Author: @SoDakCampaigns

If you’re following the story of idiot legislator State Rep. Travis Ismay who decided to do some self-help on the condition of a local road, damaging it, you’d know that the State Representative is facing a felony charge for his actions:

No comment is the response from a South Dakota legislator who has been indicted and arrested on a felony charge of intentional damage to a public road. Released on $500 bail, Travis Ismay, Newell, S.D. is facing a two-year prison term and a $4,000 fine.

Ismay’s indictment doesn’t offer details on the incident, aside from saying that the crime allegedly occurred three days after he won the Republican nomination to seek reelection to his District 28B state House seat.

A Butte County grand jury took testimony from a sheriff’s deputy, a highway department employee and a Butte County resident before issuing the indictment.

Read the story here.

You might have expected the buffoon Ismay to defend himself in the matter, since he graded (or tried to grade) the road himself. But after initially not having an attorney, he went out and hired a fairly notable one, at least according to UJS records:

It appears that Rep. Ismay has quickly gone out and hired Tim Rensch out of Rapid City to defend him in this case.

Why should you recognize Rensch’s name? He’s who Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg hired to defend against criminal charges after the traffic/pedestrian accident that lead to his eventual impeachment and removal from office.

Overkill for a case like this? Maybe. You’d think that the legal bill will exceed the road repair bill. But.. there’s also that other thing. A felony conviction might cause the House of Representatives to refuse to seat him for office in 2027. That might be more worth the price tag for Ismay.

Did Ismay actually do something smart for once in hiring a good attorney?  That just seems out of character.

From my mailbox, there is a $1000 a head Pierre fundraiser for Governor Rhoden on Wednesday night. Check it out here:

We must be approaching the State Republican Convention, because the South Dakota Republican Party reported raising $20.

No, not $20,000.  According to the FEC Report they filed today, detailing activity in their Federal account, they reportedly raised $20, and transferred $1150.17 over from the State Account.

Well, you can read it for yourself:

SDGOP June 2026 FEC Report by Pat Powers

I believe they are reporting $29,038.84 left in the federal kitty.  Add that to the $$124,164.83 they claim in their state account, and maybe they can put on a convention.

We’ll see how this all goes.

Governor Rhoden Endorses Erickson

SIOUX FALLS–South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden announced his support of Christine Erickson for Mayor of Sioux Falls.

“I’ve worked with Christine to deliver results for years. She’s tough, she’s smart, and she’s a great friend,” said Gov. Larry Rhoden. “My Administration worked with Mayor TenHaken to make Sioux Falls safer, and I can’t wait to do the same with Christine when she’s elected mayor.”

“Thank you to Gov. Rhoden for his endorsement and support,” said Christine Erickson. “On day one as Mayor, I’ll work hard to make Sioux Falls safer. That takes a strong relationship with the Governor and his administration to be successful–especially to address recidivism.”

Gov. Rhoden took office in January 2025 after serving as lieutenant governor since 2019. He served as a legislator from 2001 to 2014 and 2017 to 2018. Erickson and Gov. Rhoden served in the Legislature together in 2013 and 2014.

Erickson has made public safety a top priority for her administration. As South Dakota’s largest city and multiple state and county agencies involved, making Sioux Falls safer requires proven leadership and collaboration. Erickson has earned the endorsements of Gov. Rhoden, Attorney General Marty Jackley, Lincoln County Sheriff Steven Swenson, Minnehaha County State’s Attorney Daniel Haggar, Lincoln County State’s Attorney Thomas Wollman, and the Sioux Falls Police Labor Council.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Toby Doeden has also endorsed Erickson. Doeden previously stated: “The future of Sioux Falls is at stake. Christine is a proven leader with a bold vision for the future of Sioux Falls. She will protect Sioux Falls’ greatness for generations to come.”

The runoff election for Sioux Falls Mayor is Tuesday, June 23, 2026. Early voting is open at the Minnehaha County and Lincoln County Auditors’ offices. Sioux Falls voters can vote early at either location during regular business hours. Learn more at christineforsiouxfalls.com.

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The Minnesota political website “Unicorn Riot” has done an expose’ on self-declared “election expert” Rick Weible who isn’t just backing Secretary of State Challenger Heather Baxter against incumbent Secretary of State Monae Johnson as per SD Searchlight…

Weible and his wife, Gretchen, worked on Johnson’s campaign. Gretchen served as her campaign manager. They now work for Baxter’s campaign, they told South Dakota Searchlight during a November 2025 event in Sioux Falls, where they were training people on how to hand-count. 

