Category: Uncategorized

I wonder if the election conspiracists are sorry they asked that question?

@SoDakCampaigns

Yesterday, one of South Dakota’s attorneys were noting the situation they observed over at the Minnehaha County Auditor’s office, regarding Leah Anderson’s mess and offered some gentle comments about it.

Of course, the election wackos challenged it, because Leah Anderson is their girl, and they made the mistake of asking South Dakota lobbyist Drew Duncan what he knows about elections?

As anyone who has been in politics more than 45 minutes is aware, this former member of the South Dakota State Board of Elections actually knows quite a bit:

I’m guessing it didn’t go for SD Canvassing the way they thought it would..

Johnson Congratulates President Trump

@SoDakCampaigns

Johnson Congratulates President Trump

 Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) released the following statement:

“Congratulations to President Donald Trump on his return to the White House. I’m excited for an opportunity to secure the border, grow our economy, and improve the lives of South Dakotans. It’s time to leave behind the burdensome policies of the Biden Administration. I look forward to partnering with Trump and Congress to get America back on track. Let’s get to work.”

If Governor Noem goes to Washington… who will be the new Lt.?

@SoDakCampaigns

There’s massive speculation this morning what Governor Kristi Noem is going to do with President Trump once again becoming President-elect Trump, since she has been a close associate of his.

Will Kristi go to Washington with the new administration?  And if so, with the likable Lt Governor Larry Rhoden slated to move into that position if she departs, it brings up a question of “who would he pick to serve in his position as his own Lt. Governor and preside over the State Senate?”

Anyone care to offer a suggestion?

*Update* 

Here’s the provision that would be used – and that new Lt. Gov would be voted on by BOTH houses of the Legislature.

 § 6.   Succession of executive power. When the office of Governor shall become vacant through death, resignation, failure to qualify, conviction after impeachment or permanent disability of the Governor, the lieutenant governor shall succeed to the office and powers of the Governor. When the Governor is unable to serve by reason of continuous absence from the state, or other temporary disability, the executive power shall devolve upon the lieutenant governor for the residue of the term or until the disability is removed.

     Whenever there is a permanent vacancy in the office of the lieutenant governor, the Governor shall nominate a lieutenant governor who shall take office upon confirmation by a majority vote of all the members of each house of the Legislature. Whenever there is a concurrent vacancy in the office of Governor and lieutenant governor, the order of succession for the office of Governor shall be as provided by law.
     The Supreme Court shall have original and exclusive jurisdiction to determine when a continuous absence from the state or disability has occurred in the office of the Governor or a permanent vacancy exists in the office of lieutenant governor.
A little more interesting, don’t you think?

Dusty Johnson Secures Landslide Victory!

@SoDakCampaigns

Dusty Johnson Secures Landslide Victory!

Sioux Falls, S.D. – Tonight, U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) secured a fourth term for South Dakota’s lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“South Dakotans recognize I work hard and get things done,” said Johnson. “I’m proud of the accomplishments we’ve had the past six years, but we can’t take our foot off the gas. We must continue to work on strengthening our border, getting our nation’s fiscal house in order, and standing up to China. I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and take this workhorse mentality back to Washington.”

During his time in Congress, Johnson has:

  • Voted 90 times for strong border security policies.

  • Received an A+ rating from the NRA and has a 100% score from the National Right to Life.

  • Championed 19 bills that have been signed into law.

  • Voted against more than $13 trillion in wasteful spending since 2021.

  • Been named the most effective House Republican on agriculture issues and was named the 14th most effective lawmaker overall out of 222 House Republicans.

  • Received the Congressional Management Foundation’s Democracy Award for Transparency and Accountability (2021) and Outstanding Constituent Service (2023).

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A partial review – takeaways from last night’s races as we wait for more results

@SoDakCampaigns

In looking at last night’s elections, we can only make it a partial review, because Minnehaha County Leah Anderson is still fumbling around, and we don’t know finals in that county yet.  But looking at what we do know, we can draw some conclusions.

  •  A Red Wave swept across South Dakota, only tempered by purple urban firewalls. 

