Looks like someone is setting his sights a little lower after his last election defeat.
Mark Mowry, who ran against Senator John Thune in the Republican Primary for US Senate in 2022 has apparently set his sights a little lower, and has filed petitions to run in the District 31 House Primary election against incumbent State Representatives Scott Odenbach and Mary Fitzgerald.
Mowry had received 7.2% of the statewide vote against Senator John Thune, who received 72.2% in the 2022 GOP primary.
And lest we all forget, when he got into the race back in 2021, Mowry had some odd justifications on why he had decided to run, and noted that he was a participant at the January 6th rally in Washington DC.
Yes, that rally.:
Spearfish resident and long-time musician Mark Mowry earlier this year filed his candidacy to unseat Sen. John Thune in the 2022 Republican primary election, fueled by the senior senator’s unwillingness to question the validity of the presidential election.
Mowry told the Argus Leader in a recent interview that he participated in demonstrations near Capitol Hill the day Congress was set to confirm the results of the Nov. 3 election, three months before deciding to challenge South Dakota’s three-term senator. But he was not part of the riots that broke out and led to protesters storming the Capitol, he said.
KELOland news posted an article to their website last night with South Dakota Republican Party chair John Wiik, noting that the South Dakota Republican Party is focused on defeating ballot measures this election, including the measure being circulated for a jungle primary; a measure that has seen defeat at the hands of South Dakota voters before, and will likely face strong opposition on attempt number 4, despite being funded by out-of-state interests.
But, not from South Dakota Democrats, who seem unconcerned that they’re going to be relegated to minor party status:
Wiik said if South Dakota voters don’t want to be part of a political party, they won’t be part of the decisions that political party makes, including candidate selection.
“If you’re not active and part of the process of a party, then you can’t tell the party how to do its job,” Wiik said. “Find a party you agree with. Find a party that 80% of your values (you) identify with and join that party. You can’t stay independent and tell the parties how to do their jobs. That would be the words I would say for an independent voter right now.”
and..
Kirby said too often the Republican primary election is the only election that matters. The Sioux Falls lawyer and well-known businessman said political parties can do what they want, but the state should do what’s best for everyone.
and..
The SDDP has not officially taken a public stance on the open primaries ballot measure. During a news conference last year, Democrat Rep. Linda Duba attended in support of South Dakota Open Primaries. She said she’s not concerned if Democrat candidates would be left off November ballots with the top-two primary system.
It’s odd that the state Democrat party wants to be left out of most November elections, along with Independents, Libertarians, etc. But we’ll see how that goes.
With the Secretary of State’s office being closed Friday and Monday for the Easter Holiday, today will begin the final run of petitions that we might see arrive after last Tuesday’s snowstorm forced anyone trying to turn in petitions to the SOS on the last day to mail their petitions for office at the last minute. (Hopefully they remembered registered mail, not certified).
From facebook, Minnehaha County GOP Vice Chair Jennifer Foss is fronting for her group of opponents to Congressman Dusty Johnson. And informing them that their primary candidate, Justin McNeal got dusted in his attempt to get on the ballot:
I often say that if we don’t get national security right, the rest is just conversation. Getting it right requires demonstrating not only the strength to deter threats from materializing in the first place and maintaining the capabilities to defeat them, but also the will and credibility to hold such threats accountable. In this era of complex challenges, securing our nation requires a holistic approach that encompasses defense, border security, and energy security, among other elements.
A strong military capable of countering almost any threat is essential to American strength. Unfortunately, the Biden administration does not seem to be prioritizing investing in our military capabilities, focusing instead on its reckless tax-and-spending agenda. Despite persistent readiness and recruitment challenges, not to mention an increasingly unstable world, the Biden administration has made little attempt to ensure our military has what it needs to face future threats. In the administration’s recently released budget request, the president uses budget gimmicks to blow through non-defense budget caps to fund progressive priorities, yet he couldn’t seem to find an extra dollar for the defense budget.
