In the department of the ‘important races,’ I managed to win my place in obscure political history as the victor in my precinct committeeman contest.
Will this lead to bigger and greater things? No. Absolutely not.
Post-primary, I’ve updated my 2022 Candidate list (subject to changes, and the conventions), which you can find here, running down who actually has a race this fall, as there were a lot of races decided this week in the primary.
In case you’re wondering what we have coming up this fall in the legislative arena, I’ve attached it, including the independents and libertarians on my list. District 1 may be subject to a replacement candidate for Logan Manhart who has withdrawn, so I’m leaving that race as a contest that will be held this fall. (If I made a mistake on any of these, I’m sure you’ll be quick to point it out.)
Legislative Races: (Races Bolded)
| Race | District | Name | Party |
| State Senator | District 01 | Michael H. Rohl | REP |
| State Senator | District 01 | Susan Wismer | IND |
| State Representative | District 01 | Steven D. McCleerey | DEM |
| State Representative | District 01 | Tamara St John | REP |
| State Senator | District 02 | Steve Kolbeck | REP |
| State Representative | District 02 | Gary Leighton | DEM |
| State Representative | District 02 | John Sjaarda | REP |
| State Representative | District 02 | David Kull | REP |
| State Senator | District 03 | Al Novstrup | REP |
| State Representative | District 03 | Emily Meier | DEM |
| State Representative | District 03 | Brandei Schaefbauer | REP |
| State Representative | District 03 | Carl E. Perry | REP |
| State Senator | District 04 | John Wiik | REP |
| State Representative | District 04 | Travis D. Paulson | DEM |
| State Representative | District 04 | Fred Deutsch | REP |
| State Representative | District 04 | Stephanie Sauder | REP |
| State Senator | District 05 | Lee Schoenbeck | REP |
| State Representative | District 05 | Kahden Mooney | DEM |
| State Representative | District 05 | Byron I. Callies | REP |
| State Representative | District 05 | Hugh M. Bartels | REP |
| State Senator | District 06 | Herman Otten | REP |
| State Representative | District 06 | Aaron Aylward | REP |
| State Representative | District 06 | Ernie Otten | REP |
| State Senator | District 07 | Tim Reed | REP |
| State Representative | District 07 | Mary J. Perpich | DEM |
| State Representative | District 07 | Lisa R Johnsen | DEM |
| State Representative | District 07 | Mellissa Heermann | REP |
| State Representative | District 07 | Roger DeGroot | REP |
| State Senator | District 08 | Casey Crabtree | REP |
| State Representative | District 08 | John Mills | REP |
| State Representative | District 08 | Tim Reisch | REP |
| State Senator | District 09 | Brent Hoffman | REP |
| State Representative | District 09 | Nick Winkler | DEM |
| State Representative | District 09 | Kenneth Teunissen | REP |
| State Representative | District 09 | Bethany Soye | REP |
| State Senator | District 10 | Liz Larson | DEM |
| State Senator | District 10 | Maggie Sutton | REP |
| State Representative | District 10 | Erin Healy | DEM |
| State Representative | District 10 | Kameron Nelson | DEM |
| State Representative | District 10 | John G. Mogen | REP |
| State Representative | District 10 | Tom E Sutton | REP |
| State Senator | District 11 | Sheryl L. Johnson | DEM |
| State Senator | District 11 | Jim Stalzer | REP |
| State Representative | District 11 | Margaret Kuipers | DEM |
| State Representative | District 11 | Kim Parke | DEM |
| State Representative | District 11 | Brian K. Mulder | REP |
| State Representative | District 11 | Chris Karr | REP |
| State Senator | District 12 | Jessica Meyers | DEM |
| State Senator | District 12 | Arch Beal | REP |
| State Representative | District 12 | Erin Royer | DEM |
| State Representative | District 12 | Kristin Hayward | DEM |
| State Representative | District 12 | Greg Jamison | REP |
| State Representative | District 12 | Amber Arlint | REP |
| State Senator | District 13 | Jack Kolbeck | REP |
| State Senator | District 13 | Lora Hubbel | IND |
