Author: @SoDakCampaigns

Johnson Sworn In to Second Term in Congress

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Johnson Sworn In to Second Term in Congress 

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) issued a statement following his swearing-in as South Dakota’s Representative for the 117th Congress. This is Johnson’s second-term in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“Today, on January 3rd in accordance with the U.S. Constitution, I’ll be sworn into my second-term in the U.S House. The last few months have been a tumultuous time for our country, and we face real challenges in the months and years ahead. We have a China and a Russia that are not our friends, and they work every day to destabilize and weaken our country. We have an economy that is softer than we want and a pandemic that continues to rage. It will be the honor of my life to spend the next two years working for you. I will do the hard work. I will honor my oath to the Constitution, and I will work with all good people to do good and strengthen our country. Thank you for the opportunity.”

Rep. Johnson addresses South Dakotans following the 117th congressional swearing-in.

 

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US Senator John Thune’s Weekly Column: Optimism for the New Year

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Optimism for the New Year
By Sen. John Thune

It was a year unlike any other, and as it comes to a close, I’ve been taking time to reflect on both the incredible challenges we’ve faced and the opportunities for the New Year. There’s no way around the tough economic hardships, the lives we’ve lost, and the difficult moments in 2020 because of the coronavirus. But there are also plenty of good stories worth remembering that could bring light and joy to the darkest of any times.

In the face of incredible challenges and uncertainty, South Dakotans stepped up every day to help our communities. Nurses, doctors, and health care professionals across the state fought the coronavirus on the front lines, whether it was in a rural hospital in South Dakota or in New York City. Essential workers from law enforcement to farmers and grocery store employees showed everyday patriotism by doing their jobs. South Dakotans delivered food to nursing homes and volunteered to help others. And as the son of two educators, I have a particular gratitude for the teachers who have taken great lengths to help their students succeed this year, despite the pandemic.

The year comes to a close with other reasons to celebrate: coronavirus vaccines are being delivered throughout the state, and more are on the way. The virus remains serious and we aren’t in the clear yet, but the safe and effective vaccines bring hope to 2021. We should all begin the year with the same spirit we began the pandemic with, and continue to take the necessary steps to slow the spread of the virus.

As we look ahead to a new year and the 117th Congress, Congress will also need to work together. My colleagues on both sides of the aisle and I ultimately have the same goal— to improve life for all Americans. We may have different views or approaches on how to do this, but if we keep our constituents’ needs in mind, I am confident in what we can accomplish.

The year 2020 was a testament to the resilience of the American people. During these unprecedented and uncertain times, some of the best of humanity showed itself in South Dakota and across our country. I am counting these blessings as I reflect on the past year, with optimism for what 2021 has in store.

In this new year, my commitment to South Dakotans will remain the same: making sure they have a strong voice in Washington. I’ll continue to work hard and fight for what really matters to the people of our state – you have my word.

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US Senator Mike Rounds Weekly Column: Grabbing the Bull by the Horns

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Grabbing the Bull by the Horns
By U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.)

I heard a story recently about a government bureaucrat from DC visiting real America for the first time. He worked on agriculture policy but grew up in the city so his only experience with food involved his plate. He bought a pair of shiny new boots and headed off to cow-calf country.

When his plane touched down, he was greeted by a man with a cowboy hat and a firm handshake. They jumped in the rancher’s F-350, a vehicle so big the city slicker couldn’t figure out how you’d parallel park it, and headed out to his ranch. When they arrived at the rancher’s pasture, the bureaucrat thought he’d ask a tough question to impress the tough cowboy: “Why doesn’t that cow have any horns?”

“Well,” the rancher said, “there are many reasons why a cow doesn’t have horns. Ya see, some don’t have horns because we dehorned them as calves and some, like Angus, are a polled breed that naturally never grow horns. But the reason that cow doesn’t have any horns is because it’s a horse.”

