Author: @SoDakCampaigns

The SDGOP might have been sweating it until a couple of Trump related donations came through.  But they’re not out of the woods.. because once again, nobody from South Dakota wants to give them any coin.

April FEC SDGOP 2025 by Pat Powers on Scribd

Starting with $49,250 cash on hand, the party received a transfer of $28,084.25 in April as part of a JFC (Joint Fundraising Committee) transfer.. but we’ll see if that’s money they get to keep, or have to pass on in it’s entirety in the next reporting period.

The big number to watch is how much came from rank & file donors. None. Nada. Zip. Zilch.   They reported NO contributions.  I realize the chair doesn’t care about details like raising money, because he’s so busy slapping at the party’s elected officials.

Accordingly, that’s what they did. They raised NO money.

Otherwise, the SDGOP had $8492.97 in expenses in the federal account. And that might be a problem. When you raise no money, you still have expenses. Right now, they’re left with $68,841.29 cash on hand, depending how much has to go back to the Trump campaign.

At some point, the bill collectors are going to catch up with them and the rainy day fund is going to run dry.  The question is when?

From South Dakota News watch, Stu Whitney does a profile on the man who might be South Dakota’s least-liked political figure, Toby Doeden, as he spends as much as he can to try to be somebody:

“He checks a lot of boxes for a candidate,” said Carl Perry, a Republican state senator from Aberdeen who served as assistant majority leader in 2025 and was endorsed by Doeden.

and..

“He was looking for candidates who were committed, Christian and conservative, as well as upholding landowners’ rights,” said Perry, who defeated Katie Washnok, president of Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, in the primary after Doeden dumped more than $6,000 into the race.

The intraparty attacks, some of them mischaracterizing legislative votes or positions, rankled party traditionalists. Others noted the irony of Doeden calling people RINOs when his first vote in a Republican primary came in 2024.

“He’s a very mad and angry person,” said Lee Schoenbeck, a longtime GOP state senator who retired from office last year. “Mad and angry is not a public policy platform. It doesn’t educate our children, create jobs or make our communities safer. He will need to set forth a policy platform that is more than just being mad and angry.”

Doeden has been open about his interest in running for statewide office in 2026 as part of a “conservative revolution” in South Dakota, if past misdeeds and establishment resistance don’t impede his path.

and..

“There are two kinds of change agents,” said South Dakota Democratic Party executive director Dan Ahlers. “A disruptor who is intentional and tries to change the status quo in a positive way, and a disrupter who throws Molotov cocktails and watches things burn to the ground. Toby is the latter.”

Read the entire story here.

A person can get out their checkbook to make their fire burn brighter and hotter than anyone else’s. But in the end, a dumpster fire is still a metal container full of garbage

My text messages have been blowing up this morning, as an announcement (for an announcement) has been made on Facebook involving State Representative Jon Hansen and Representative Karla Lems.

A little late for April Fools, but here’s what it is:

Promising an “Announcement for the future of South Dakota,” as sponsored by “the People First PAC,” it certainly gives off vibes like this might be an announcement for Gov/Lt. Gov.  Which is surprising, since Hansen is not qualified to run for Attorney General, much less be in charge of the entirety of state government.  I believe Lems at least has some experience running a business, so I’m not sure what Hansen brings to the ticket…

Fundraising experience, perhaps?  (Sorry dude, I only have a $20, and I’m not giving you that.)  Hopefully he isn’t going to pull a Rick Weiland and drag that out at the campaign events.

Otherwise, the Political Action Committee underwriting this event is “The People First PAC,” a Political Action Committee that was formed less than a month ago with former Representative Randy Gross as the person behind it:

As opposed to an actual campaign committee, using a PAC is a curious move. The thing that does come to mind is that there is a loophole (the Doeden Loophole) allowing unlimited funds to be “loaned” to a PAC that does not close until the law changes July 1.  So we will see.

A number of us are also curious to see how long until this logo changes.  Why?

Sometimes you’re so far right that you’re left. And the truth bubbles up to the surface.

** Update**

Here, I have a better graphic of the announcement.

In case you needed a palate cleanser after the State SDGOP has been trashing Republicans. Senator and Senate Majority Leader John Thune had a sell-out crowd today at the Pennington County Republican Women’s luncheon in what looked to be a great event:

Good on both them and Senator Thune for a great event for doing the job they’re supposed to!

South Dakota Leaders Back Rasner Media’s TikTok Deal, Urge Trump Administration Support

Pierre, SD – Rasner Media’s bid to secure and transform TikTok has received public endorsements from the South Dakota Retailers Association, the South Dakota State Chamber of Commerce, and the South Dakota Governor’s Office.
Citing national data security, emerging quantum computing capabilities, and the opportunity to build a fourth legacy industry, South Dakota leaders are encouraging President Trump and federal decision-makers to support Rasner Media’s vision.

While no final decision has been made on operational locations, Rasner Media has committed to ensuring South Dakota remains a key partner in its mission to protect American digital platforms, create high-tech jobs, and chart a secure future for TikTok.

We believe in safeguarding digital freedom. South Dakota was a key catalyst in the movement to protect Americans from being spied on by the Chinese Communist Party, so we are a fitting landing spot for a new and improved TikTok.

We are building a strong coalition to accomplish this vision alongside Rasner Media and key stakeholders, and we encourage President Trump to support this critical step forward for the country.