| State Representative | District 13 | Sue Peterson | REP |
| State Representative | District 13 | Tony Venhuizen | REP |
| State Senator | District 14 | Matthew Tysdal | DEM |
| State Senator | District 14 | Larry P. Zikmund | REP |
| State Representative | District 14 | Mike Huber | DEM |
| State Representative | District 14 | Wendy Mamer | DEM |
| State Representative | District 14 | Taylor Rae Rehfeldt | REP |
| State Representative | District 14 | Tyler Tordsen | REP |
| State Senator | District 15 | Reynold F. Nesiba | DEM |
| State Senator | District 15 | Brenda Lawrence | REP |
| State Representative | District 15 | Kadyn Wittman | DEM |
| State Representative | District 15 | Linda Duba | DEM |
| State Representative | District 15 | Joni Tschetter | REP |
| State Representative | District 15 | Matt Rosburg | REP |
| State Senator | District 16 | Donn Larson | DEM |
| State Senator | District 16 | Brian J. Burge | IND |
| State Senator | District 16 | Jim Bolin | REP |
| State Representative | District 16 | Matt Ness | DEM |
| State Representative | District 16 | Kevin D. Jensen | REP |
| State Representative | District 16 | Karla J. Lems | REP |
| State Senator | District 17 | Sydney Davis | REP |
| State Representative | District 17 | Paige Schroeder | DEM |
| State Representative | District 17 | Rebecca “Bekki” Engquist-Schroeder | DEM |
| State Representative | District 17 | Chris Kassin | REP |
| State Representative | District 17 | William “Bill” Shorma | REP |
| State Senator | District 18 | Fredrick Bender | DEM |
| State Senator | District 18 | Jean M. Hunhoff | REP |
| State Representative | District 18 | Jay Williams | DEM |
| State Representative | District 18 | Ryan D. Cwach | DEM |
| State Representative | District 18 | Julie Auch | REP |
| State Representative | District 18 | Mike Stevens | REP |
| State Senator | District 19 | Daniel F. Brandt | DEM |
| State Senator | District 19 | Kyle Schoenfish | REP |
| State Representative | District 19 | Jessica Bahmuller | REP |
| State Representative | District 19 | Drew Peterson | REP |
| State Senator | District 20 | Joshua Klumb | REP |
| State Representative | District 20 | Ben Krohmer | REP |
| State Representative | District 20 | Lance Koth | REP |
| State Senator | District 21 | Dan Andersson | DEM |
| State Senator | District 21 | Erin Tobin | REP |
| State Representative | District 21 | Marty Overweg | REP |
| State Representative | District 21 | Rocky Blare | REP |
| State Senator | District 22 | David Wheeler | REP |
| State Representative | District 22 | Shane Milne | DEM |
| State Representative | District 22 | Lynn Schneider | REP |
| State Representative | District 22 | Roger Chase | REP |
| State Senator | District 23 | Bryan J. Breitling | REP |
| State Representative | District 23 | Scott Moore | REP |
| State Representative | District 23 | James D. Wangsness | REP |
| State Senator | District 24 | Jim Mehlhaff | REP |
| State Representative | District 24 | Mike Weisgram | REP |
| State Representative | District 24 | Will D. Mortenson | REP |
| State Senator | District 25 | Tom Pischke | REP |
| State Representative | District 25 | Dan Ahlers | DEM |
| State Representative | District 25 | David Kills A Hundred | DEM |
| State Representative | District 25 | Jon Hansen | REP |
| State Representative | District 25 | Randy Gross | REP |
| State Senator | District 26 | Shawn Bordeaux | DEM |
| State Senator | District 26 | Joel Koskan | REP |
| State Representative | District 26A | Eric Emery | DEM |
| State Representative | District 26A | Joyce Glynn | REP |
| State Representative | District 26B | Rebecca Reimer | REP |
| State Senator | District 27 | Red Dawn Foster | DEM |
| State Senator | District 27 | David Jones | REP |
| State Representative | District 27 | Norma Rendon | DEM |
| State Representative | District 27 | Peri Pourier | DEM |
| State Representative | District 27 | Bud May | REP |
| State Representative | District 27 | Liz May | REP |
| State Senator | District 28 | Ryan M. Maher | REP |
| State Representative | District 28A | Oren L Lesmeister | DEM |
| State Representative | District 28A | Ralph Lyon | IND |