(Read that here).

… He also has a role in the campaign of the pillow guy – Mike Lindell – Trying to run for Minnesota Governor.  But there’s a lot to unpack that’s useful in either contests

Weible, the former mayor of St. Bonifacius – coincidentally also where Lindell’s campaign is based – and state GOP operative, has been paid $32,000 in the past six months for his role on the campaign, and his company R & G Visions has been paid more than $200,000 for services foreign to computer consultation businesses, like legal services and security.

While Lindell runs a campaign focused heavily on election security – an obvious focus for one of the leading figures of Trump’s 2020 election denial – the campaign committee has doled out hundreds of thousands of dollars that have gone directly into the pockets of the two people running it. 

and..

The business is not findable in aggregated corporate records or even the Minnesota Secretary of State’s business filings, but it is easily found through the South Dakota Secretary of State’s office. Determined customers who have thus far refused to take the previous dead ends for an answer will be led to the current Weible residence in a small community outside of Brookings, a single-level country home with a Trump flag flying high in the front lawn on Google Maps.

Could this be the very location Weible broadcasts from while filling in for Lindell on his broadcasts, a cluttered room with piles of this and that behind him accentuated by the odd piece of Trump merchandise, including a poster that directly references the 2020 election fraud claims?

What could a business such as this possibly be providing the Lindell campaign?

Read the entire story here.

Current Secretary of State Monae Johnson became Weible’s enemy #1, when he figured out there was no way she was going to hand him the keys to the kingdom. Now he’s actively pushing an opponent who is fully on board with his agenda.

Not sure I want to see someone who makes claims of election fraud on a “for-profit” basis having anything to do with selecting who the next Secretary of State is.

 

Security and Stewardship
By Rep. Dusty Johnson
June 12, 2026

BIG Update

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced a comprehensive plan to support small meat and poultry plants — mirroring the goals of my Butcher Block Act, which was included in the House‑passed Farm Bill. This initiative provides $60 million in new investments and reduces regulatory burdens for small processors. These grants will help local facilities expand their operations and better meet market demand.

USDA’s decision to prioritize small processors is a win for both producers and consumers. America needs more domestically processed beef and poultry, and I’m glad to see the USDA implementing my plan to strengthen and grow American processing capacity.

Click here or the image above for more details

BIG Idea

Fraud drains federal programs meant for families, seniors, children, small businesses, and people who actually need help. We’ve seen the consequences firsthand in Minnesota, where funds intended for children and education programs were stolen from those who relied on them. This kind of theft of taxpayer dollars is unacceptable.

This week, I voted for two bills to better safeguard public funds from abuse. The Fraud Prevention and Accountability Act establishes a government‑wide watchdog to identify suspicious payments before any money goes out the door. Additionally, the Stopping Fraudulent Payments Act requires federal agencies to assess fraud risks and gives the Department of the Treasury the authority to return questionable payments for further review.

Click here or the image above to watch Johnson discuss the legislation on Newsmax

BIG News

A secure southern border is essential to America’s safety. Congress and President Trump have taken significant steps to strengthen border security, and this week Congress approved funding, with my support, for the law enforcement agencies responsible for maintaining that security through 2029. This investment also targets fentanyl smuggling, combats child exploitation, and empowers local law enforcement to help locate and arrest criminal illegal aliens.

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Salute to Sound Structure
By: Gov. Larry Rhoden
June 12, 2026

A few times a year, folks in Pierre wake up for morning walks through Hilger’s Gulch to a sea of Old Glory that seems to have magically appeared. Each time, we are reminded to be grateful for our freedom, the Founders who had the foresight to enshrine it in our Constitution, and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to protect it. This weekend for Flag Day, we celebrate the symbol of the Stars and Stripes that unite our country as one.

Although our colonists were united against the British, at the very beginning of the American Revolution in 1775, they were not fighting under one flag. It wasn’t until two years later, on June 14, that Congress affirmed the 13 stripes and 13 stars “representing a new constellation.” It is said that the Founders carefully chose this term “constellation” to send a message of political unity. Just like each individual star in a constellation works to form a unified and recognizable structure, so did the 13 stars on the sea of blue in the original flag. Today of course there are 50 stars, but the structure remains.

