The final race of the day at the 2024 SDGOP Convention is the National Committeewoman Race between Heidi Engelhart and Amber Hulse with their respective delegations extolling their virtues.

Engelhart’s speech established her right off as a pipeline protester, declaring her support of “life, liberty and private property,”despite no information that her opponent disagrees. Hulse spoke about her experience in the Trump White House, as well as her platform of election integrity, engaging the next generation, and making sure we have the resources to run our campaigns.

The vote ended up giving the contest to Engelhart over Hulse in an early lead.

Despite the loss, Hulse was victorious this last Tuesday in her contest for State Senate against Julie Frye Mueller. Having the prospective title of Senator after this fall’s election is still a pretty good consolation prize.

Watertown Mayor and current SDGOP national Committeeman gave delegates a red meat speech campaigning for a return to his position against his opponent, controversial State Representative Phil Jensen.

Jensen gave a speech on his background on his history in SD politics after moving to SD from out of state. Jensen admitted his membership as a founding member of the state Freedom Caucus… and then withdrew from the race.

A unanimous ballot was cast, re-electing Holien to the position.

Kristie Fiegen and Amber Christiansen are vying for being chosen as Public Utilities Commissioner as they give speeches to the assembled delegates.

Fiegen gave a standard speech of making sure South Dakota has a stable electrical supply, and being an impartial judge of utility matters.

Christiansen invoked Jesus a few times, and talked about the case she filed with the PUC, where she failed to show up.

Incumbent PUC Commissioner Fiegen handily won the race on a better than 2-1 basis, and managed to hold on to that vote throughout the entire balloting process.

Jackley, Noem and Rhoden have handily won the vote forpresidential electors for Trump for 2024.

#SDGOP announces 431 Delegates from 56 Counties are participating in Saturday’s State Republican Party Convention.

So my wife and I sit down at the breakfast nook at the clubhouse, as I get ready to have something before the Republican party convention today, and who is all gathered in a little corner, but Phil Jensen, his wife, and R. Shawn Tornow all chattering away by the table my wife picked.

Funny, but the group quickly scurried away when they noticed us.

This comes amidst rumors this morning of cold feet on Phil’s part in the National Committeeman race. I would assume since the issues I pointed out earlier of his awful candidacy will be laid on him a hundred-fold by the national media, he might be having second thoughts.

We can only be so lucky.

From S.D. Searchlight comes an article on this weeks’ Republican Convention.

It’s going about as well as expected, as members of the hard right claim to the media that they’re being sidelined and oppressed. (insert eyeroll here, and cue the world’s smallest violin):

“There is a lot of frustration from the grassroots people who have come to partake in the convention,” said Rep. Karla Lems, R-Canton, who won her primary.

She said some of those people feel party officials are attempting to sideline the everyday Republicans who make up the base of the party.

And..

“They believe themselves to be the base, but they don’t take into account the other 80% of registered Republicans,” Powers said. “They are by no means reflective of the views of South Dakota Republicans as a whole.”

He said the allegation that some people at the convention are being sidelined is “silliness.”

“If they have the votes, they can do what they want,” Powers said.

Read that here.

It’s not often I have to point out that well-to-do legislators probably should not consider themselves oppressed in any way, but, yeah. I don’t think PAC funding Karla Lems has been sidelined or oppressed.

And everyday Republicans are not here. It’s activists only, because everyday Republicans are in the fields, watching kids play ball, and doing everything EXCEPT being at a Republican Convention on a Friday in June.

With that being said.. Then there’s Phil Jensen.

…Rep. Phil Jensen, of Rapid City, is challenging Watertown Mayor and former legislator Ried Holien for the position of national committeeman.

Jensen said party members want and deserve more deeply conservative leadership.

“I want to be a voice for the grassroots,” Jensen said. “These county parties have gotten organized so that they can be represented.”

Read that here.

As I wrote on my website yesterday, as Republicans, it should give us all pause as to what image we want to represent. Because Phil Jensen might be the worst role model to represent South Dakota Republicans. Ever.

If you are unsure what I am referring to, I have a list. And it’s not complete.

And the convention continues to roll on.

Gov. Noem’s Freedom Works Here Wins ANOTHER National Award 

PIERRE, S.D. – Governor Kristi Noem’s Freedom Works Here Ad, “Kiss My Abacus,” won a national award for Art Direction at this year’s Telly Awards. Previously, the “Bright Side” ad also won a national award at this year’s Reed Awards.

“Freedom Works Here tells South Dakota’s inspiring story to the entire nation,” said Governor Noem. “Freedom-loving folks from across America are recognizing that South Dakota really is the best state for them, for their businesses, and for their families. And I am proud that these ads are receiving so much national recognition.”

Freedom Works Here is the most successful workforce recruitment campaign in South Dakota history. Over 10,000 people have started the process to move to South Dakota, and thousands are already here!

To learn more, visit FreedomWorksHere.com.

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Here’s more about the woman who has thrown her name into the race for Public Utilities Commissioner against Kristie Fiegen. Because she sounds like a kook:

Amber Christenson of rural Strandburg and Linda and Timothy Lindgren of rural South Shore had filed a formal complaint on September 21, 2022, that Crowned Ridge Wind’s turbines in the area were making more noise than allowed by the PUC’s permit that was granted for the project in 2019 and alleging that Crowned Ridge failed to comply with a 2021 mitigation plan.

and..

Fiegen agreed with the contention by Crowned Ridge’s attorneys that the technical expertise involved in this case is beyond the knowledge of the average lay person. “As a commissioner, I’m upholding the law regarding the rules of evidence,” Fiegen said. “So Crowned Ridge, be prepared tomorrow (Wednesday) for the tough questions Amber has asked in her rebuttal, although they won’t be on the record in the evidence.”

and..

Said Nelson, “It’s unfortunate, certainly.” He noted that the commission had been working for four years on the sound-level issue. “Today was the day appointed to get to the bottom of this.”

Hanson described the situation as like “showing up at the wedding and the brides not there — it’s a little difficult” and said he was surprised. “I’m just amazed she is not here. I hope nothing bad happened on the drive here,” he said. “It leaves us with no other direction than to support the motion.”

and..

Christenson said the commission can still delve into the issue that she raised. “They don’t need me.” As to not showing up, she said, “I guess it was my civil disobedience.”

Read it all here.

So, this gal files and gets a hearing on a formal complaint where experts were drug from across the country, AND she sucks up taxpayer time and money on the hearing. But she skips attending as her “civil disobedience.”

And now she wants to be a PUC commissioner?  Hard pass on a goofball candidate.

And if the State GOP Convention disagrees? Well, it was nice being a party that used to know how to win elections.