This joke illustrates a broader point: ranchers in cow-calf country work hard every day to produce the best beef in the world, but continue to lose hundreds of dollars per head because the deck is stacked against them. DC lobbyists and bureaucrats, who have never been to a sale barn or stepped foot on a ranch but still think they know better, continue to rig the system and line the pockets of the big packers. They’re ripping off our ranchers, small processors and, ultimately, our consumers. That needs to stop now.

As we enter a new year and a new Congress, it would be easy to get discouraged, see the situation not changing and give up. But these issues are too important to quit on. There is fire in my belly and I’m going to fight like hell until we get this done.

When I meet with ranchers in South Dakota in places like Wall or St. Onge or Ft. Pierre, it’s clear they know what’s best for their operation. They demand greater market transparency, new markets for state-inspected facilities, Product of the U.S.A. labeling and Mandatory Country of Original Labeling (MCOOL). Those are the people I am fighting for in Washington.

Over the last year, I’ve introduced bipartisan, commonsense legislation that touches on each of these issues. We formed coalitions with folks on both sides of the aisle who care about the needs of our ranchers and processors. And while you’d think that’d be enough, it’s not. When we attempted to force votes on these issues, our attempts were denied. The stranglehold on certain members of Congress is still too strong. DC dysfunction at its finest.

But the good news is that momentum is on our side. Every day we are continuing to win senators and members of Congress over to our way of thinking. They are beginning to understand that what’s best for the consumer, in this case, is also what’s best for the producer. It’s going to take all of us working together to get this done. I don’t care who I have to talk to – Republican or Democrat.

This is a priority for me now more than ever. We cannot stand idly by and watch our ranching community continue to suffer. As we enter a new year, it’s time to discard DC dysfunction, grab the bull by the horns and deliver results.

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Congressman Dusty Johnson’s Weekly Column: How is your family doing?

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How is your family doing?
By Rep. Dusty Johnson
December 31, 2020

When I am traveling across South Dakota I get dozens of questions a day, from the budget deficit to healthcare to national defense to agriculture policy. Over the last two years I’ve regularly used this space to address many of the issues most often asked about.

There is a common question asked by South Dakotans I haven’t written about in a while, though: “How is your family doing?”

Some South Dakotans assume we moved to Washington, DC, after the election two years ago. We didn’t, and never really considered it. My wife has a successful business in Mitchell, but we also wanted our boys to grow up in South Dakota. There is a work ethic, kindness, and unassuming demeanor in our state that I didn’t want my sons to miss out on.

That means I am in South Dakota every weekend, which keeps me better connected to the people I’m serving. I see South Dakotans when I’m at the post office, the grocery store, and attending school events. We have one son in high school, one in middle school, and one in elementary school, so we have most bases covered!

Like most South Dakota families, we’ve been impacted by COVID-19, but we are holding up well, all things considered. We’ve lost close family friends to the pandemic. We’ve had travel plans disrupted, had to consider the possibility of COVID impacts to my wife’s business, and had to be thoughtful about when we see family members. We also have a sense of gratitude, though, that we’ve been able to have the kids in school. Study after study is showing that students are learning more when they are in the classroom and we are blessed to have Mitchell teachers and administrators working so hard to keep the kids safe and in the classroom.

COVID has meant a lot more time together as a family. Our family likes hiking and biking, and we’ve done more of that in 2020 than ever. Twelve-year-old Ben particularly likes the outdoors. He shot his first pheasant earlier this season, and he is regularly pushing me to take him to walk a field or to shoot trap. He has a 28-gauge and he’s become quite a shot. I’m still the only one in the family that will clean a bird, though.

Fifteen-year old Max is a hard worker and a talented musician. Marching band and show choir have demanded a lot of time from him, but he still makes time to work a good number of hours at the World’s Only Corn Palace as a tour guide and cashier. Both Max and Ben are good brothers to eight-year-old Owen. Owen is energetic and funny, and enjoys building things and exploring the neighborhood on foot, scooter, and bike. His ping pong skills are fast approaching mine, but that’s probably not much to brag about.

