I received, or at least my business received, a fundraising letter from Governor Rhoden today. In the letter he promises to protect energy independence, and claims he will fight to keep taxes low.

Dear Friend..  well, certainly I am friend to many people, including the Governor, and my house pets. Maybe one or two others. (But it’s a short list.)

Of course, the Governor makes the ask contending that his “opponents and their allies are launching an attack to undermine everything we’ve worked for here in South Dakota. They’re willing to spend whatever it takes and use misleading tactics to try to flip this Governor’s race.”

As I always recommend to candidates, you have to show the need, which he does. It’s not a hard push against his opponents, but he’s pushing.  And he follows it by making the ask after that to send him money.

But then we flip to page two and he kind of loses me.

You know, I hate to bring it up, and I realize that fundraising letters use a lot of rhetoric and political buzz words, but when he talks about believing in energy independence in this context, how does he jibe that with signing 2025’s House Bill 1052, which helped send the biggest energy independence project in South Dakota history to North Dakota?

Or does fighting to keep taxes low include this year’s Senate Bill 96, which created a brand spanking new county sales tax?

You know, I like Larry. He’s a good guy. But some of these claims seem to have slipped under the surface of some murky river water for those who are paying attention.

Remember Toby Doeden’s disastrous event in Sioux Falls where he was bringing North Carolina Gubernatorial Candidate Mark Robinson to Sioux Falls? And before he could appear, Robinson was accused of declaring on porn websites that he was ‘a black nazi.’  (And that was one of the tamer things he said.)

If you look back, Doeden had deep connections which allowed him access to Robinson and used them, as his PAC treasurer’s wife is married to the person managing Robinson’s campaign Matt Hurley. The same Matt Hurley who after the Robinson debacle, was brought on to manage Doeden’s campaign for Governor.

Just to remind you what Toby was saying about his campaign manager’s client North Carolina Gubernatorial Candidate Mark Robinson back in October 2024 when allegations came out about Robinson allegedly writing on a pornography website message board?

CNN recently reported that Robinson made racist and sexually explicit remarks more than a decade ago on a pornographic website’s message board. The report said Robinson, who has a recent history of anti-transgender rhetoric, said he enjoyed watching transgender pornography, referred to himself as a “black Nazi,” expressed support for reinstating slavery and praised Adolf Hitler. 

Robinson’s video speech occurred during the Dakota First Action political action committee’s Victory Gala.

Toby Doeden, an Aberdeen businessman and founder of Dakota First Action, said his fellow Republicans who are condemning Robinson are hurting the party.

“CNN has no substantive proof,” Doeden said. “Republicans will eat their own. If he were on the left, not a single Democrat would have called for him to step down.”

Read that here.

Oh.. and don’t forget Toby’s comments to KELOland:

“Who am I to judge from afar what somebody did or didn’t say 16 years ago in a chatroom,” Doeden said. “It’s the most absurd thing I’ve ever heard.”

Doeden says he doesn’t believe CNN’s reporting is accurate.

Read that here.

And I also recall Toby spoke to the Argus Leader about it.

But Doeden doubled down on the controversial figure’s innocence. The Aberdeen man said there is “absolutely, positively no proof” that Robinson posted on Nude Africa. He also claimed the posts highlighted in the CNN story were fabricated.

“We have one of the most prominent conservatives in the country fighting to be governor of North Carolina, and the most left wing, liberal mainstream media outlet shows screenshots that they allegedly found just recently that have been out there for 16 years. You don’t think it’s possible that these are fake?” Doeden said. “Of course, they’re fake. It’s ridiculous.”

Read that here.

This is the point where we’re supposed to hear the cock crow, as it did after Peter’s denial of knowing Judas.   Because in the latest out of North Carolina:

Former North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson has admitted to having an obsession with sex and pornography from a young age, but lied about it during his failed 2024 gubernatorial election in order to protect the people around him, including President Donald Trump, he said Thursday. And if given the opportunity to go back and do it over, he would lie again, he said.

“I don’t know where it came from: an obsession with pornography, an obsession with sex,” Robinson told pastor Josh Hall on an online podcast called “After the Call.” Robinson’s admission came on the first episode of the show, which was released at 5 p.m. Thursday. The show from Real Truth Media promises, “One guest. One room. No script.

and..

Among his writings he called himself a “Black Nazi,” endorsed slavery, used slurs against the LGBTQ+ and Jewish communities, admitted to watching women shower and enjoying gay porn.

Read that here.