On other aspects of our national security, the Biden administration’s policies have made the United States more vulnerable. The crisis at the southern border is a prime example. More than 7.4 million illegal immigrants have been caught trying to cross the border since President Biden took office. Another 1.8 million “gotaways” have evaded Border Patrol to enter the country, and hundreds of individuals on the terrorist watch list have been caught at the southern border. I agree with the chief of Border Patrol, who recently said the situation is a “national security threat,” with the number of gotaways keeping him up at night. And it’s unfortunately the result of President Biden dismantling effective border security policies.
A secure energy supply is also critical to our national security. We’ve recently seen the consequences of overreliance on foreign energy sources as Europe struggled to wean itself off of Russian energy. But, the Biden administration’s rushed energy transition jeopardizes the secure energy supply on which we all depend. Actions like the recent liquefied natural gas export permit pause, heavy-handed environmental regulations and taxes, and other actions to discourage domestic energy production are good news – not for America, but for Iran and Russia. And at a time when our electric grid is struggling to meet existing demand, the president’s plan to create a de facto mandate for Americans to buy electric vehicles is especially misguided.
As the president has pursued policies that make America more vulnerable, he has also failed to demonstrate a requisite strength to our allies and adversaries. Iran might be the best example. In the last few months, Iran-backed militant groups have launched numerous attacks against American troops in the Middle East and against civilian shipping operations in the Red Sea. Not long ago, the Biden administration was seeking to revive the flawed Iran nuclear deal and offered sanctions relief to the ayatollahs. While lately the Biden administration has suggested “red lines” for our ally Israel in its war against Hamas terrorists, there have been no such “red lines” issued for our enemies in Iran.
The United States needs to be clear-eyed about the threats we face and the steps we can take to safeguard our national security. We have to get national security right, and that means getting all of America’s national security right. That’s what I will continue to pursue as my Republican colleagues and I push back against the Biden administration’s dangerous national security policies.
We had another whirlwind week in the United States Senate. The Senate managed to pass our final appropriations package funding the final six areas of the federal government for FY2024. We were in the Capitol late into the night on Friday, passing the final package just after 2 AM on Saturday morning. Our government funding work is finally over for this fiscal year, and we turn toward appropriations for FY2025, which are due on September 30 of this year. We also had many South Dakotans in our office this past week, along with hearings, classified briefings and votes. All that and more in this week’s Weekly Round[s] Up:
South Dakotans I met with: Students from Mobridge Pollock High School, Bowdle High School and Lemmon High School; members of the South Dakota Bankers Association; and Bryce Dibbern with the South Dakota Livestock Marketing Association.
I went to Hot Springs last Monday to present Vietnam Veteran Lapel Pins to 36 veterans living at the Veterans Home. I also spoke at the National Honor Society induction ceremony at T.F. Riggs High School in Pierre.
Visited with South Dakotans from: Aberdeen, Bowdle, Brookings, Burke, Hot Springs, Interior, Lemmon, Mobridge, Pierre, Redfield, Sioux Falls, Spearfish, Troy and Yankton.
Other meetings: Tim Buckley, CEO of Vanguard. We had our Senate Bible Study, where Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee was our speaker. I attended an artificial intelligence policy event where I and several other legislators spoke with members of the European Union parliament and leaders from across the AI field about opportunities and innovation in AI.
Votes taken: 21 – many of these were on amendments to the minibus appropriations bill. The rest were on nominations to judicial positions in Texas, California, Maryland and New Jersey, and one executive position at the Department of Labor.
On Thursday, we also voted on a Congressional Review Act (CRA) that I led with Senator Jon Tester (D-Mont.) to overturn a Biden administration decision to allow for beef imports from Paraguay. As you may recall, last November, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that they were lifting a ban on beef imports from Paraguay, who have historically struggled to contain outbreaks of foot and mouth disease. In February, Senator Tester and I filed this CRA to overturn this decision. I am happy to report that our CRA passed the Senate 70-25, the highest number of affirmative votes on a CRA on record. You can read more about this vote here. The CRA must now pass the House, so stay tuned for more updates.
