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From facebook, the District 4 House race is heating up as former State Representative Fred Deutsch called out several legislators, including his upcoming opponent Rep. Dylan Jordan, for voting to put women in jail – possibly for life – if they have an abortion:

“HB 1212: applied South Dakota’s homicide laws to unborn children, repealed existing law that explicitly protects women from criminal prosecution for abortion, and removed the current fetal homicide statute and replaced it with a system that would allow prosecutors to treat abortion as murder under general homicide law. Under this bill, women could have been charged with murder — potentially facing life in prison — for abortion.

and..

The four legislators who voted YES voted to criminalize women for abortion.  The nine legislators who voted NO voted not to criminalize women.  That’s it. That’s the vote.

How the votes break down:

VOTED YES — to criminalize women

Rep. Dylan Jordan
Rep. Brandei Schaefbauer
Rep. Josephine Garcia
Rep. Heather Baxter

VOTED NO — rejecting criminalization of women

Rep. Bobbi Andera
Rep. Brian Mulder
Rep. Logan Manhart
Rep. Taylor Rehfeldt
Rep. Nick Fosness
Rep. Leslie Heinemann
Rep. Jim Halverson
Rep. Tony Kayser
Rep. Eric Emery

Claiming this bill was about “abolishing abortion” is simply false.

You can follow that discussion here.

The bill was viewed as too extreme for nearly every single pro-life organization in South Dakota, as well as several right and hard-right conservative groups, and the Governor. Yet there were 4 legislators who sided with the out-of-state group who brought the measure. Three were sponsors; Rep. Dylan Jordan, Rep. Josephine Garcia, and Rep. Schaefbauer. One, Rep. Heather Baxter, voted for the bill to put women in jail, despite hearing the opposition of nearly everyone testifying on the measure.

I’m guessing this isn’t the last Rep. Jordan is going to hear about it from Fred. And Dylan may find himself at a disadvantage in the race. Because who wants to support a candidate who pledges to shoot down planes and votes to jail women for murder?

We seem to be getting beyond the spectrum of being liberal versus moderate versus conservative, into an arena where the views represented in the Republican Party consists of conservative, hard-right, and “need to have their head examined because they’re divorced from reality.”

Because if you’re voting to put women in jail for murder in this instance, you definitely need to have your head examined.

Rounds: South Dakota Native Royce Williams Set to Receive Medal of Honor

Award follows decade-long effort by Rounds’ team after declassification of Williams’ encounter with Russian fighter planes

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today announced that President Donald Trump is awarding Wilmot, South Dakota native and retired U.S. Navy Captain E. Royce Williams with the Medal of Honor, the highest military honor in the United States. This follows a decade of research and requests from Rounds’ team following the declassification of Williams’ combat files in 2016.

“Royce Williams is a real-life Top Gun, a true American hero and will now be a recipient of our nation’s highest military award, the Medal of Honor,” said Rounds. “I was pleased that following the declassification of his dogfight with Soviet planes, Captain Williams’ Silver Star was upgraded to a Navy Cross after I met with then-Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro. These awards were hard-earned and well-deserved. A provision in this year’s National Defense Authorization Act allowed President Trump to award the Medal of Honor. I’m pleased that President Trump and his team made the determination that Captain Williams is deserving of this honor and I’m looking forward to celebrating this momentous occasion.”

The Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act included a provision that exempted Williams’ case from a requirement that the Medal of Honor be awarded within five years of the combat incident and allowed President Trump to award Williams with a Medal of Honor. This provision was sponsored by Representative Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), who represents the congressional district in California where Williams now resides. Williams will be honored at a ceremony at the White House, with the exact date to be determined.

BACKGROUND:

On November 18, 1952, then-Lieutenant Williams led three F9F Panthers against seven Soviet MiG-15s, which according to the U.S. Naval Institute, were “superior to the F9F in almost every fashion.” His mission, which was the only direct overwater combat between U.S. Navy fighters and Soviet fighters during the Cold War, led to the protection of Task Force 77 from enemy attack. Capt. Williams’ heroic actions were classified due to rising tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union at the time.

After the engagement was declassified in 2016, Rounds’ office spent years conducting research, sending formal requests for records and maintaining communication with various stakeholders on behalf of Capt. Williams. On February 19, 2021, Rounds sent a letter to then-Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Harker seeking assistance in obtaining gun camera film from Williams’ mission. Rounds also sent a letter to the Archivist of the United States David Ferriero to request an expedited search for Williams’ records on May 25, 2021. On July 12, 2021, Rounds met with then-incoming Secretary of the Navy Del Toro and asked the Navy to review Williams’ case. Rounds followed up with Secretary Del Toro asking for his personal review of the case on August 18, 2021.