| State Representative | District 28B | Neal Pinnow | REP |
| State Representative | District 28B | Calvin Reilly | IND |
| State Senator | District 29 | Dean Wink | REP |
| State Representative | District 29 | Kirk Chaffee | REP |
| State Representative | District 29 | Gary L Cammack | REP |
| State Representative | District 29 | Sean Natche | LIB |
| State Senator | District 30 | Julie Frye-Mueller | REP |
| State Representative | District 30 | Bret Swanson | DEM |
| State Representative | District 30 | Dennis Krull | REP |
| State Representative | District 30 | Trish Ladner | REP |
| State Senator | District 31 | Randy Deibert | REP |
| State Representative | District 31 | Scott Odenbach | REP |
| State Representative | District 31 | Mary J. Fitzgerald | REP |
| State Senator | District 32 | Nicole A. Heenan | DEM |
| State Senator | District 32 | Helene Duhamel | REP |
| State Representative | District 32 | Jonathan M. Old Horse | DEM |
| State Representative | District 32 | Christine Stephenson | DEM |
| State Representative | District 32 | Becky J. Drury | REP |
| State Representative | District 32 | Steve Duffy | REP |
| State Senator | District 33 | David Johnson | REP |
| State Representative | District 33 | Darren Freidel | LIB |
| State Representative | District 33 | Curt Massie | REP |
| State Representative | District 33 | Phil Jensen | REP |
| State Representative | District 33 | Vince Vidal | DEM |
| State Senator | District 34 | Michael Diedrich | REP |
| State Representative | District 34 | Darla Drew | DEM |
| State Representative | District 34 | Jay Shultz | DEM |
| State Representative | District 34 | Mike Derby | REP |
| State Representative | District 34 | Jess Olson | REP |
| State Senator | District 35 | Jessica Castleberry | REP |
| State Representative | District 35 | David A. Hubbard | DEM |
| State Representative | District 35 | Pat Cromwell | DEM |
| State Representative | District 35 | Tony Randolph | REP |
| State Representative | District 35 | Tina L Mulally | REP |
Thune: Radical Student Loan Forgiveness Plan Wouldn’t Lower Tuition Costs
“With inflation near a 40-year high and the president’s approval rating hitting a new low – and with Democrat prospects for November looking less than rosy – it’s not exactly surprising that the president would look toward student loan forgiveness as a way of distracting voters.”
Click here or on the picture above to watch the video.
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed President Biden’s proposal to forgive student loans and how it would be unfair to Americans who have already paid off their student loans or never incurred student loan debt. He also noted that it would do absolutely nothing to address the underlying problem: the rising cost of higher education.
Here’s a few thoughts as the election ends from those who may not have found the favor of voters..
“I congratulate Governor Noem on her win in the election. We are all called to ‘pray for those in authority’ and we will continue to do that on behalf of the Governor and all of our elected leaders.”
– Steve Haugaard, Candidate for Governor, Facebook.
“I entered this race because I believe we are losing our country and we need to send people to DC who will stand up and fight for our citizens, our Constitution, and the principles that made this nation the greatest nation on earth. I still believe that, but I respect the will of the people of this great state.”
– Taffy Howard, Candidate for Congress, Facebook.
“The primary over, I offer my congratulations to the candidates more for my own good than for any others’. In the midst of disappointment, time to lay aside talk and gestures that cause hurt.”
– Mark Mowry, Candidate for US Senate, Facebook.
“The Whalen candidacy was ultimately a referendum on South Dakota. The state chose Thune and other status quo candidates to continue the march toward ratifying itself as a Giant Indian Reservation. The Stockholm Syndrome is strong with this state. The rescue continues.”
– Bruce Whalen, Candidate for US Senate, Public Statement
Wow. That is a tremendous turnout.
