Did the Hansen & Doeden campaigns peak 6 months too early?

Did the Doeden jet stall and run out of gas after his Superbowl party?  Doeden social media seems to have dropped off completely since February 9th after posting a few pictures of his free-food fest, and taking a tired jab at Governor Rhoden.   Nothing upcoming. It seemed kind of tired until the 9th when they stopped posting completely.

Hansen for Governor isn’t really much better. In fact, they’re worse.  Instead of posting any updates on the campaign on Facebook and Twitter, Hansen’s social media reads more like he’s engaging the voters for a campaign for the state legislature. “Hey, we have these crackerbarrels” and “I voted on this bill, and the Governor stinks”. …aaand nothing that actually talks about him having campaign events or running for Governor.   Did Pizza Ranch stop taking his calls to book the big room?

We’re in the doldrums of session, and it’s like both of them saw their shadows and crawled back into the burrow to wait out 6 weeks of winter.  Is there an active campaign for Governor? You’d wonder looking at those two.

Compared to Governor Rhoden’s campaign, where Governor Rhoden is actually doing events, even though we don’t see much in terms of visible fundraising. And he gets the bully pulpit of being Governor.

And Dusty Johnson’s campaign for Governor effort is starting to apply gas as they kicked off TV on Superbowl Sunday, and now has a second TV Commercial is in rotation. And they’re not coming down.  n addition to the mailer that I just posted repeating the message from the first commercial.

At the time the race for Governor is gearing up, it seems as if half the campaigns have slipped a gear, and are waiting on the side of the road for someone to tow them into town.

What are your thoughts?

Gov. Rhoden Appoints Kory Bierle and Ross Cuny to Brand Board

Outlines Board Expectations

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Larry Rhoden appointed Kory Bierle and Ross Cuny to the South Dakota Brand Board. The Governor also outlined his expectations for continued improvement in the Brand Board’s operations. He sent those directives in a memo to the Brand Board members, which can be found here.

“Our livestock industry is built on hard work, stewardship, and trust, and the Brand Board helps safeguard those values,” said Governor Larry Rhoden. “Kory and Ross bring generations of ranching experience, and I am confident their leadership will help preserve the integrity of our livestock industry and protect producers.”

Kory Bierle is a fifth-generation rancher who operates Madsen Ranch Land & Cattle, a commercial cow/calf operation near Midland, South Dakota, that focuses on sustainability and conservation. He also serves as the Southern Regional Director of the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association. You can find a photo of Kory Bierle here.

“I would like to thank Governor Rhoden for the opportunity to serve on the Brand Board of South Dakota,” said Kory Bierle. “I consider it an honor to help administer the registration and ownership inspection programs of the Board to help ensure that this historic program can continue to help preserve the privileges of personal property ownership for all of South Dakota.”

Ross Cuny is a fifth-generation rancher from Buffalo Gap, South Dakota. He studied range management at the University of Wyoming and has been ranching full-time since returning to the ranch in 2005. You can find a photo of Ross Cuny here.

“I am deeply honored by Governor Rhoden’s appointment of me to the South Dakota Brand Board,” said Ross Cuny. “I am excited to help advance the board’s mission and make meaningful impact for our state.”

You can learn more about the Brand Board here.

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A full-size 8 1/2 by 11 Dusty Johnson for Governor mailer hit mailboxes today, mirroring the message in Dusty’s Superbowl commercial. Check it out:

More Opportunities to Get Ahead
By Sen. John Thune

Education can open a lot of doors. The right knowledge and skills can create opportunities and open up paths to success. It’s why parents work so hard to ensure their children get a good education that sets them up for a better life. When Republicans wrote our landmark bill, the Working Families Tax Cuts, we wanted to support parents and empower them to help open doors for their children, and I’m proud this landmark law will help set the next generation up to attain their American Dream.

For decades, the 529 savings plan has been a powerful tool for parents to save for their kids’ education. At first, 529s could only be used for college, but in 2017, Republicans expanded eligible uses of 529 funds to include K-12 expenses as well. In the Working Families Tax Cuts, Republicans expanded 529s again to provide even greater freedom for parents to support their children’s education. Thanks to this new law, parents can put that money toward tutoring, vocational and continuing education, and homeschool materials. And we also doubled the amount folks can spend from a 529 plan to $20,000 per year.

The Working Families Tax Cuts supports Americans pursuing an education whatever their ultimate goal may be. For those interested in the trades, this bill created the new Workforce Pell program, which will help students pursuing shorter-term job training programs that prepare them for in-demand, skilled jobs. For those who are looking at a college degree, this bill implements accountability measures designed to put downward pressure on tuition, and it streamlines the student loan repayment process to make it simpler for Americans repaying their loans. Additionally, it ensures that graduates won’t have to pay taxes on tuition assistance from their employer – a measure that I introduced and that this bill makes permanent.

In addition to supporting Americans in their educational pursuits, the Working Families Tax Cuts also provides families with another option to save for their children’s future: Trump accounts. These new investment accounts allow families to contribute and invest money for children as they grow up. When a child turns 18, that money – thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars – is tax-advantaged, and it can be put toward education, starting a business, or buying a home – to get a head start on the American Dream. For children born between 2025 and 2028, the government is offering an initial $1,000 investment in Trump accounts. I hope parents will consider opening an account for their children, which you can do when you file your taxes or at any time online.