In 2023, following repeated engagement with Secretary Del Toro, Williams’ Silver Star Medal was upgraded to a Navy Cross, which is the Navy’s second-highest military decoration. Rounds and his staff have remained engaged with the Navy and the National Archives and Records Administration related to Williams’ case.

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Community Support Powers City Council Candidate Bob Tryznka Past Signature Requirement Within Hours

Tryznka exceeded the required number of signatures within hours of petitions becoming available, signaling strong early support in the Central District.

Sioux Falls, SD, Feb. 5, 2026 – Nominating petitions for Sioux Falls city council candidates first came available on February 2, 2026. Bob Trzynka, a candidate for the Central District of Sioux Falls, crossed minimum signature requirement within a few hours of nominating petitions being made available to candidates and their campaigns.

District and at-large candidates have different signature requirements. District candidates must obtain no fewer than fifty (50) signatures from individuals who are registered to vote in the district where the candidate is running. At-large candidates must obtain two hundred (200) signatures, but those signatures can come from any registered voter in the larger Sioux Falls city limits.

Bob’s impressive results were buoyed by a well-attended get out the vote function at Club David in downtown Sioux Falls. Since launching, Bob’s campaign has raised more than $17,000 from Republicans, Democrats, Independents, and everyday Sioux Falls residents, putting the campaign in a strong position as it looks ahead to the 2026 city election cycle.

“Bob’s support reflects something bigger than politics,” said campaign spokesperson Ellie Highstreet. “This campaign is being fueled by everyday Sioux Falls residents, people who may vote differently but share the same desire for a city government that listens, works hard, and delivers results. Bob’s support comes from neighbors who care about safe neighborhoods, responsible growth, and a city that works for everyone, not just a few.”

Trzynka’s campaign is focused on practical solutions, transparent decision-making, and cooperation over partisanship, with an emphasis on results over rhetoric. His platform centers on fiscal responsibility, accountable leadership, and common-sense decision-making that respects taxpayers and ensures Sioux Falls continues to be a place where families, workers, and small businesses can succeed.

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Dusty Johnson for Governor Campaign to Air Television Ad During Super Bowl

Sioux Falls, S.D. – Today, gubernatorial candidate Dusty Johnson announced his campaign will air their first television advertisement of 2026 during the third quarter of Super Bowl LX on February 8. It will be seen statewide.

Following its premiere during the Super Bowl, the ad will be available on the campaign’s social media platforms and broadcast television.

Super Bowl LX airs on NBC and is also streaming on Peacock.

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This afternoon, Toby Doeden has apparently announced that he’s caving a party for his campaign in Sioux Falls, and is declaring that he is providing free food and free drink to everyone who shows up on Sunday at the District for his Superbowl Party.

I wonder a couple of things. Do they have to get a broadcast license from the NFL to display that, or does the venue provide that? But more importantly, it’s the Free Food – Free Drinks portion.

Does that come close to running afoul of SDCL 12-26-15 and 12-26-15?  In case you are wondering about the statutes:

12-26-15. Bribery of voter as misdemeanor–Acts constituting bribery.

It is a Class 2 misdemeanor for any person, directly or indirectly, by the person or through any other person:

(3) To make any gift, loan, or promise, offer, procurement, or agreement as aforesaid to, for, or with any person in order to induce the person to procure or endeavor to procure the election of any person, or the vote of any voter at any election;
(4) To procure or engage, promise, or endeavor to procure, in consequence of any gift, loan, offer, promise, procurement, or agreement, the election of any person or the vote of any voter at any election;
(5) To advance or pay, or cause to be paid, any money or other valuable thing to or for the use of any other person, with the intent that the same or any part thereof shall be used in bribery at any election, or to knowingly pay or cause to be paid any money or other valuable thing to any person in discharge or repayment of any money wholly or in part expended in bribery at any election;
(6) To pay, lend, contribute, or offer or promise to pay, lend, or contribute, any money or other valuable consideration, to or for any voter or to or for any other person, to sign any nominating, referendum, initiated measure, or initiated constitutional amendment petition;

and..

12-26-16. Acceptance of bribe by voter as misdemeanor–Acts constituting acceptance of bribe.

It is a Class 2 misdemeanor for any person, directly or indirectly, by himself or through any other person:

(1) To receive, agree, or contract for, before or during any election, any money, gift, loan, or other valuable consideration, offer, place, or employment for himself or any other person, for voting or agreeing to vote, or for going or agreeing to go to the polls, or for remaining away or agreeing to remain away from the polls at any such election;

(2) To receive any money or other valuable thing during or after an election, for himself or any other person for having voted or refrained from voting at such election, or on account of himself or any other person having voted or refrained from voting for any particular person at such election, or on account of himself or any other person having gone to the polls or remained away from the polls at such election, or on account of having induced any other person to vote or refrain from voting, for any particular person at such election.