Republican voters in South Dakota are breaking more records. Thanks to over 43% turnout of Republicans, this Primary Election had the biggest turnout in over a decade. With only 2.8% of Democrats voting it was still a record of 32% turnout. Thank you South Dakota Republicans!
— South Dakota GOP (@sdgop) June 9, 2022
As I was driving home last night after the election event at the Hilton Garden Inn, going up Minnesota Avenue in Sioux Falls, I noticed this big “Cole Heisey for House” billboard that was nowhere near his District.
And seeing the results today, where Amber Arlint and Terry Loudenslager are 13 votes apart waiting for the canvas and likely recount, I can’t help but wonder…
If Cole had spent more time running his race against his opponents, instead of a semi-obnoxious political blog, I wonder how many of the 220 votes he needed to move from fourth place to second could he have made up?
If we can sense last night was about anything’s races, it was that voters were not in the mood to upset the applecart.
John Thune, Dusty Johnson, and Kristi Noem.. all re-elected with authority.
If you look at those who were already in their position, the losses were Kaleb Weis, Richard Thomason, Richard Vasgaard, and Caleb Finck in the House, with Mary Duvall in the Senate. Turning away challenges were Mike Rohl, Al Novstrup, Carl Perry, Fred Deutsch, Lee Schoenbeck, Casey Crabtree, John Mills, Bethany Soye, Chris Karr, Greg Jamison, Sue Peterson, Taylor Rehfeldt, Jim Bolin, Kevin Jensen, Lance Koth, Bryan Breitling, Mike Weisgram, Will Mortenson, Kirk Chaffee, (ugh) Julie Frye Mueller, Trish Ladner, Scott Odenbach, Mary Fitzgerald, Becky Drury, David Johnson, Phil Jensen, Mike Derby, Jess Olson, Tony Randolph, and Tina Mulally.
Literally in 30 of 35 races – 85% of those legislative contests, no one was looking for anything resembling change. When they were there, incumbents largely pulled through.
That’s a pretty strong trend.
Announcement
June 8th 2022
Recent speculation has circulated in the news regarding my past residency as well as residency requirements for the Legislature specifically. While I have remained publicly silent during this time as I explore every possible option and outcome, I have come to the decision that the people of District 1 and the residents of South Dakota are what truly matter in this election. I have realized that If I were to proceed with the race, it may put the voters of District 1 in a compromising position come November when they have an important choice to make. After consulting with my legal counsel as well as friends and family, I have made the decision that it’s in the best interest for all for me to withdraw from the race. During the past two weeks I have explored every legal and political option at my disposal and at the end of the day I must abide by all rules and laws that have been set forth for this position.
Recent allegations were made that I had not met the full two-year requirement of being a South Dakota resident, and despite being approved to run initially, I cannot proceed. While I take full responsibility for the ramifications of this decision, I believe that each voter should be able to compare the candidates on their merit, free of the negativity and misinformation spread by others regarding my candidacy. Make no mistake, I plan to remain here in my home in South Dakota and help elect the candidates who stand with the conservative values we believe in.
Moving forward, I will be paying close attention to how things shake out both in the 2022 midterms and 2024 Presidential election. Thank you for the overwhelming support during these last 6 months. The race may be over for me, but the fight for the cause has just begun!
-Logan Manhart
Despite earlier notes that he might still be in, the Argus Leader is reporting this morning that former State Senator Jordan Youngberg is out of the race for the office of School & Public Lands, and the path is clear for Senator Brock Greenfield to take it all:
But there will likely be one fewer race for the GOP nomination of a statewide office after former lawmaker Jordan Youngberg has bowed out of the contest for the open South Dakota Schools and Public Lands seat this week.
“I just want to concentrate on hanging out with my kids now,” said the 31-year-old Madison man who in February 2021 became the first to enter the race for the seat. “It’s more fun than any committee meeting I’ve ever been at.”
Convention races might start to be more dynamic & fluid now, but this definitely clears the deck for Brock to move forward to November and the win!
— Kristi Noem (@KristiNoem) June 8, 2022