD GOP, an Open Letter to Republican Party
January 15, 2024
by Rep. Will Mortenson (R-Fort Pierre)

I remember my first GOP convention vividly. So much enthusiasm for our candidates and our causes. So much pride in our state and our core values. So much community, kindness, and shared history. Since then, I’ve been a state party employee, a county delegate, and worked hand-in-hand with the state party and county party on a variety of causes. I’m a proud Republican and care deeply about the trajectory of our party and state over the next several decades.

That’s why I was encouraged that Rep. Tyler Tordsen introduced HJR 5001. That measure would submit the question to the voters: should nominees for statewide office be chosen through Primaries or Conventions? Rep. Tordsen’s resolution would open up our nomination process to every Republican from the grassroots voters to the county party officials to the state Chairman, and everyone in between. Our primary voters would decide who should be our nominee in the general elections in November. The proposal will make our party stronger and healthier.

In recent years, the convention devolved from a party promotion and unity event to a forum for political knife-fighting by party insiders. The sense of enthusiasm, pride, and community was replaced by partisan infighting, which started as a national phenomenon and has gradually infected our state as well. HJR 5001 gives us a chance to return the convention to its prior purpose: getting Republicans together to meet, share enthusiasm, and get prepared to help our candidates and our causes succeed on the ballot at the November general election.

Today, our system shuts out too many voters. It vests all authority in the few-hundred who sign up to go to convention. The last couple statements are tough for me to admit. I know these party delegates personally. Many are close friends of mine. But, just because I know the party delegates and like them doesn’t mean we should not include the hundreds of thousands of Republican voters I don’t know. We need to consider what is best for our state and the voters, not just what is good for our friends.

A little over a year ago, the Republicans in the House of Representatives elected me to be their Majority Leader. I have worked hard to serve the caucus members and advance causes where we take caucus positions. I took over a caucus that had been fractured in years past. Decisions were made top-down, and rank-and-file members felt like they had no voice. I was resolved to change that. Our caucus was made healthier, stronger, and more cohesive by giving every member a voice. We have had less infighting and we are getting more conservative victories ever since. I believe the same will happen with our state party with the enactment of HJR 5001.

I know full-well that many county party officials and convention delegates will disagree with me. I know many of my caucus members disagree with this position (that’s OK: I work for them, not the other way around). I have been talking all weekend to former colleagues and friends from across the state, really digging into ways to make our state party better. That is a good thing. We shouldn’t vilify one another over attempts at the same goal: party strength, health, and unity. We have important battles to come in this state. If we want to win them, we need a robust party where all Republicans get a voice. I hope you’ll consider joining me in supporting HJR 5001.

Any thoughts from readers on podcasting?

In my search for adding value and readers to the website, I keep wondering if a podcast would help keep things lively and fresh?

I do participate in them from time to time, often with friends Murdoc & Jake at Dakota Town Hall. And what many of you might not know is that this last year, I (we) did pilot a podcast with a couple of politico friends, which ended up not coming to fruition because of life and job changes.  But I haven’t let the concept go.  I actually did radio during my last year or so in High School (many, many years ago on KGFX, your kind of country), so it’s not that part that’s daunting, and I have the equipment.  I mainly have a hang-up on that I’d like to do things differently.

I find myself more interested in doing a video podcast, as I find it more personal. Technically.. the problem there is two-fold. The lighting in my area isn’t where I’d like it.. which I can probably fix with what’s on hand. And I don’t know that I’ve hit on software/camera combo that I like well enough. Production-wise, there’s the writing and the editing. Piloting a few episodes, I need to have a good idea of what I’m going to say to reduce rambling, and the ahhs.. and uhhs.. and keeping it moving is important, so editing is important.  So there’s additional time that’s involved.

I’ve always shied away from it because I’ve feared it would be a time-suck, and I find my time stretched pretty thin anyways. But it has been one of those things that continue to nag at me, as in “I should be doing it.”

What are your thoughts? Would a podcast/vodcast add something that you as a reader aren’t getting already?