What? Toby Doeden’s fervent denial of the claims against his featured speaker were complete and utter bullsh*t?  I’m shocked, I tell you. Just shocked.

By the way, here’s where this gets even better, with additional connections between Gubernatorial wannabe Toby Doeden and Mark Robinson.  Notice the links highlighted in Red above?

‘After the Call’ and ‘Real Truth Media’ – Real Truth Media Inc. is a business registered two months ago in Florida by Matt Hurley, according to documents from the Florida Secretary of State office, obtained independently by McClatchy.

To summarize:

• Matt Hurley took over as Mark Robinson’s political consultant during his 2024 gubernatorial election after the series of reports about Robinson’s porn habits led most his staff to quit.
• Matt Hurley’s wife has long been Doeden’s PAC treasurer.
• Matt Hurley has been managing Gubernatorial Candidate Toby Doeden’s campaign for Governor.
• On a podcast owned by Matt Hurley – Robinson admits to his porn habit, that he lied, and would do so again.
• And Toby Doeden’s denials of the Robinson porn claims are proven – with the assistance of his own campaign manager – to be completely false nonsense.

With a campaign manager like this, why would Toby Doeden need enemies? (Aside from the fact he’s an awful human being.).

Toby Doeden’s bluster and bullsh*t catches up with him with the assistance of his own campaign team? It’s like the circle of life.

It looks like justice will be postponed once again, as the hearing that was supposed to take place this morning in the matter of former newsreader Shad Olson (Criminal docket #46CRI24-000097). and his initial appearance on a probation violation has been postponed.

According to UJS Court records, a continuance has been requested by the defendant and granted by the court, so the can of destiny has been kicked down the road to April 23, 2026.

This marks the 5th continuance requested in the case by the defendant throughout the extended lifespan of his criminal matter.  So if there are any complaints by Shad that this case is never ending, he needs only to look in the mirror for the cause.

Hot off the press..

Good Morning,

Thanks to the generosity of our donors and sponsors, the Minnehaha County Republicans are proud to offer a limited number of complimentary tickets to our upcoming Lincoln-Reagan Day Dinner for veterans and current active-duty service members, plus one guest.

These tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis and are expected to go quickly.

This annual event brings together community leaders, elected officials, and engaged supporters for an evening of connection and inspiration. This year’s event will feature keynote remarks from former U.S. Congressman Madison Cawthorn.

Please note: valid military ID will be required at check-in.

Thank you for your service and sacrifice. We look forward to seeing you there.

Best Regards,

Minnehaha County Republicans

—-

The question I received from the person who sent it to me was “What is the type of military ID required for veterans? It’s not like vets get an id card.”  (I suggested he present his DD214. Let the desk person argue with that. )

But even bigger than that.. it seems like they’re all of a sudden announcing a bunch of free tickets to an event with a controversial speaker and word on the street is people aren’t so eager to support an event featuring a former congressman accused of sexual misconduct.

I get the impression that ticket sales could be going better when they’re starting to give them away.

If that’s the case, this summer’s SDGOP VIP convention event with the man who went on trial for accusations of drugging and raping a woman might really be in trouble.

How would you like to go from a stable legislative district where re-election is all but guaranteed into a 5-way free for all?  That would be District 24 House, including Haakon County, Hughes County, Hyde County, Stanley County & Sully County, including the communities of Pierre & Ft. Pierre, where Mike Weisgram is announcing his re-election campaign today:

During session, District 24 House looked as stable as could be with Will Mortenson and Mike Weisgram as State Representatives..  And then Will Mortenson bowed out, leaving an open seat.

Immediately, a very heavy hitter for Pierre dropped in. Laurie Gill – former Mayor, former cabinet member of 2 positions, and long-time state employee announced her race… but then the announcements didn’t stop.

Regan Bollweg, a graduating SDSU Student has thrown his name in the ring, planning to run at the same time he rejoins his family’s hunting & farming operation in Harrold.

Then, out of the blue, former long-time State Representative Tim Rounds, brother to US Senator Mike Rounds, who is also on the ballot this year decided to attempt another run at the office.

And I’m hearing of yet another candidate who has rented an apartment in Pierre – a Brian Burge from Beresford –  who was showing up going door to door with a petition in hand.

And we still have a week to go.

You and should believe that Weisgram does still have some advantage of incumbency. But in this kind of race with known names, and the vote being split at least 5 ways, it’s going to come down to who campaigns the best.

In the middle of what you might term a wild-west environment where anything goes.

Uh oh.  Word on the street it that the Minnehaha GOP Lincoln Day Dinner event this weekend is somewhat… radioactive.

