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New legislative candidates filtering in. Here who has filed to run in the last several months. **Updated**

@SoDakCampaigns

Press releases and filings for candidates are starting to filter in (as we saw yesterday with Allison Renville), so I thought I’d share as much as I can find in preparation with adding them to my newly updated candidate list:

Any candidate announcements I’m missing? Drop me a note.

**Updates and Omissions**

Add John Marquart – (D18 House R) who has announced to the list.  I knew that, His committee was pre-existing.  I think you can also add new appointee John Shubeck (D16 House R) to the list as well.

10/21 update.. Also add Brandon Wipf (D22 Senate R) who was appointed in July, and filed paperwork on 8/15 when he was sworn in.  In D16 House Jason Vandentop (R) announced at the Lincoln County LDD he’s running. In D19 House Tanner Hempto (R) announced at the Bon Homme County LDD.

Jeff Church, (D17 Senate – R) is also telling people he’s running again. But he’s not going to beat incumbent Senator Sydney Davis, who will walk all over him again.  Think I also heard anecdotally that Robin Schiro (D17 House) might give it another run.

 

There will be a number of additions coming, as I’m told a group will likely be announcing all at once in the near future.

 

Release: Roscoe’s Treichel Elected President of the South Dakota Municipal League

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Roscoe’s Treichel Elected President of the South Dakota Municipal League

FORT PIERRE, S.D. – Leland Treichel, President of the Board for the City of Roscoe, was elected president of the South Dakota Municipal League (SDML) at the association’s annual membership meeting earlier this month.

As board president, Treichel will lead 18 other municipal employees and elected officials from across South Dakota to comprise the Board of Directors for the Municipal League, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that facilitates the cooperative improvement of municipal government in the state.

Treichel’s service in Roscoe city government has spanned 40 years, serving as mayor, alderman, and in his current role as president of the board following the change of Roscoe’s form of government to a Trustee form a few years ago.

Treichel has been actively involved with the Municipal League, serving as district chair for many years and as a board trustee.

The association also elected Michelle DeNeui, Finance Officer of Spearfish, to serve as First Vice President and Dawn Murphy, Finance Officer of Tea, as Second Vice President. Treichel succeeds Carolynn Anderson, Finance Officer of Wall, who will continue to serve on the board as Past President.

Board trustees include Rick Boschee, Mayor of Bowdle, Leah Braun, Chief of Staff for Rapid City, Paullyn Carey, Finance Director of Huron, Richard Thomason, Councilmember for Sioux Falls, and Laurie Woodward, Finance Officer/City Administrator of Custer.

The board also includes representatives from the 10 SDML districts, which are elected in the spring of each year.

The SDML Board of Directors is responsible for all the affairs of the League. The board meets once each year during the annual meeting and at other times as the officers determine.

The election of the SDML Board of Directors occurred Oct. 3 during the annual membership meeting in Pierre. Duties for new positions began immediately, and individuals will serve until the next annual meeting in Oct. 2026.

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Allison Renville isn’t Democrat’s candidate for Gov, is she?

@SoDakCampaigns

I recently heard a rumor that Democrats allegedly had a mainstream candidate for Governor; someone who had won an election or two, and was somewhat known.

Yet today it was dropped that the newest candidate for Governor is community organizer Allison Renville, whose claim to fame is coming in third for a Democrat primary for State Senate in D1 (receiving 248 votes) and in the 2024 race for “At Large City Council Member Sioux Falls” again came in third with just under 15%.

I hate to bring it up, but is she running as a Democrat? Her press release doesn’t say.

Because if she is, I don’t think they’re going anywhere with a community organizer who keeps coming in third.

** Update **

I’m seeing some initial reports on-line that she may be running as an independent. If that’s the case.. we’ll see if she makes the ballot.

** More Updates **

The Argus Leader confirmed that Renville is running as an Independent in their story filed this afternoon:

April 28, 2026 is the deadline for Independent candidates to submit a nominating petition to run for South Dakota governor, according to the South Dakota Secretary of State’s website. Renville has not filed for a candidate committee with the Secretary of State’s Office as of Oct. 19.

Renville, a former Democrat, will not need to participate in a primary election and will be placed on the general election ballot should she file with the state.

And she intends to do so “soon … When we have our campaign sites and contribution links ready,” Renville told the Argus Leader on Oct. 19

Read the entire story here at the Argus Leader.

Release: Allison Renville Announces Candidacy for Governor of South Dakota.

@SoDakCampaigns

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 4, 2025

Allison Renville Announces Candidacy for Governor of South Dakota.