It isn’t easy to have a father and husband gone half the time, of course. Jacquelyn and our sons have to pick up a lot of my slack when I’m away. I’m grateful they are good people who love this country and who understand the value of what I’m trying to accomplish in Washington. They realize that it isn’t just our family that matters; it’s the thousands of families across South Dakota who want a fair, reasonable, and freedom-protecting federal government.  Thank you for the opportunity for our family to serve.

Rounds Takes Oath of Office for Second Term in U.S. Senate

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Rounds Takes Oath of Office for Second Term in U.S. Senate

WASHINGTON—U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) made the following statement after taking the oath of office for his second term serving South Dakotans in the United States Senate:

“Continuing to work on behalf of South Dakotans in the United States Senate is a tremendous privilege and honor. I’m also incredibly thankful Jean was able to join me for the ceremony.”

“I look forward to getting to work on the important issues that will define our future.”

Rounds was sworn into office by Vice President Mike Pence and escorted by U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.). Video of Rounds taking the oath is available HERE.

The reenactment photo, below, was taken in the Old Senate Chamber of the U.S. Capitol following his official swearing in. This is Jean’s first trip to Washington, D.C., since she first started cancer treatment in June 2019.

 

Now outgoing House Speaker Haugaard seems to be doubling down on presidential fraud accusations, attending rally with “Proud Boys” members speaking.

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After yesterday’s solicitation for names to include with a letter to the states federal delegation alleging election fraud in the presidential election, outgoing Speaker of the House Steve Haugaard was in attendance at a “Stop the Steal” rally in Sioux Falls… which you can read about yourself:

Two speakers self-identified with the “Proud Boys,” a far right-wing group with a history of violent confrontations, and were acting as guards for the stage.

Current legislator and former Speaker of the South Dakota House of Representatives Steve Haugaard was in attendance but declined to comment. He did say he would be sending out letter voicing frustrations with the election.

Read it at the Argus Leader.

Outgoing Speaker of the House trying to make last act to gin up letter to state congressional delegation about alleged voter fraud in other states

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Happy New Year… and apparently happy conspiracy day from outgoing Speaker of the House Steve Haugaard, as he sends out an e-mail early this evening to Republican State Legislators asking them to join him on a letter he intends to send out to to our state’s Congressional delegation tomorrow:

On Jan 1, 2021, at 5:59 PM, Steven Haugaard <Steven.Haugaard@sdlegislature.gov> wrote:

Dear Legislators,

I am writing to invite legislative members to join in the attached request being forwarded to our Congressional Delegation. Congress will act upon the report of the vote on January 6. Evidence of fraud needs to be evaluated. Please respond to this email OR text me to let me know if you want your name included on the attached letter.

I know this is short notice as I expect to send this later tomorrow, but I will update the list of names as I receive additional responses.

Thanks, and Happy New Year!

Steve

Steven Haugaard
Speaker of the House
South Dakota House of Representatives

From the response Haugaard received from the incoming Senate President Pro Tempore Lee Schoenbeck, I get the distinct impression that Haugaard’s plea to use his office to contest elections in other states is not entirely appreciated:

On Jan 1, 2021, at 7:27 PM, Lee Schoenbeck wrote:
This RHINO behavior should stop. Please at least pretend to be a real Republican.
The next legislative session might just be one of the more interesting ones.

Top Ten South Dakota Political Stories of 2020 – part 1 (counting down from #10-6)

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Normally I would have worked on a post such as this a week ago, but to be honest after an incredibly busy 2020, I was enjoying my time off from work before diving back into it with what I anticipate will be an already busy 2021.

I thought it would be a useful exercise to go back, and tick off what I think are the most important South Dakota specific political stories of 2020, with a few notes why. So without any further fanfare, here are the Top Ten South Dakota Political Stories of 2020

Top SD Political Stories in 2020

10. Record number of women elected to SD State Legislature.

As Governor Kristi Noem shattered the glass ceiling in state politics, while maybe not a primary motivator for the women who ran for the South Dakota State Legislature, I can’t help but believe it at least affected attitudes in some way among Republican women, who captured a massive percentage of the seats won by women in the South Dakota legislature.