I often say that the Working Families Tax Cuts includes a decades-worth of accomplishments in a single bill, but perhaps its greatest impact is the opportunities it unlocks for an entire generation of Americans. Thanks to this bill, the next generation will have greater educational freedom and be able to seize even more opportunities. I’m proud that Republicans’ landmark bill will help the next generation as they pursue the American Dream.

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The State Board of Elections met today, and as I was listening in, there was a member whose name I didn’t recognize. At all. And this new member spent much of their time voting no. I found myself wondering.. who was that?

It appears that upon the end of the term for former legislator Mike Buckingham, 2 weeks ago House Majority Leader Scott Odenbach booted Mike Buckingham off the board and offered a different person to appoint to the panel.

His choice? A Kristin Matsuda of Spearfish. Who is someone I’d never heard of.   A quick trip to google led me to a couple of things. First a press release to the appointment that went out last week.

And to Odenbach’s 2024 campaign finance report:

..where the Matsuda’s were the 4th largest donor on the report at $600 for his campaign.  There are a few assorted websites such as the PUC and others, where she’s complaining about the pipeline, through an e-mail link provided by the free-dumb caucus, and other things.

But I’m not finding much.  In fact, a quick check of the voter file says that her original voter registration date was 6/8/22.  The hard copy of the voter registration might need to be pulled, but on it’s face, the new appointee to the board of elections has only been registered in South Dakota since June of 2022?  Digging a bit further, without going into detail on my search.. it appears that the new appointee may not have been registered here before then because she was registered elsewhere. At least one website says she was in California.

And within 3-4 years, Representative Odenbach appointed her to the Board of Elections.

Well, it is Scott’s pick for the Board of Elections as House Majority Leader. He can certainly do what he wants. Even though there are several hundred thousand more South Dakotans with more time spent in elections in South Dakota than that.  (And in South Dakota, period.).  Coming on to the board after Mike Buckingham, who has been involved in multiple elections, and served in the legislature for 6 years.

So, I’m left wondering exactly what his replacement’s qualifications are that caused Rep. Odenbach to appoint her, besides being a recent transplant to the state?

Hm.

Oh, found another reference.

Stay tuned.

I’m not sure that the House GOP Caucus was exactly on time when they turned their report in for 2025.

According to the SOS,  it came in at 2/1/2026 9:22:00 PM, when they had a due date of 1/30.  But less about being late is comparing the report to the 2023 EOY report for the same time last cycle, there’s a big difference between the reports.

In the 2024 cycle when the GOP Caucus was led by Rep’s Will Mortenson & Taylor Rehfeldt, the 2023 end of year report noted $80,350.00 in income to help Republican House candidates in the fall.

Fast forward two years under Representatives Scott Odenbach and Marty Overweg, the total raised on the 2025 End of Year report? Slightly less than half of the prior leadership team’s total at this point with $39,836.82.

You can read the report here:

House GOP 2026 YE Report by Pat Powers

Biggest donors to the House Republican Caucus included Steve Watkins, the President & CEO at LifeScape, the SD Manufactured Housing Association, and the local South Dakota chapter of Americans for Prosperity.

Side note – Coincidentally AFP is also partnering with Governor Rhoden and traveling the state for events promoting his property tax replacement plan this weekend:

Regardless of the source is how badly the caucus took a hit in their fundraising efforts.

Anymore, House candidates are on their own without Republican Party support with fair fundraising winds having shifted against the party at large.

So what they have in their account is the kitty is for House candidates seeking help from the GOP. Having less could be an issue, depending on how much momentum the other side has in this mid-term election for Republicans.

Straight from my mailbox, You too can show your support for US Senator Mike Rounds, telling the world with a “I Like Mike” video.

This campaign has always been powered by grassroots support — and right now, we’re asking you to be part of it.

Will you record a quick “I Like Mike” video and tell us why you support Senator Rounds?

It takes about a minute. That’s it.

These short videos help us show real South Dakotans standing behind Mike’s conservative leadership — not pundits, not outsiders, not political operatives. You.

You’ll have full control over how your video is shared!

👉 Record your “I Like Mike” video here.

Let’s show the country what South Dakota support really looks like.

— Team Rounds

 

(Just a note, my Chrome browser did not like it, but it doesn’t like SD511 or the legislative interactive map, either. So if you use Chrome on a MAC, you might try it in Safari instead. -technically minded pp)

According to reports from Facebook, Sioux Falls Democrat Congressional candidate Billy Mawhiney announced on his facebook page that he has decided to suspend his campaign for Congress, noting that “this chapter is ending.”

For state Democrats, this eliminates the possibility of a primary, and leaves them with Democrat insider Nikki Gronli as the remaining possibility to get on the ballot for the fall election.

A Scott Schlagel of Dell Rapids had filed a statement of candidacy in March of 2025, but no further filings or announcements have been made since.

Thune on DHS Funding: Time Is of the Essence

“I hope our Democrat friends will remain at the table and give talks more time to mature. The alternative path should interest no one – and that is a needless shutdown that will see funding lapse for our Coast Guard, our cybersecurity, for airport security, and for disaster response.” 

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:

Click here to watch the video.

That Senate candidacy didn’t last long.

California transplant and District 2 State Senate Candidate Manuel Luschas lasted only a short time in the State Senate race before becoming one of the first candidates to withdraw from the race this year.

According to the Secretary of State filings, Luschas backed out to run for House instead, where he is expected to face a primary.  We’ll see if he sticks around for this one.