I’m hearing that ads are being pulled or not placed because of the event’s association with the controversial speaker.

One candidate today was asking their consultant.. “you didn’t place an ad for the GOP dinner, have you?”  Not that people were rushing to line up for the event, but nobody wants to be seen as supporting the event featuring a former congressman accused of sexual misconduct.

I’m sure we’ll hear more about the event later.

From today in Rapid City, the only place lonelier than the Toby Doeden fan club convention, is the queue for people to get in line to sign his nominating petitions for Governor.

It sounds like this weekend was one where there were a number of Republican who weren’t getting along.

First off, in Watertown the word I’m hearing from a reliable source there was a big blowup at Friday’s Republican women meeting. Awful State Representative Garcia accused Senators Glen Vilhauer and Steph Sauder – two of the nicest people you would ever meet – of being bought and paid for.

This apparently led to a big shouting match between Dylan/Garcia vs Glenn/Sauder. This would be the same Garcia causing chaos at the Republican women’s meeting that caused chaos earlier in the year in the House Education meeting, because she didn’t like where she and Phil Jensen were being told to sit.

You never expect a Republican women’s meeting to break out into a shouting match. But, we didn’t have Garcia around before.

Speaking of Phil Jensen, Phil was busy this weekend participating in a rally being put on in Rapid City by one of the founders of Gays for Trump, Scot Presler.

Presler was in South Dakota to attack Senator Thune over working on the SAVE ACT, while Senator Thune was already remaining in Washington all weekend to working on passing the SAVE Act. (So would you call the rally redundant, or futile).

The event was led in part by Anti-Thune troll Julie Korth, whose group helped to recruit opponents like Bruce Whalen against the Senator in the last election. So this seems more like an ax to grind than anything organic.

There was also a rally of the malcontents and Thune haters in Sioux Falls as well, with a different cast attacking the Senator:

This crew had Korth’s fellow anti-Thune troll and ousted Minnehaha GOP VC Jennifer Foss..

Embattled Minnehaha County Auditor Leah Anderson was there, as well as last place gubernatorial wannabee Jon Hansen to help influencer Presler attack our senior Senator..

As was Minnesota election conspiracist Rick Weible.

Who were all there to support Presler going after our Senator..

..for Senator Thune doing what he was already doing, spending all weekend in Washington hearing the SAVE act.

What’s the quote that comes to mind for these rallies? “I think that this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody’s part!”.

Was there any useful result from this weekend’s rallies? No. Maybe.

After working with the founder of Gays for Trump on the rallies you might consider the possibility that Jon Hansen and Phil Jensen might be a little more friendly towards the LGBTQ+ community in the future. Since they both have been rather hostile in the past.

Maybe we can all get along.

From facebook ads last night, one legislator pointed out to me that state Democrats have a push to fill legislative seats in Pierre for the mid-term elections. Not to mention this push comes against a disastrous Republican party organization:

Just something to consider when picking Republicans in the primary. Maybe that picking a candidate with broad based support is better than a single-issue train wreck.

This wasn’t on the BINGO card of the bizarre this week. But hot off the press this afternoon former NDGOP ED for a week Dave Roetman sent out e-mails to South Dakota GOP candidates claiming to be approved by the SDGOP to work with them to offer a product called Right-Insight.

 

In case you forgot about Roetman already after my post earlier this week, where he’s signed up to run for the Minnehaha County register of deeds, Dave has managed to carve out some infamy all his own:

The newly-appointed executive director of the North Dakota Republican Party is officially on the outs early into his position after it was discovered that his X account is riddled with racist and sexist tweets.

It took only 10 days after Dave Roetman was hired on to be the state’s party executive for him to resign after those social media posts were found and reported.

It was also reported that in response to a woman’s post about relationship advice, he said, “Here’s a quarter, keep it between your knees.” He approved groping women, and in response to another X user’s post about whether an attractive woman in a photograph could make sandwiches, made a joke about making pies.

And..

“I am a man who stands by his words,” he told Rob Port.

Read that here.

That does not sound like a recipe for building a winning campaign together. As the candidate who sent me the e-mail thought as well, as she expressed her sentiments in one word: “Ugh.”

If they’re hiring Dave to rep them here, maybe they should rebrand as ‘far-right with no insight, and women can just make me a pie.”

Update: 

An attendee related to me, somewhat shocked, that “Eschenbaum announced at the Brookings LDD last night that they were rolling out a new app for candidates and Dave Roetman was in charge of it!!”

I’m sure this will go well.