If I show up to that event, and they feed me all the free food I can eat, and all the beer I can drink (or at least I used to when I was younger, I just want a good night’s sleep anymore), that could be a not-insignificant granting of value from the host. I mean really.

I have the feeling there will be petitions on a table to sign. And there will be people there to get others to vote for Toby in the future.

It is a Class 2 misdemeanor to offer, promise, or give any gift (including food & drink) to influence a voter to vote for a particular person, or to reward them for voting, or signing a petition.

When you’re advertising free food and free drink, intended or not, it raises some questions about what you’re encouraging.  And how you’re going to avoid – or not avoid – the prohibitions in state law.

Remember when “no new taxes” was the mantra for the Republican Party? Well no more.

Senator “California” Carley and State Rep. Heather Baxter have introduced legislation to create a new tax in South Dakota on every retail  transaction taking place in South Dakota. The same new tax that former Senator Julie Frye-Mueller has been trying to create in South Dakota since she was defeated in her last election.

Senate Bill 243 in part:

Section 6. That a NEW SECTION be added to a NEW CHAPTER in title 10:

There is imposed a tax on each retail transaction that generates gross receipts subject to the tax imposed pursuant to chapter 10-45.

For each retail transaction with a final purchase price of fifteen dollars or more, the tax imposed is one dollar and fifty cents. For each retail transaction with a final purchase price of less than fifteen dollars, the tax imposed is ten percent of the final purchase price.

Section 7. That a NEW SECTION be added to a NEW CHAPTER in title 10:

A transaction where more than one sale item is being purchased at the same time and by the same person, and where the final purchase price of the transaction includes all sale items, constitutes a single retail transaction.

Read all of Carley & Baxter’s new mega-tax bill here.

They want to impose a new transaction tax that starts at 10% of what you purchase, and from $15.00, it’s a $1.50 tax that you’re going to be hit with.  It’s literally a low-dollar mega-tax at over twice the tax rate being charged now.

How does a new tax benefit South Dakotans?  It claims that they’ll use it to reduce property taxes, but how long until they creep back up?  Except for the personal property tax, in South Dakota taxes are never eliminated. They might be pushed down, but then they creep back up as government grows.

Except we’ll now be collecting $1.50 tax or 10% every time joe six-pack goes and buys a beer. Buys a hamburger. Or anytime they swipe their debit card at walmart.

It that what they were hoping for when they elected California Carley & Baxter (tax-ter?)? I don’t think so.

The populists who snuck in the door of the Republican Party in the last couple of elections are as bad, if not worse, than some of the Democrats ever were in trying to create new and unusual ways to take more money from our wallets.

It’s a good thing that we have an election in a few months. Because South Dakota needs to offload some of the people who put on a mask and claim they will be our conservative saviors, but are actually tax and spend politicians in disguise.

Guess who’s back. Back again after what many consider to be his problematic chairmanship of the Minnehaha County Republican Party, former legislator, former attorney R. Shawn Tornow’s name is back popping up again now as a lobbyist:

Not finding much.. really, anything on Protect SESD Property Rights whom R. Shawn is attached to as performing a lobbying function for.

He apparently testified against SB 105 the other day, and I probably shouldn’t be surprised, because he did make an appearance last year too. I don’t know that anyone noticed that one enough to flag it for me.

But, as noted, he’s back haunting the halls of the Capitol.

 

Just caught this post on facebook that popped up in my feed:

And yes, the post is coming from the other side of the aisle. But they make a really valid point, and raise a good question about who exactly Brandei Schaefbauer is representing in Pierre?  Because none of her legislation seems to be coming from the people she represents in District 3.  And yes, it seems that she serves as a mouthpiece for ex-newscaster Shad Olson.

Why are people making this claim?  Well look at the list of Schaefbauer’s legislation that she’s turned in and is serving as the prime sponsor of. It’s a short list, so it’s pretty easy to review.

House Bill 1124, the crime of trespass upon a place of worship, which deservedly was defeated yesterday. I had brought this up on the 22nd, and as the writer of East River Blue pointed out in their example..

Does that mean Shaefbauer’s legislation copying the Governor’s bill came solely at Shad’s prompting? Maybe. Maybe not.  But if you look at the other things she introduced, you begin to see a pattern.