Our Founders also designed our tax structure. They envisioned limited, localized, and uniform revenue collection that restricted our federal government’s power to tax citizens directly. Government works best when it is closest to the people, and in South Dakota, our tax structure still reflects that.

Working South Dakotans keep more of their money than almost any other state because we do not have a state income tax. Any suggestion to completely turn our tax system on its head should be met with skepticism that it could result in a state income tax. And state government does not keep a dime of property taxes – all money paid by the property taxpayer goes to the local governments – closest to the people – to support their safety, infrastructure, and schools. We have done good work in the last two years to cut property taxes, and we did it in way that doesn’t hurt the ability of local governments to fund essential services.

Our citizen-legislature of 105 people come to Pierre each year with varying priorities, representing their own communities and voters. But each leave for home at the end of session with a balanced state budget. In fact, our state government spends $1,000 less per capita than any other state in our region. We have the second lowest total tax burden per-capita in the nation. We don’t overtax. We don’t overspend. And we’ve set an example for the nation of preventing waste, fraud, and abuse.

In South Dakota, we don’t spend money we don’t have or allocate one-time dollars for ongoing expenses. Every previous Governor and all those who served in our state House and Senate are unified by the 137 years of balanced budgets. Every former legislator that has voted to pass a budget is bonded together by their determination to solve problems and their focus on keeping our great state moving forward.

I am grateful for the Founders who went before us – the ones who created our stars and stripes and defended the freedom it stands for. As long as I am Governor, I will continue to do everything I can to keep our state strong, safe, and free under those same freedoms and principles so many have fought to defend.

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Working Families Get a Tax Cut
By Sen. John Thune

It’s been almost one year since Republicans passed the Working Families Tax Cuts and secured permanent tax relief for hardworking South Dakotans and families across the country. And after one year, it’s clear that Republicans’ landmark tax relief bill is delivering on its promise to put more money in Americans’ pockets.

At the start of this year, Americans saw their take-home pay increase as the new tax law took effect. When they filed their taxes in April, many Americans saw a significantly larger tax refund. And we recently got data showing that 97 percent of Americans saw a tax cut this year, collectively saving $82 billion on their tax bills.

In many cases, the tax savings from the Working Families Tax Cuts is significant, and as this recent data shows, the overwhelming majority of people seeing tax relief earned less than $200,000 last year, and many earned less than $100,000. As its name indicates, the Working Families Tax Cuts is cutting taxes for Americans who get up every day and go to work to provide for their family and create a better life for their children. This bill lets these hardworking Americans keep more of their hard-earned money – money that they would otherwise be sending to the IRS without Republicans’ bill.

Millions of Americans were eligible for additional tax relief this year thanks to the Working Families Tax Cuts. Middle-income Americans saw tax relief in the hundreds of dollars, and many saw a tax cut greater than $1,000 this year. The new senior deduction helped 35 million older Americans reduce their tax bill. No tax on tips provided relief to 7.5 million workers, and 29 million workers took the new overtime deduction too.

This bill was designed to help make life easier for everyday Americans, and beyond lower tax bills, one of the ways it does that is through new investment accounts for American kids. The tax-advantaged Trump Accounts created in this bill allow parents to save for their children’s future beyond their education: to give them a nest egg to help them buy their first home, start a business, and help them pursue their American Dream. For kids born between 2025 and 2028, parents can opt in for an initial investment of $1,000 from the federal government to get their savings started.

Republicans had working families in mind when we wrote this bill. We recognized that families’ budgets have been stretched in recent years, and we were determined to let them keep more of their hard-earned money to make it easier to make ends meet and save for the future. There’s a number of ways this bill does that, and the American people are seeing it with their own eyes.

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What’s all this complaining from Sioux Falls Democrats about a few endorsements making the Sioux Falls Mayoral contest partisan?  Because I think they should remove the log in their own eye, before complaining about the mote in the other person’s.

Because on 6/10, South Dakota Democrats dumped a massive amount of cash into the Sioux Falls mayoral contest, giving Jamie Smith’s campaign a HUGE $10,000 check.

When was the last time they made a 10k donation to one of their own candidates, much less in a “non-partisan” race?

From my mailbox, the South Dakota Federation of Republican Women have endorsed the next mayor of Sioux Falls, Christine Erickson for the Office:

And you can read the letter they sent out today for yourself.