Over 30 years of being involved, I can honestly say that it seems that we’ve largely moved past the days when people would vocalize that “women should be home with the kids instead of serving in Pierre” to an attitude that “it’s ok for dad to help hold down the fort while mom heads to Pierre for a few weeks.” And that’s ok.

9. House members bring accusations against Senators.

The relationship between State House and State Senate members hit a new low when early in 2020, members of House Leadership including the Speaker of the House Steve Haugaard and the House Majority Leader Lee Qualm brought accusations against the Senate President Pro Tempore Brock Greenfield and Senate Majority Leader Kris Langer claiming they participated in the last day of session while inebriated.

Neither of the House Members actually witnessed the behavior giving rise to the accusations, but they were glad to make hearsay accusations that after headlines and accompanying folderol, ultimately ended with an “admonishment.” Or as the committee said, “the committee didn’t find that Langer and Greenfield violated the rules banning the storage or consumption of alcohol in the Legislature’s areas of the Capitol and disorderly conduct.” Yet even though it ended in a “meh,” the damage was done via publicity.

Langer withdrew from election, and while running unopposed, Greenfield did not win another term as President Pro Tempore among his colleagues. Yet the accusers didn’t go unscathed either.

In trying to move to the Senate, Lee Qualm, with few allies found himself historically decimated in the Senate primary by newcomer Erin Tobin. And Haugaard was utterly ousted from House leadership, with the incident being the culmination of a very rocky leadership term for both House members.

8. Dems fail to run Congressional Candidate to their own doom.

“Hey, do you remember that time when Democrats didn’t run a congressional candidate?” Well, that was 2020, and it didn’t do South Dakota Democrats any good. After having two relatively decent candidates (for Democrats) the State Democrat organization faltered so badly that they could not assist either candidate with successfully completing signatures, leaving Dusty Johnson a wide open field.

Sure, Johnson had a Libertarian on the ballot to face, but it wasn’t a challenge that required any degree of effort. So what did Dusty change with his campaign team, ready for action after being honed in a primary election. He didn’t change anything. And that meant trouble for Democrats.

Not in his race mind you, but he kept his team out campaigning and encouraged them to be a rising tide that lifted all Republican boats.

7. Liz May fizzles for Congress.

In 2020, former State Representative Liz May launched a campaign from the right against Congressman Dusty Johnson. At least.. her Texas based consultant did. Because from the time May announced most of the effort came across on facebook while May largely stayed at home claiming COVID.

Liz managed to be ensconced in her home area until Mid-may, but by that time her anonymity with the at-large electorate of South Dakota was guaranteed.

Sure, Liz had her supporters, such as State Representative Tom Pischke who claimed she was the “True Republican” in the race.

But the claim somewhat fell flat, as Liz May found herself crushed 77-23 in the primary.

 

6. SD GOP Sweeps Legislature.

There was no other way to say it on the night of the election other than “Republicans seem to be setting the stage for amazing and unprecedented wins.”

And when the dust settled a couple days later (thanks to the Minnehaha County Auditor’s inability to complete a count that night), there was no doubt. The South Dakota GOP set a new modern benchmark for the number of Republicans in the South Dakota Legislature.

What set the stage for it? For starters, Democrats conceded a great number of seats before the races even began.  Individual GOP candidates gave exceptionally strong performances in many campaigns. And there was more.

As they have done for a couple of elections under Chairman Dan Lederman, the State GOP provided support for legislative candidates in the form of slate mail and other support.  In many cases, it was like a submarine attack where they listened where things needed help, and brought in more subtle support bolstering name ID.

From the results, it certainly worked as election night came and went leaving Democrat ranks decimated even further with only 3 Senators and 8 State Representatives.

And with re-districting coming up… that’s kind of a bad time for Democrat’s election efforts to have collapsed on them.

 

Stay tuned for part 2..