Had a note this morning from a reader and good Republican.  And it was an ominous note indeed.

One that seems to indicate that there might be no escaping the Toby Doeden campaign:

Received a text from Doeden campaign. Replied stop to opt out. got a message that said it couldn’t be delivered. Right now, it appears I can’t opt out of Doeden’s campaign texts. 

and with that, they provided the evidence, where his text system would not accept the “Stop” message.

Maybe there needs to be a law…

Remember when several candidates were running to be chair of the SDGOP? And the eventual person who won, (former 32-year Democrat) Jim Eschenbaum was telling people on a zoom call that that the party should be involved in primary elections because that’s our wrestling match.

About ten minutes ago, Eschenbaum started walking that back in an e-mail to County Chairmen that Toby Doeden’s campaign is reaching out to get county parties to endorse him, and they should not do that:

In other words, the way that it has always been done ends up apparently being fine.

Now if they can only figure out that they have to raise money to keep the lights on.

This made me laugh.

Apparently Hannah Determan, the Director of the Free-dumb caucus, and the person behind the effort to shoot down planes with jet vapor trails is hosting a forum on “education reform,” featuring State Rep’s Dylan Jordan and Phil Jensen.

I would venture this is a similar effort to blow up public education in South Dakota much like she was advocating for legislation to shoot down planes, featuring two of the state’s most anti-education legislators that consume oxygen on the House legislative floor.

Yes. This is the same Phil Jensen who was stripped of being Education vice-chair during session, only because House Leadership lacked the will to remove him from the committee entirely.

When you’re tapping those guys to improve education in the state, I really doubt Hanna Determan’s definition of improvement matches the definition contained in anyone’s dictionary.

Dakota News Now is reporting that State Senator Jamie Smith is already looking for another political job as he prepares to join the race for Sioux Falls Mayor:

This is coming after serving as State Senator since January of this year, giving him a tenure of 5 months as State Senator.   Smith previously had been the Democrat candidate for Governor against Kristi Noem in the last election, receiving roughly 35% of the vote, closer to 45% in Minnehaha County.  However, Noem did out-poll Jamie Smith in both Minnehaha and Lincoln Counties, which make up the Sioux Falls Metro area.

State Rep. Greg Jamison was also expressing an interest in the article linked to the facebook post.. but that comes at at interesting moment, after Jamison has aligned himself fully with the Hansen for Governor effort, endorsing him for Governor after he was named as a House Majority Whip earlier this year. In a contest for Mayor, it might earn him some endorsements from the Hansen confederates, but not necessarily all the legislators, by far. Not to mention it does little to reach out to the City’s heavy financial hitters needed to run the mayoral contest.

The 800 lb gorilla yet to tip her hand, and not mentioned in the article is SD Trucking Association/SD Auto Dealers Association President/CEO Christine Erickson. Christine is a former member of the South Dakota House of Representatives and at-large member of the Sioux Falls City Council, and is expected by many to announce her intentions for the race soon. Having previously served as the at-large Council member, she has the advantage of having ran city-wide on a couple of occasions.  She will likely be the person to beat in the contest, having wide contacts in state politics, and significant resources to draw on.

There will be others, Joe Batcheller, the zombie guy, and another one or two rumored, but we’ll see. The field will tighten up quickly as the next big race in South Dakota politics heats up.

Stay tuned.

Toby Doeden is blasting advertising across South Dakota in the wake of his announcement yesterday, including this 2-minute video on his social media. Which leads me to the question, If he’s running to represent the people, why are there so many politicians in his ad?

I noticed right off D3 State Representative Brandei Schaefbauer appearing in his ad several times, as does D1 State Rep. Logan Manhart. A reader swears that it’s “Hot Carl” Perry between them in this photo.

You’ll also find Brown County Commissioner Drew Dennert lodged firmly between Toby’s cheeks.. er, appearing in the ad in several places.

And I’m sure people can identify more politicians if they look closely enough.

The point being, for someone who claims not to be a politician, he has certainly spent a lot of money seeking their approval, and several of those “career politicians” who are beneficiaries of his largesse are happy to flock to him for it.

Attorney General Jackley Announces DCI Leading Investigation Into Multiple Inmate Assaults at State Penitentiary

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announces that the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) is investigating reports of multiple assaults involving inmates Tuesday at the South Dakota State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls.

“The assaults occurred in different sections of the Jameson Annex at the same time,” said Attorney General Jackley. “Evidence suggests that the assaults are gang related, and they will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. There are no injuries to prison staff.”

Attorney General Jackley said the assaults were reported around 1 p.m. Tuesday.  Five inmates received stab wounds. Three were transported to Sioux Falls hospitals, and the other two were treated inside the prison. Additional inmates were injured from assaults involving homemade blunt objects, and others with fists and feet. An estimated 10 inmates were injured.

DCI is working with the South Dakota Department of Corrections Office of the Inspector General on the investigation. All reports will be reviewed by the Attorney General’s Office for potential criminal prosecution.

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The campaign for 2026 is off and running! And as things heat up, South Dakota War College has advertising opportunities open for reaching South Dakota’s opinion leaders based on a first-come, first-serve basis for available positions.

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I couldn’t listen, as I was recording Dakota Town Hall tonight, so I had the video on. And good gosh. Someone’s turkey timer was malfunctioning, and it looks like candidate Doeden got really overcooked, just in time for his announcement.

That sunburn might make for an uncomfortable night’s sleep. (If his announcement turnout doesn’t have him sleepless this evening.)

Hearing that at the campaign announcement tonight, Doeden has some politicians who are speaking at his event, led off by D29 State Senator John “California” Carley.

Also speaking are supposedly D1 State Rep, Logan Manhart, Minnehaha County Commissioner (and One-World Religion proponent) Cole Heisey, with his keynote speaker providing introductions D34 State Senator Taffy Howard.

This should be interesting.

The Doeden for Governor website is live. And before one word can come out of his mouth at his announcement, his campaign is already promoting outrageous falsehoods. Here’s the one that jumped out and grabbed me immediately.

Doeden claims to have supported conservative candidates “across the state his entire life?”

Well, that’s one liar whose pants are on fire.  Two words I would challenge him with: PROVE IT.

When his record of voting in the Republican Primary looks like this (as I’ve documented before)…

I would call that claim severely into question.

He voted (or at least I believe he did) in ONE Republican primary in 2024. Any other claim of his does not appear to be supported by the evidence.

His entire life?

Give me a break. That’s just an insult to anyone who has ever carried water for the elephant.