Legislation introduced: This past week, I introduced legislation with Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) to require the Farm Service Agency to make quarterly updates to Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) payment rates that reflect livestock market prices. You can read more about this legislation here.
Hearings: I attended two hearings this past week. One was in the Select Committee on Intelligence, which was closed as usual. The other was in the Senate Armed Services Committee, where we heard from Admiral John Aquilino, Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, and General Paul LaCamera, Commander of United States Forces Korea.
Classified briefings: I attended two classified briefings this week. One was part of my work on the Senate Armed Services Committee’s Strategic Forces Subcommittee. The other was an all-Senators briefing with my colleagues on TikTok.
As many of you may know, one of our hot topics these past couple of weeks on Capitol Hill has been TikTok, specifically the House’s bill to ‘ban’ the app from the United States. TikTok is owned by a Chinese company called ByteDance. TikTok collects information on its users, including not only personal information like name and zip code, but algorithmic information like how Americans talk, act and think. Under Chinese law, any information and data that ByteDance has on its users must be made available to the Chinese government. I don’t think I need to tell you why this is bad news for our national security. The bill passed in the House of Representatives requires TikTok to divest from ByteDance in order to continue operating in the United States. All this to say, if you, your kids or your grandkids currently have TikTok, I suggest being very careful with the information you share on the app.
I talked more about TikTok on CNN This Morning this past Thursday. You can watch a clip of that here.
My staff in South Dakota visited: Aberdeen, Brookings, Burke, Dupree, Eagle Butte, Gregory, Madison, McIntosh, Oacoma, Timber Lake, Sturgis, Wall and Wessington Springs.
Steps taken this past week: 53,826 steps or 26.71 miles
Video of the week: Earlier this month, I hosted an event to commemorate the National American Indian Veterans congressional charter. You can watch a video recap of the event here:
Service and Sacrifice By Rep. DustyJohnson March 28, 2024
BIG Update
March 29 is Vietnam War Veterans Day, a day on which we remember and honor those who served in the Vietnam War. Earlier this week, I had the privilege of meeting 24 men and women who served our country during the Vietnam War era. Since 2019, I have been participating in the Vietnam Veteran Commemoration Program to honor and give a warm welcome home to Vietnam-era veterans, including many who were never greeted properly when returning after the war. Through this program, I’ve heard the stories of nearly 1,000 veterans who sacrificed for our country. Whether one served as a fire control technician, heavy duty diesel truck mechanic, torpedoman, or flight surgeon, each individual’s story is impactful. Join me in thanking them for their service. It’s never too late to do so.
Johnson and the Vietnam-era Veterans in Watertown
BIG Idea
Accessibility to health care is crucial, and rural South Dakota knows that well. Thankfully, providers such as Prairie Lakes do a great job ensuring South Dakotans receive quality health care. Prairie Lakes provides care for 90,000 people in South Dakota and Minnesota and recently made the National Rural Health Association’s Top 20 rural and community hospitals. During my visit this week, we discussed the importance of software infrastructure, caring for all individuals, and delivering services to patients.
Johnson and John Allen, CEO of Prairie Lakes
BIG News
You may have seen the news of the cargo ship colliding with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, causing it to collapse. I’m grateful for the first responders at the scene working to carry out search and recovery efforts.
Conversations have begun on what the impact of this devastating event will have on our supply chains. The Port of Baltimore handles over $80 billion of foreign cargo each year and is a hub for autos, coal, and machinery. Adjustments are already being made to reallocate cargo and ensure the supply chain keeps moving in hopes disruptions will be as minimal as possible. My team and I will continue to monitor this situation as more information becomes available
Growing in Faith: Celebrating Easter By: Governor KristiNoem March 29, 2024
“He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.” -Matthew 28:6
This week, we celebrate the holiest day in the Christian calendar – the day of Jesus’ resurrection. Christians around the world are celebrating God raising our savior from the dead, granting us our salvation, and marking the beginning of a new hope for our faith.