Native South Dakotan and Community Advocate Enters 2026 Gubernatorial Race

Sioux Falls, SD — Allison Renville, a longtime community advocate, political organizer, and outspoken voice for equity and rural revitalization, has officially announced her candidacy for Governor of South Dakota in the 2026 election.

Born and raised in Northeast South Dakota and based in Sioux Falls, Renville brings a unique blend of grassroots experience, cultural insight, and policy advocacy to the race. A citizen of the Oceti Sakowin (Great Sioux Nation) and a respected public speaker, she has been a leading voice in regional and national discussions surrounding civil rights, social justice, and sustainable economic development through political engagement.

“I’m running for Governor because South Dakota deserves leadership that listens to every voice—from our farmers and small business owners to our tribal communities and working families,” said Renville. “We need bold, inclusive leadership that focuses on real solutions, not politics as usual but with a legacy deeply embedded in South Dakota history.”
Renville’s campaign will center on key issues including:

  • Expanding access to healthcare across rural, the cities and underserved areas.
  • Investing in education to strengthen rural and urban schools while supporting teachers and students.
  • Protecting South Dakota’s natural resources while fostering renewable energy innovation including land, water and wind.
  • Championing Tribal Sovereignty and building stronger partnerships between state and Tribal governments.
  • Growing the economy through support for small businesses, agriculture, and workforce development that encourages systemic change and equity.

With a reputation for bridge-building and a deep commitment to community engagement, Renville is poised to bring a new kind of leadership to the Governor’s office—one rooted in transparency, inclusion, and a classic vision for the future of South Dakota.

More information about Allison Renville’s campaign, platform, and upcoming events will be available soon, for interviews or communications: allisonrenville@gmail.com.

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An estimated 3,500 show up for No Kings protest in Sioux Falls as counter protest manages 30.

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South Dakota Searchlight has an article on the “No Kings” rally that took place in Sioux Falls yesterday, as well as the counter protest in support of President Trump. And it seems there was a bit of a difference in the numbers of people who attended:

About 3,500 people gathered in downtown Sioux Falls on Saturday for the latest No Kings protest — making it the city’s largest protest so far this year, according to organizer crowd estimates.

The protest was the 13th in South Dakota for the day, organizer Craig Brown with Indivisible 605 said. Protesters gathered to listen to speakers, display homemade signs and chant “this is what democracy looks like” and “we love America; that’s why we’re here,” and call for President Donald Trump “to go.”

and..

A counter protest, dubbed the Real American Rally, was held during the same time a block away from the No Kings protest. It drew about 30 people.

John Small, an organizer of the counter protest, said the gathering was intended to be positive and show “love for the country we live in.”

Read the entire story here.

If this isn’t an indication that the mid-term elections are going to be tough, I don’t know what is.

And this is why I harp on the faction of populists who have driven the Republican Party into shambles and such stupidity as the 32-year Democrat who pretends to chair the party declaring he want to weed the RINO’s out.

Mid-term elections are traditionally challenging for the party in charge of the White House, and our opponents are motivated while the Republican Party struggles to raise a dime.  And with the leadership we have declaring war on the people working for the future of the state, and promoting new taxes, the handwriting is on the wall that Republican candidates are going to face rough seas in 2026.

Ian Fury asks if Jon Hansen is “uninformed” or just plain “lying?”

@SoDakCampaigns

Governor Larry Rhoden’s Director of Communications Ian Fury has some pointed words for gubernatorial wannabe Jon Hansen:

Thune Joins The Briefing with Steve Scully

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Thune Joins The Briefing with Steve Scully

 “[T]he Democrats are under an enormous amount of pressure from their hard left, and they’ve got this big rally in town this weekend, and, you know, they’re just demanding that they fight, no matter what the issue is”

Click here to listen to The Briefing with Steve Scully

 WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today joined The Briefing with Steve Scully on SiriusXM radio.

Release: Draft Explanation Released For Proposed 2026 Initiated Constitutional Amendment to Repeal Property Taxes

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Draft Explanation Released For Proposed 2026 Initiated Constitutional Amendment to Repeal Property Taxes

PIERRE, S.D. – At the request of the sponsor, an explanation for a proposed initiated Constitutional Amendment that would repeal property taxes in South Dakota and replace them with a “retail transaction” tax, which would be on the 2026 general election ballot if approved, has been submitted for public review by the South Dakota Attorney General’s Office.

