A measure to ask South Dakota voters to choose for themselves whether they would like the same opportunity to choose their Attorney General and other offices in a primary election as they have to select their Governor or legislators failed in committee after sponsors could not convince the House State Affairs Committee to send the resolution on to the floor.
House Joint Resolution 5001, a measure proposing and submitting to the voters at the next general election an amendment to the Constitution of the State of South Dakota, requiring all non-judicial offices elected by a statewide vote to be nominated at a primary election failed to gather sufficient votes in committee to move the measure to the floor after testimony from several interested parties, including South Dakota Republican Chairman and Senator John Wiik.
The discussion over moving offices out of the convention process has arisen after a trend has emerged at State Republican Conventions of groups of activists registering as precinct people showing up only to vote, and not otherwise participating in any Republican Party activities. Controversy over these activists grew after the last Republican convention after many of the agitators forced a vote to make the convention free, which would have bankrupted the Republican Party. The measure narrowly lost by 5 votes.
It remains to be seen if the proposal will come back in another form during this legislative session, but this remains a problem which the Republican Party will have to face in the months to come.
“The world is run by those who show up.” George S. Mickelson
If not for a primary, Mickelson never would have been governor. Hansen or Roberts would have won that nomination had a convention decided it.
yes unfortunately democracies only last until the people realize they can vote themselves money and then they collapse.
If this isnt fixed, at the next convention the saner members of the party will stay home, and the deranged delegates will successfully vote to bankrupt the party and take all the money for themselves.
The convention vendors better demand payment in advance.
This public display of GOP infighting is embarassing.
yes it’s embarrassing, especially as it originates in ignorance. Re-read the post under Scott Odenbach’s submission by Anonymous @ 11:30 pm on January 15th, who revealed he not only did not read the job description of the precinct committee people, he doesn’t understand the job of the lieutenant governor, either. He says they voted for Steve because they wanted an LG who would “control” the governor. Larry would be the first to tell you he doesn’t preside over the governor, he presides over the senate.
SMH
Thanks for the information, Mr. H.
the precinct committee people are responsible for the political campaign in their precincts. It had always been understood that they worked to get the entire slate of party candidates elected. Perhaps that needs to be added. we thought it was obvious, apparently it wasn’t.
It’s almost like there’s a contingent in the party watching what’s happening to the Michigan GOP and thinks, “Gee that looks fun, let’s let the inmates run the asylum, alienate moderate swing voters, and run only on Kultur Kampf!”
The legislature will rue the day they welcomed in the deniers, disruptors, and others who have only the desire to “break windows and overturn tables.” Next convention will be insurrection ala January 6 but unlike January 6, it will succeed.
Good candidates will flee such a convention. The disruptors have won, and we sat by.
One wonders, where was LEADERSHIP and COURAGE when it was most needed? Answer, sitting in the bleachers. Just like our federal House of Representatives.