– Governor Larry Rhoden, State of South Dakota

Our 4,000 member-businesses recognize that innovation, adaptation, and capitalizing on opportunity are key to any successful enterprise. We urge national leaders to give this plan the green light.

– Dr. Nathan Sanderson, South Dakota Retailers Executive Director

This deal is focused on putting American consumers and businesses first and will forge pro-America leadership in tech. South Dakota Chamber is proud to support Rasner Media and encourages the Trump Administration to do the same.

– David Owen, President of South Dakota State Chamber of Commerce

This is about protecting American data and creating American jobs. South Dakota has stepped up as a strategic partner, and the future is looking brighter than ever. This is a strong America First coalition that is eager for President Trump to greenlight us in this bold effort to protect American data, defeat Chinese Communist Party espionage attempts, and protect TikTok for Americans.

– Reid Rasner, CEO of Rasner Media

Just had a legislator send me a text message:

wtf is this? – https://www.sdgop.com/2025/04/14/a-tale-of-two-political-movements

They – and myself – were quite surprised to see the SDGOP website having directly posted an attack from Hillary Clinton donor and Republican State Representative Liz May against the Governor and Lt. Governor. In part:

The “Open For Opportunity Tour,” led by Gov. Rhoden and Lt. Gov. Venhuizen, gives us a pretty clear picture of which movement they belong to. The Governor’s Office of Economic Development has approved millions in taxpayer-funded grants to support big business.

Meanwhile, their tour includes stops at major corporations like Masaba, Inc. and Manitou in Yankton, as well as visits to schools and universities.

But not a single stop, word, or acknowledgement of the Maude fence line dispute — an issue that impacts real South Dakotans, not just balance sheets. Crickets from the Governor, Lt. Governor, and Secretary of Agriculture.

and..

Why? Is it because there’s no political capital to be gained? Or is there another reason?

Read that here.

You know, that’s kind of interesting.  I had legislators like Spencer Gosch and especially Jon Hansen going to the party to cry about what I wrote on my own website, using my own resources, trying to cancel me for having the temerity to say that we as Republicans can do better.  I always suggested that they should be instructed to come to me directly if they had an issue, which never happened.

Yet, now with a change of party leadership, along with the chairman taking shots, the SDGOP is directly posting and hosting attacks against Republican elected officials on the opposite side of things?

Somehow, I’m not holding my breath that they’re going to come back and say “all is forgiven.”

So, me poking at Republicans saying stupid things or noting when they commit outright bad acts on my own website is bad. But when Hillary Clinton Donor Liz May, or 32 year Democrat/Obama Voter Jim Eschenbaum directly use their position or SDGOP resources to attack Republican elected officials, it’s good?

Hopefully they’ll clarify, so we know the rules from here on out.

At what point is it appropriate for the chairman of the SDGOP to meddle in primary elections?

Don’t ask former 32-year Democrat Jim Eschenbaum, as once again he’s shooting off his mouth to the media about one of our elected officeholders, and inserting himself into the next Gubernatorial primary:

“I think Governor Rhoden did very well this legislative session,” Eschenbaum said. But he said there is still plenty of time between now and the primary election on June 2, 2026.

Eschenbaum told South Dakota Searchlight that many Republicans he speaks with are critical of Johnson. A name they like is state House Speaker Jon Hansen.

Hansen would sometimes be introduced as “our governor” during rallies in opposition of Summit’s pipeline.

Read that here.

Just another reminder that he comes to the job of SDGOP chair not with the greater interest of the party in mind. He arrived with his own agenda, which involves elevating his cronies into higher office.

Here’s the downside of taking one for the team, in reference to Democrat Sheryl Johnson who ran this last election for Congress against Dusty Johnson:

SherylJohnson Termination 1q 2025 FEC Report by Pat Powers on Scribd

In taking one for the team, Sheryl’s committee ends with a duplicate payment returned, which allowed her to pay off consultants, and to walk away with $1912.10 left over from her refund for a mailing not issued/duplicate payment.  And with no fanfare, it’s over.

I suppose it could be worse, and she could be sitting with $36k in debt and going to events in a green hat & matching outfit, like Justin McNeal?

Well.. At least she is walking away with her dignity.

US Senator and Senate Majority Leader John Thune continues to be THE  juggernaut of fundraising among his fellow elected South Dakota Republicans, with enough cash on hand that he’s well prepared for any contest that would arise in the future:

1q Senator Thune FEC Report by Pat Powers on Scribd

With transfers from other committees, dividends, interest, and $405,072.90 in contributions, Senator Thune raised $620,052.67 in the first quarter of the year against expenses of $202,294.59.  Looking at that, It actually puts him in the same range as Senator Rounds for what he raised, which tells you that Rounds is working it.

Senator Thune’s cross to bear as Senate Majority Leader is that he is going to have higher expenses than might be typical for someone like Senator Rounds in comparison for political expenses which are paid out of his committee. But then again, if he was in cycle for an election, by that same token he would be raising plenty.

Otherwise, with $15,802,095.35 cash on hand at the end of the quarter, having to spend a little more is not a big concern.

US Senator Mike Rounds had a good 1st quarter in 2025, raising a respectable amount of cash which will only accelerate with an opponent announcing last week:

2025 1q Mike Rounds FEC Report by Pat Powers on Scribd

A net of $337,056.87 raised against expenditures of less than $40,000, leaving Mike $2,182,079.29 cash on hand to go into the second quarter of 2025.  That’s plenty of cash to get his campaign apparatus set up up and moving for the 2026 election.