Jim Eschenbaum’s version of the SDGOP seeking the gullible who will pay to play.

@SoDakCampaigns

I agree that people are funding candidates now instead of just throwing all the money to the state or state party. And I am perfectly OK with that. We don’t need any more money thrown to the state GOP than what we need to operate.

– SDGOP Chair Jim Eschenbaum, SD Searchlight April 13, 2025

It must be a day that ends in a “Y,” because it looks like former 32 year Democrat Jim Eschenbaum is commanding his version of the SDGOP to do something for cash that’s kind of dumb again.

Today, in their latest fundraising desperation, they’re trying to get people to vote in what they’re claiming is a straw poll for governor.. except you have to pay them a dollar for each vote, and give them your credit card information for the privilege.

Is it really ‘a straw poll’ if everyone is buying their votes? Predictably, their attempt at a cash grab off of the back of candidates is not being received well.

Well, no sh*t it’s unofficial. It’s not really a gauge of anything except whether people can be convinced to give them money.

The SDGOP has done straw polls before. Previously under Chairman Dan Lederman they did one-vote for each person who signed up to receive emails at the state fair booth. There was no charge, and it was well received.

But this group attempting it solely to line their pockets? Not so much.

Update: Looks like the paranoid goofballs on the far right hate it too! LOL.

23 thoughts on “Jim Eschenbaum’s version of the SDGOP seeking the gullible who will pay to play.”

  1. What next? Leadership felt it was in the best interest of the “Grass Roots – We The People” movement to dissolve this organization?

    You are doing a bang up job Mr. Eschenbaum & Co!

  2. These guys are complete idiots. They have no idea what they are doing. Insaner than most as Grudz would say.

    1. Sometimes you have to learn by doing. Experience is the best teacher. We can’t afford to ignore the next generation of great leaders, who need repetitions and experience. Breaks in that chain are failures of leadership. Continuity of the party is the responsibility of the losers as well as the winners.

  4. It speaks volumes to the intent and agenda of the current SDGOP leadership that they chose THAT picture of Dusty for this graphic. They could have used any of his official campaign or congressional photos…but nope. They use that weird-faced candid. Cool, Jim! There is no bias at all, right?

    Also, the fact that they addressed the hecklers in the comments from the SDGOP account and instructed them to speak with the executive team to “test their conservatism”—how small and petty can you get? Then again, it’s good that they’re getting criticism from all sides. Let’s speed up the process here; the level of embarrassment is intolerable.
    The organization has no credibility left – forget credibility, they’re obviously all out of dignity too!

    1. Republicans are the victims of their own success. Democrats have been a complete non-issue for the last five legislative sessions and have been completely dominated for almost forty years. It’s sad to see a once-solid party fractionating – calling each other corrupt and power-hungry. It’s going to be interesting to see if the Doedenites steal the soul of the SD Republican party.

      1. The Doedenites will ultimately destroy themselves and the state party will be rebuilt. It’s just a question of how long it will take.

  5. They should add for part of the fundraiser for $1.00 with the question

    “Are You Conservative enough to belong here”?

    Test questions include: 1. Are you vaccinated?
    2. Do you believe the 2020 election was stolen?
    3. Do you believe aircraft spewing chemtrails should be shot down?
    4. Do you believe we should hand count all voting ballots?
    You can add more similar questions.

    If participants get just one answer wrong they are redirected to a website with a photo of a RINO.

    If participants get two answers wrong they will be redirected to the Democratic National Party website.

    If participants get three answers wrong they will be redirected to the Communist Party USA website.

  6. Ol’ JimmE is the quintessential DEI hire. He checked all the culture war boxes and none of the job skills boxes.
    Thanks to the morons that voted for him.

    1. Problem I suspect was there were Clowns to the Left and Jokers to the Right of ol JimmE. Had he been vetted and it was known he was an open Obama supporter, I suspect either the clown or joker would have been elected.

    1. Our state systems need work and investment. Don’t want to ignore the warnings of the digital plumbers anymore. IT FOR South Dakotans BY South Dakotans.

  8. Let them bleed money. By next June they won’t have the money to hold a convention and the nominating process for constitutional offices will be reduced to chaos. They might try a virtual convention as in 2020 but given the number of offices and candidates, legal challenges will ensue. It will then become apparent the nominations for all statewide offices belong on the primary ballot.

      1. I believe you’re correct, as they were written specifically to allow a convention to be held under COVID restrictions and removed from the bylaws after that, if I recall correctly.

            1. … and the amended bylaws need to be filed with the Secretary of State to take effect. Currently, the October 2023 bylaws is the latest version on the SOS website. Still has the Covid Convention rules in place.

    2. They could always have it in the Miller, SD Park!! Actually nothing against the town of Miller. You guys have a wonderful Dairy Queen, Runnings and other buisnesses. Plus your green track is cool as well. I’m just joking about this lack of fundraising is going to cause problems.

  9. None of the current party leadership are familiar with the Iron Law of Politics: success is dependent on the ability to win and to raise money.

    1. The iron law of banking is, “value and money are not the same thing.”

      Also, the big kids play the game for net worth.

      So, what valuable non-cash assets are in play for Doeden et al?

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