It’s a new fiscal year in South Dakota, with brand new laws and brand new advertisers joining us on advertisers row!

Please help me welcome the Re-Election campaign for Monae Johnson for Secretary of State – go check out her website to find out more about her campaign. She joins  US Senator John Thune, United States Senator Mike Rounds, the Dusty Johnson campaign, and others – including our friends the South Dakota Teenage Republicans who are once again having camp later this month, and my own Dakota Campaign Store.

Are you running for office in 2026 as it seems everyone is doing this year?  I have a number of spots open, and questions on ad prices, ad positions, and ad commitments may be directed to the webmaster by clicking here. Lots of open space available at the moment, such as the #1 spot on both the left and the right are available, as well as the #2 position on the right, as well as spots lower down on both sides of the page.

Ads run in their position through the site, meaning they are not rotated.  Advertising is available on a first-come first-served basis, and discounts are provided for extended commitments. Advertising on the Dakotwarcollege.com website is based on a first come, first serve basis for available positions.

Information on ad prices, ad positions, and ad commitments may be directed to the webmaster by clicking here.

There is word this afternoon that former State Representative Steve Hickey passed away this last week on the 27th of June.

Hickey served in the House from 2011-2015, and was replaced upon his resignation by Wayne Steinhauer.

Services are pending.

Just so I’m not ignoring what’s happening on the 2% end of the gubernatorial primary, It looks like a couple of Jon Hansen’s former legal clients are hosting a fundraiser for him…

That would be the business owned by former House Majority Leader Lee Qualm and his wife Trudy.

If you recall, Hansen was the attorney hired when the Qualms were served a lawsuit from other family members for a number of things including “attempted conversion” of corporation stock for no consideration that family members inherited from parents.

You can read more than you ever cared to know about that here.

And now they are asking people to donate money at a fundraiser for Hansen.

Funny how things work out.

Interesting that now the new version of the South Dakota Republican Party has one of the big candidates running for Governor, they’re suddenly struck mute on social media.. with a day old post on the Governor visiting tornado damage and an ego post about the SDGOP chairman’s birthday…

Oh, don’t forget twitter.

Did I say “don’t forget twitter?”

With the most recent post being February 19, it looks like they forgot twitter.

PUC commissioners appoint Mohr as executive director

PIERRE, SOUTH DAKOTA – South Dakota Public Utilities Commissioners Gary Hanson, Chris Nelson and Kristie Fiegen have appointed Leah Mohr as the agency’s executive director. She has worked for the commission for the past 19 years, serving as the PUC’s deputy executive director since 2009.

She replaces Patricia Van Gerpen who recently retired, wrapping up 20 years with the PUC and a 41-year career in state government.

Mohr begins her duties as executive director with the commission on July 1, 2025. Her experience prior to working for the PUC includes 13 years in director and manager positions for the South Dakota Department of Tourism and the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, three years as an advertising manager for a national insurance company and a stint as a newspaper reporter in the Black Hills.

Mohr graduated from South Dakota State University with a degree in journalism. She is originally from Eagle Butte, South Dakota. Mohr and her family make their home in Pierre.

– 30 –

Had a photo from today’s Dusty Johnson announcement shared with me today showing how good attendance was. Kind of wish I could have been there, but I’m just getting back from my daughter’s graduation, so I’m lagging behind a bit.

No big tables taking up space, and I notice that nobody needed a teleprompter with scripted messages to offer their words.  Looks like just a good event with a good group of people excited to get behind a man they believe could be our next governor.

How early in the campaign is this? 2 weeks? And gubernatorial wannabe Toby Doeden is flip-flopping his positions already?  Seriously?

I figured we’re going to see this so often, I threw together a logo for it.

Remember June 16th:

“It’s going to become abundantly clear that there are two choices in June: light versus dark, good versus evil,” Doeden said. “I’m light; I’m good. Dusty’s dark; Dusty’s evil.”

From Keloland.com

Now we have Toby from today, June 30th:

“Now, I don’t know Congressman Johnson personally, but from what I understand, he is a good father, a loving husband, and a generally nice guy.’

From Toby Doeden for South Dakota.

Someone’s polling must have shown Toby how completely unlikeable he is to create such a bi-polar flip-flop.

But what else to you expect from such a rudderless campaign that is based on nothing resembling honor or values, and is just someone with deep pockets sticking his finger in the air doing whatever he thinks is going to get him elected.

Whatever it takes. At the moment.

With Congressman Dusty Johnson making his entrance into the race for Governor official, State Senator Casey Crabtree issued a statement today congratulating Congressman Johnson, as well as noting his own interest in running for Congress:

I’m thankful for Dusty’s work in Congress supporting South Dakota and Trump’s America First agenda. South Dakota has had giants like John Thune, Kristi Noem, and Dusty Johnson represent us in the U.S. House, and those are big shoes to fill.

My family and I have received a lot of encouragement across the state to consider a bid for this open seat. I am strongly considering this opportunity and we will look at this as a family through prayer and serious conversations. It has been an honor serving South Dakota in the State Senate, and I am thankful for the words of support and encouragement to serve our great state in Congress.

Someone should ask Drew Dennert if Toby’s hand is uncomfortable.  

Unsatisfied with referring to Dusty Johnson as “Dark and Evil” the other day, now that a real candidate has entered the race for Governor, Toby Doeden is hand-puppeting his Political Action Committee after  assigning Brown County Commissioner Drew Dennert (who appears in his many commercials) a campaign job to be his attack puppy.

Dennert/Doeden’s statement coming quickly after Dusty Johnson’s announcement, attacks Johnson on the basis that he believes that Dusty was supposed to blindly vote how Trump wanted each and every time, as opposed to doing that thing that Congresspeople are supposed to do.. reading legislation:

That’s it? It’s a rant about a single vote on border bill funding which some saw as an unconstitutional mechanism, not being a crazy person, voting for South Dakota road construction, and voting to support a congressperson in the state next door?  That was used in attacks and ignored in the last election?

You notice that we have yet to get anything concrete from Doeden other than how he intends to run South Dakota that as a CEO, I’ll tell other people to figure it out.

And now he’s using ammo that didn’t work in this last election through surrogates?

Not even a “nice try.”  Just a weak-ass one.

The Dakota News Now facebook site has Congressman Dusty Johnson’s announcement of his entrance into the race for Governor, with introductory remarks by State Rep’s Taylor Rehfeldt, State Rep. Will Mortenson, and former Governor Dennis Daugaard (Click on the link to watch).