    The Good News? There was a red wave that swept across the state that was not going to be stopped, even by Republican Party disunity. In District 1, Republicans took both House seats in a tough race. Deep in Native American Country, Republican Tamara Grove knocked out Shawn Bordeaux in a race that has traditionally been impossible for many Republicans, In D27, Anthony Kathol with his awful campaign came within a stone’s throw of taking out incumbent Red Dawn Foster (w/in 300 votes), and Hillary Clinton Donor Liz May also squeaked out a win in the House. The GOP swept several seats that many saw as challenging or might have viewed as impossible. And in a move that would have been unthinkable a decade ago, the Democrat Party Machine seems to have retreated from the reservation making those seats now achievable by Republicans.

    The Bad News? While the State Democrat Party seems to have retreated, urban Democrats seem to be consolidating their grip. In Sioux Falls, Democrats completely swept Districts 10 (* this is fluid at moment, as results come in) and 15 – with 15 having stronger numbers than last election as those results are coming in. And we’re still holding our breath that Republicans can keep our numbers as we watch the Minnehaha numbers still come in for D14 Senate.  And for the first time in nearly 20 years a Democrat has captured a Rapid City Legislative seat in District 32, as Nicole Uhre-Balk, niece to former Republican Lt. Governor Carole Hillard, picked up a seat in the House.  This should not be lost on the Republican hierarchy. There’s trouble brewing in our cities, and it starts with “D.” Leaving cities to foppish Republican organizations who care for little else but their own fiefdom, and not candidates is going to cost you dearly at some point. Because those cities are purpling up.

 

  • Republicans should quit flirting with independent candidates. It never works out, and just tarnishes reputations.

    For some reason, certain members of  the hard-core right floated indy candidates against Republican nominees  because they didn’t believe someone to be of sufficiently pure ideology.  They did it in 2020 with weird Brian Gentry running in D35. And they tried it again times two with Shana McVickers in D31 and Karen McNeal in D32 this year.  Guess what?  They both got completely smashed.  McVickers was curb-stomped by more than 2-1, despite local maladjusted Republicans promoting her against GOP Vice Chair Mary Fitzgerald.  The one that might sting harder was Karen McNeal showing that no one likes a Karen, as Helene Duhamel took her to school and crushed her on a 60-40 basis, defeating her by more than 1700 votes, despite certain Republicans propping up her effort.  With Scott Odenbach’s Liberty Tree PAC tying for being McNeal’s single largest donor, it may end up being more of a dent in his effort to become the next House Majority Leader.

 

  • Who took the biggest hit this election? Rick Weiland.

    Are Rick Weiland’s ballot measure days drawing to a close? Because he took a beating last night.   His poorly written Amendment G to put abortion in the constitution is sitting down 40% to the 60% against it, after he was unable to get NARAL or Planned Parenthood to support it.   His poorly written measure against the food tax that would have bankrupted cities was defeated by an even bigger margin. 70%-30%.  Not sure who is going to hire Rick to run their ballot measures in the coming few years, but they should check out his track record before they start writing checks.

 

We still have a number of results hanging out there and dribbling in slowly, courtesy of Minnehaha County’s auditor Leah Anderson.  I had started to pull numbers, but I saw Bobbi Andera pull ahead in D10. So, we’ll revisit them when we know more. Maybe tomorrow.

Thune Congratulates President Trump and Senator Vance

@SoDakCampaigns

Thune Congratulates President Trump and Senator Vance

“The incoming Senate Republican majority will work hand-in-hand with the Trump-Vance administration to lower costs for families, secure our southern border, and renew America’s energy dominance.”

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today released the following statement:

“Congratulations to President Trump and Senator Vance on their hard-fought victory. The American people have chosen to turn the page on the Biden-Harris administration’s failed policies of high prices and open borders and instead chart a new course for our country. The incoming Senate Republican majority will work hand-in-hand with the Trump-Vance administration to lower costs for families, secure our southern border, and renew America’s energy dominance. The work begins now.”

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Summit Carbon Solutions issues statement after Referred Law 21 loss

Pat Powers

From Summit Carbon Solutions comes a statement with regards to last night’s election:

“Summit Carbon Solutions will apply for a permit in South Dakota on November 19, 2024. Our focus continues to be on working with landowners and ensuring the long-term viability of ethanol and agriculture in the state. Projects like ours have successfully navigated South Dakota’s existing regulatory landscape in the past. We will continue to operate within the current framework, knowing that the future of ethanol and agriculture is vital to our shared success.”