Attorney General Marty Jackley takes no position on any such proposal for purposes of the ballot explanation. He has provided a fair and neutral explanation on the initiated Constitutional Amendment to help assist the voters as required by state law. The sponsor of the proposed initiated Constitutional Amendment is Abolish Property Taxes SD, a Statewide Ballot Question Committee formed by Julie Frye-Mueller, Matt Smith, and Mike Mueller.

This proposed initiated Constitutional Amendment repeals South Dakota’s property tax scheme set forth in the Constitution and replaces it with a tax “on each retail transaction.”  For each “retail transaction” of $15 or more, a flat tax of $1.50 is assessed.  For each “retail transaction” less than $15, a 10% tax is assessed.

The ballot explanation can be found here.

Octo 17 2025 Ballot Measure Retail Transaction Tax by Pat Powers

State law requires the Attorney General draft a title and explanation for each initiated measure, initiated constitutional amendment, constitutional amendment proposed by the Legislature, or referred measure that may appear on an election ballot. The Attorney General’s explanation is meant to be an “objective, clear, and simple summary” intended to “educate the voters of the purpose and effect of the proposed” measure, as well as identify the “legal consequences” of each measure.

Once the Attorney General has filed and posted the draft explanation, the public has 10 days to provide written comment. The explanation was filed October 17, 2025, and the deadline for comments on this explanation is October 27, 2025 at the close of business in Pierre, South Dakota. The final explanation is due to the Secretary of State on November 5, 2025.

The initiated Constitutional Amendment would require 35,017 valid petition signatures to qualify for the 2026 general election ballot.

To file written comments regarding the language, not the merits on the proposed draft Attorney General’s explanation, please use one of the following methods below. Copies of all received comments will be posted on this website.

Comments may be submitted via mail, or through hand delivery, to the Attorney General’s Office at:

Office of the Attorney General
Ballot Comment
1302 S.D. E. Hwy. 1889, Suite #1
Pierre, SD 57501

Comments that are hand delivered must be received by the close of business in Pierre, South Dakota, by October 27, 2025.

Comments may also be emailed to ATGballotcomments@state.sd.us by October 27, 2025. Comments should be clearly expressed in the body of the email. The Attorney General’s Office will not open attachments in an effort to prevent malware or other digital threats. Please include your name and contact information when submitting your comment. The title of the comment must be included in the subject line of the email.

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US Senator John Thune’s Weekly Column: Why Won’t Democrats Take “Yes” for an Answer?

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Why Won’t Democrats Take “Yes” for an Answer?
By Sen. John Thune

Three weeks into a government shutdown, Democrats are dug in. Their price for reopening the government is $1.5 trillion in partisan spending. It’s a list of so many far-left priorities, one of my Senate colleagues says you need a spreadsheet to keep track of it all. And despite all of the suffering their shutdown strategy has caused, Democrats continue to insist on this costly ransom.

Not even the prospect of military families going without a paycheck was enough for Democrats to relent and reopen the government. We’re reading stories about military families lining up at food banks and needy families uncertain about nutrition assistance. There are Americans who can’t close on a new home because they can’t get flood insurance, and thousands of flights have been delayed because of staffing shortages. But one Democrat senator says, “[for] Democrats, it’s so far, so good.”

Republicans have offered Democrats in the Senate numerous chances to reopen the government. We’ve called up a clean, nonpartisan funding extension day after day – legislation that could reopen the government in a matter of hours with just a handful more Democrat votes. Senate Democrats also had a chance to advance a bipartisan, full-year defense funding bill, so we can at least make some progress toward securing paychecks for our troops and supporting our national security while Democrats continue to vote against reopening the entire government. But they rejected that as well.

Democrats defend their funding blockade by complaining that Republicans won’t negotiate with them. Negotiation happens when you have two sides each with its own demands, but Republicans have no demands. We’ve offered Democrats multiple chances to fund the government, and we’ve offered to have discussions and even hold votes on the issues they have raised after the government is open again. But Democrats insist that we satisfy their $1.5 trillion in partisan demands.

While hardworking Americans have suffered through this weeks-long shutdown, Democrats seem to be basking in the praise from their far-left base. Our economy is losing billions of dollars, government programs are in jeopardy, and federal workers are working without pay, but it seems that Democrats are fine with having Americans living in uncertainty so long as Democrats’ far-left base is satisfied.

It’s hard to believe that Democrats have spent the month of October putting the demands of far-left activists ahead of the American people, ahead of American troops and military families. Enough is enough. We need five more Democrats to support the clean funding extension. Then it can go to the White House, be signed into law, and all this needless suffering can come to an end. But I guess Democrats aren’t ready for that yet.

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