Okay.. Fess up. Now who went and broke Cory?

The ick factor just got turned up to 11 this morning with a story from The Dakota Scout how former candidate and current prison inmate Joek Koskan is trying to explain the nuances of incest to the court as a way to reduce the sentence he received for his crimes against his daughter and society:

Koskan argues he shouldn’t be required to register on the sex offender registry because the incest was “consensual.”

“Furthermore,” he writes, “incest is more similarly situated to bigamy than to aggravated incest as both bigamy and incest require consensual relationships that are prohibited by law and not offenses involving minors or forcible acts. Both bigamy and incest are considered non-violent low level felonies.”

and..

Koskan is representing himself. His lawsuit was filed in Federal District Court for the District of South Dakota.

Read the entire story of creepiness here.

Again, ick.

Grateful for Those Who Stand Up for Life
By Sen. John Thune

Each January, tens of thousands of everyday Americans gather in Washington, D.C., for the March for Life. They come from every part of the country, from every walk of life, and from every generation, but they are united in their conviction that every human life has inherent value.

It’s not a complicated idea. The right to life is a fundamental right, one that our founders affirmed in the Declaration of Independence as “unalienable” and “self-evident.” Abortion advocates might like to obscure this fact, but they face an uphill battle. At some level, every person knows that when we talk about abortion, we’re talking about taking a human life. This is a great moral wrong. So I’m grateful that there continues to be so many Americans dedicated to speaking up for the unborn, standing up for life, and bearing witness to the truth that every life has dignity.

I believe this simple truth is what draws countless Americans to brave long bus rides and cold weather to come to Washington for the annual march. I’m particularly proud of the South Dakotans who have made the long trek to Washington, D.C., or those who traveled to Pierre for the state Walk for Life. For 50 years, marchers kept the faith that the United States would one day affirm protections for the unborn. About 18 months ago, 50 years of hoping and praying paid off when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and opened the door to meaningful protections for unborn Americans.

I’m grateful for the marchers who continued to believe in this important cause. The March for Life’s public witness is critically important, and it’s no less important today than it was before Roe was overturned. But it’s just one small part of the pro-life movement. Every day, around the country, there are numerous organizations doing the quiet and critical work of supporting expectant mothers and their babies. This important work is often unseen, but it has an immeasurable impact in the lives of those it reaches.

I’m proud that there continues to be a strong pro-life movement working to promote a culture of life in our country. In the March for Life’s long history, it has brought together students, church groups, elected officials, professional athletes, and presidents. The faces may change over the years, but the marchers’ commitment to the right to life has not wavered. Thank you to all who march.

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South Dakota Republican Women commends US Supreme Court for ruling on state-level decisions removing Trump from primary ballots

On January 11, 2024, the Executive Committee of The South Dakota Federation of Republican Women passed a resolution commending the United States Supreme Court for exercising jurisdiction and reviewing state-level decisions removing Donald J. Trump from 2024 primary ballots.

In America, we honor the presumption of innocence: citizens cannot be punished until proven guilty. Each American has the right to due process of law and the right to defend him or herself if accused of crimes. We teach children that America is the land of the free. Refusing to suffer the rule of tyrants and despots, we choose leaders via free and fair democratic elections. Donald Trump has not been convicted of insurrection – removing his name from primary ballots contravenes fundamental rights. For Trump is entitled to the same protections as all Americans. He deserves due process. Removal from the ballot punishes him for a crime for which he has not been convicted. But, perhaps more importantly, his removal punishes millions of innocent Americans, abnegating their basic right to vote for the candidate of their choice.

Even Trump’s primary opponents decry the injustice and dangerous precedent this sets. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said, “The idea that one bureaucrat in an executive position can unilaterally disqualify someone from office turns on its head every notion of constitutional due process this country has abided by for over 200 years. It opens up Pandora’s box…” Unless the Court rectifies this injustice, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy pledged to withdraw from the Colorado and Maine primaries, warning “This is what an actual threat to democracy looks like. The system is hell bent on taking this man out, the Constitution be damned.” Secretary Nikki Haley’s campaign issued a statement saying: “It should be up to voters to decide who gets elected.” A spokesperson for Governor Chris Christie said Trump should “remain on the ballot until convicted of insurrection following a trial that featured evidence that’s accepted by a jury.” It’s telling that those who have the most to gain from Trump’s removal are united in decrying the decision to remove him.