Easter is the perfect time to spend with the people that we love most. In recent years, Bryon and I have spent our Easter Sundays hosting the annual Easter Egg Hunt at the Governor’s Residence. While we have had some great times with the kids at the Easter Egg Hunt, I think my favorite Easter memories were spent back at the ranch with my family.
Most of our Easters were spent waking up, the kids opening their Easter baskets, going to church, and then gathering as a family for lunch and spending the afternoon together. Unless, of course, there was a blizzard or bad weather – then we were home caring for our cattle and working together as a family to support our livestock and the family business. I have a very vivid memory of a bad blizzard on Easter Sunday right after Bryon and I were married. At one point, my dad turned to me and said, “I’ve never seen work as hard as this.” I was shocked. I though, “wow, my dad works harder than anybody I’ve ever met. And if he’s never seen work like this before, we must really be working hard!”
I could go on and on about all the memories I have to look back on from Easter Sundays spent with my own family. And while it is great to reflect on the past, I have always thought of Easter as a time of new beginnings – a time to look towards the future, as well.
Jesus’ death and resurrection is the ultimate symbol of new beginnings. This historic event started the Christian faith, it started the church, and it marked the beginning of mankind’s reconciliation with God. Because of the events of Easter, all of us who have faith in Jesus Christ have hope of new life.
Easter also typically falls around the beginning of spring – yet another symbol of new beginnings. Of course, here in South Dakota, we still have snow on the ground. We just had a pretty brutal winter storm. Fortunately, it was not as bad as it could have been. And I was happy to see and hear about so many folks across our state embracing the spirit of the Easter season and lending their neighbors a helping hand. Whether it’s people helping an elderly neighbor shovel their driveway, or a small town coming together to help their farmers care for their newborn calves during the winter weather, I have seen so many helping others. It makes me proud to be a South Dakotan.
But hopefully we will soon see the snow and ice thaw and the grass and flowers grow and bloom. I hope that this Easter we can all remember that because the work of Jesus, we are no longer bound by death, but we can grow in faith and love just like the flowers will grow as spring comes.
Bryon and I wish everyone a very happy Easter. God bless you.
We have a new Dusty Johnson for Congress ad on the website today! Please give it a click and support Congressman Dusty Johnson, the Republican candidate for Congress in November.
In addition to being Principled, Effective, and Conservative, and noting that Dusty has 70+ votes to secure the border, an A+ rating from the National Rifle Association, and a 100% score from Right to Life, I think the ad could use one more thing for those guys.
Maybe they should have added – “On the Ballot” for the haters. You know, unlike their candidates who didn’t make the ballot.
I’m not sure that the anti-incumbent haters could pick up the subtleties of that without someone pointing it out to them.
I kind of doubt that GOP troll Julie Korth is privy to any conversations that the Congressman may or may not have, especially considering she’s one of the driving forces behind this anti-GOP officeholder group.
But it would be breaking news that Justin McNeal failed to get on the ballot, due to a failure to get petition signatures from Republicans. But not terribly surprising, since he only became Republican in the middle of January.
Here’s more from the anti-GOP Officeholder group:
Interesting that Minnehaha County GOP Vice Chair Jennifer Foss seems to be so involved in trying to find challengers to incumbent Republican Congressman Dusty Johnson. I thought that was against the rules for GOP County Officers?
Chris Sanders not making the ballot wasn’t surprising, since his effort seemed like a clown car to start. But then again, neither was McNeal not making the ballot.
Signature collection is not as easy as a lot of people tend to think it is. I’ve been around the block a couple of times, and every once in a while involved with getting statewide signatures.
I can safely say that sometimes getting the petitions back, witnessed, notarized properly, and sent in can get down to the wire and problematic.