Such as Brandei’s bill (HB 1305) to throw people in jail with a felony, as well as being civilly liable if they violate Brandei’s law and commit the crime of noting a public officer’s location. Or really saying much about them in general, despite most things being considered public information.

I was just writing about it below, and how it will protect me from having my location disclosed, by virtue of being married to a former public officer.  I know I wasn’t asking for it.  But who did?

From SDWC’s facebook page, Katie Hoffman, another occupant of the SD Blogosphere who has been the target of Shad dropped this note & attachment in a story about the legislation:

Have you heard of any unhinged leftist violence in South Dakota lately? Me neither. And as for claiming an increasingly stupid electorate, I think the electorate is far smarter than Shad gives it credit for.   This and other related ShadGPT rantings all pre-date this legislation. Yet there’s no one else saying anything about this being an issue in this state.

So, again, who in District 3 is telling Brandei that her Brandei’s law legislation represents a pressing interest for Aberdonians? It appears to be one person.

Observing Schaefbauer’s only other legislative measure she’s acting as the author & the prime sponsor in the house of origin for, Schaefbauer’s 2026 legislative package is rounded out by House Concurrent Resolution 6008, which is simply re-introducing and re-running last years’ HCR 6009 which failed in the Senate.

Where did this legislation come from in the first place? In case you need a reminder from last year:

Again.. we have yet another Brandei bill with another Shad coincidence.  Exactly how many instances of Shad and Brandei teaming up on legislation do we need to question exactly who Brandei Schaefbauer is representing in Pierre and who is directing her legislative agenda?

Because at this point, it does not seem that Brandei Schaefbauer is representing District 3. It seems she’s representing the legislative branch of Shad Olson’s whims, as opposed to the people who live in her District.

If that’s the case, should we just get it over with, and declare that District 3 is now represented by “Shandei” as their legislator?

Which does not sound like good thing.

Oooo.. The Republican legislative press conference this AM got a bit spicy as State Senator Jim Mehlhaff called out Gubernatorial wannabe Jon Hansen for his actions in continually putting up artificial barriers to development, and his constant fear mongering on any large scale project to bring jobs and economic development to South Dakota:

Jim Mehlhaff: and I would just, uh, comment on that.  I think you also, uh. You don’t wanna fear monger on stuff. And I think we’ve seen a, an awful lot of that about just about every, uh, economic development idea that’s come along in the last few years. And I think that is creating a very chilling atmosphere in South Dakota, uh, for developers and people who wanna make investments and improve the economic situation in South Dakota. Are probably, um, maybe looking elsewhere as a result of that. And with respect to a moratorium, I would not, uh, I, I would not support that. I think we can do our work without, uh, putting up another artificial barrier to development.

Jon Hansen: Well, you know, I would say in response to that, you know, characterizing the citizens’ concerns is

Jim Mehlhaff: you, [00:26:00] Mr. Speaker, I hope we don’t have to have a debate on every issue. I’ve kind You’ve had your say on a lot of stuff now. I’ve made one. So,

Jon Hansen: yeah,

Jim Mehlhaff: just I guess if these press conferences are gonna be debates between us and the Senate and that’s what they’ll be, but I don’t think that’s necessary.

Jon Hansen: I I, I’m simply stating that, you know, we’ve seen how these things have played out over the years. You know, you go back, the question was asked about the pipeline. And on the pipeline we just talked about Jared Bosley, and, you know, his house being, you know, entered into by these surveyors, hundreds,

Jim Mehlhaff: Mr. Speaker, was there ever a, an arrest for that home invasion? I’ve heard that. Over and over again. I was wondering if there was ever an arrest for a alleged home invasion.

Jon Hansen: Yeah, no, thank you for allowing me to speak. I appreciate it. So in that case, you know, these people went into [00:27:00] Jared’s house, into his shop, onto his property. In that case, you had hundreds of South Dakota landowners who were sued. And then now in this case, we’re hearing, you know, concerns about rate increases of upwards to 200 plus percent for people’s electric bills as a result of these data centers.

Watch the entire exchange at South Dakota Public Broadcasting and their youtube page.

There was more, including a shot by Senator Mehlhaff about how in the Senate bills are assigned to their proper committees to get a fair hearing… somewhat intimating that this is not a thing that happens in the House. Hansen claimed that that’s what happens in the house as well.. but we all know.

This might be one of the first leadership press conferences that’s worth watching this year!  Go check it out at Public Broadcasting.

Happy Birthday to Governor Larry Rhoden who turns 67 today!  Enjoy your day, Governor and wishes for many more to come!

(You can wish the Governor birthday greetings yourself over on his facebook page.)