This is about far more than partisan politics. This is about America and whether she remains the land of the free. Multiple state courts have considered Trump’s removal and reached inconsistent results. In such cases, the United States Supreme Court should intervene before things spiral out of control. And we’ve reached that dire threshold. Maine’s Secretary of State declared herself judge, jury, and executioner of Trump’s campaign.

Hence, the South Dakota Federation of Republican Women commends our nation’s Highest Court for granting certiorari and ruling on the merits, ensuring each state follows the Constitution and that no state denies an American citizen’s fundamental rights.

The Supreme Court must defend American voters’ right to choose their President.

Giving Power Back to the People: All Party Voters Should Have a Say in Their Party’s Nominee.
By Rep. Tyler Tordsen 

In the spirit of democracy, South Dakota has an opportunity to elevate the voices of its citizens through a proposal that would reshape the process of selecting statewide officials. At the heart of this resolution lies a simple yet powerful principle: putting the voters first.

The current method of allowing a small group of people at a partisan convention to determine the candidates for the offices of Secretary of State, Attorney General, Treasurer, Auditor, Public Utility Commissioner, and Commissioner of School and Public Lands seems antiquated in comparison to the broader democratic processes already in place for other positions. South Dakota already entrusts the selection of its candidates for Governor, U.S. Senators, U.S. House Representative, county officials, and legislators to the people.

It’s time to extend this democratic approach to all statewide offices. By supporting this effort, South Dakota can reaffirm its commitment to a government of, by, and for the people. In my opinion, these statewide offices are too important to only let a couple hundred people decide. This proposal would allow ALL registered voters in their party to decide. Our constituents deserve a say.

It’s important to note this proposal is not a mandate but rather a question posed to South Dakota voters on the November 2024 ballot. The resolution proposes a straightforward mechanism: any statewide race with two or more candidates from the same party would be nominated through a partisan primary election. This approach also differs from the Open “Jungle” Primaries concept of California, and instead ensures a tailored solution that fits South Dakota. Election year after election year, people are discouraged in June to see their ballots limited and instead finding these statewide offices of importance are nominated by a small group.

We should let the voters make the decision who should go on to represent them and their party in the general election. Thoughtfully picking the candidate who best reflects the party’s true values and the values of the people. HJR 5001 keeps the spirit of South Dakota’s motto, “Under God the People Rule,” and aligns with our state’s fundamental values of empowering the electorate.

HJR 5001, if passed by your elected legislators, would pose this crucial question to South Dakotans on this November’s ballot. For me that vote is a simple one; let the voters decide if the voters should decide.

Attorney General Jackley Announces Appointments to Open Meeting Commission

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley has appointed five state’s attorneys to the Open Meeting Commission effective immediately.

The five state’s attorneys are:

• Emily Sovell, Sully County, chairperson.
• Katelynn Hoffman, Turner County.
• Wendy Kloeppner, Lake County.
• Lance Russell, Fall River/Oglala Lakota County.
• Michael Smith, Clay County.

“This commission is about transparency in government and dealing with complaints on governmental agencies not following the state’s open meeting law,” said Attorney General Jackley. “Thank you to the five state’s attorneys who have agreed to serve. We appreciate their devotion to open government.”

The Open Meeting Commission was established in 2004. By state statute, the members are required to be state’s attorneys who are appointed by the Attorney General.

Attorney General Jackley has introduced Senate Bill 26 in this year’s legislative session, which would allow Deputy State’s Attorneys, who are equally qualified, to serve on the commission if needed. That bill has not yet been heard in committee.

For more on the Open Meeting Commission, click here: https://atg.sd.gov/legal/opengovernment/MeetingCommission.aspx#gsc.tab=0.

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