Release: First head-to-head fundraising comparison in the gubernatorial primary

PRESS RELEASE
JANUARY 31, 2022

With the posting of Rep. Steve Haugaard’s Year-End Report this morning, we have our first head-to-head comparison between his fundraising and Governor Noem’s.

Highlights:

• Governor Noem has raised over $11.8 million cycle-to-date, Haugaard has raised just $56,000.
• This equates to Haugaard having raised just 0.47% of Governor Noem’s total and Governor Noem has out-raised Haugaard 210 to 1.
• Governor Noem has over $7.3 million cash on hand across her committees, Haugaard has less than $36,000.
• Haugaard’s cash on hand is 0.49% of Governor Noem’s total and Governor Noem’s cash on hand bests Haugaard’s 204 to 1.
• Governor Noem has over 8,700 individual donors in the state of South Dakota vs 43 itemized donors from South Dakota for Haugaard.

Governor Noem is grateful for the support of the thousands of people who have supported her campaign. The campaign is excited about the opportunity to talk with the voters over the next 9 months and make our case for four more years.

There is much to be proud of from Governor Noem’s first term, including South Dakota’s best in the nation economy, historic investments in the future of our state through education and infrastructure, and the continued protection of our constitutional rights and freedoms from government encroachment.

KELOland is reporting that Jamie Smith will be making an announcement with “statewide implications” tomorrow:

In a news release, the S.D. Democratic Party says Smith, the current Minority Leader in the House, will deliver a speech and take questions from journalists at 11 a.m. at the Capitol Lake Visitor Center in Pierre.

Read it here.

So, are Democrats going to set up an announcement shindig for Barry Hulse as well?

John Thune is posting good fundraising numbers for the 4th quarter of 2021. Stick a fork in his opponents. Those taters are just plain done:

John Thune 4q 2021 FEC by Pat Powers on Scribd

While Bruce Whalen is happy to be approaching $5000 in the bank, incumbent US Senator John Thune is gearing up to take on all comers.

For the Friends of John Thune Committee, Thune is posting $233,025.86 raised in the 4th quarter against $185,302.92 in expenses. Leaving him a phenomenal (and possibly record setting for a SD committee) $15,152,231.03 in the bank for the primary election.

(Not that he’s going to have a primary. I still don’t think the others will get on the ballot.)

His opponents can read it and weep. They’re done.

I’m not sure how we can even think of taking this candidacy seriously at this point:

Whalen_4qFEC202201319485161695 by Pat Powers on Scribd

After failing to reach the threshold for financial reporting in his previous FEC Report, Bruce Whalen finally has some numbers to show us. And it’s not pretty.

In his first report, Whalen reports raising $17,137.00, against expenses of $12,166.36 leaving him $4,970 in the bank.

Meh.

Pro-Life Leaders Support Governor Noem’s Legislation

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, pro-life leaders announced their support for Governor Noem’s two proposed bills to protect unborn lives. The first will ban abortions once a child’s heartbeat can be detected; the second will ban telemedicine abortions in South Dakota.

“We’re proud to again stand with Gov. Noem and pro-life South Dakotans in their tireless efforts to make South Dakota the safest place in the nation for unborn children and their mothers,” saidSusan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser. “This legislation will save the lives of babies in the womb, with beating hearts like you and me, and establish permanent state-level safeguards for women’s health and safety against dangerous mail-order abortion drugs. Under Gov. Noem’s bold leadership, South Dakota continually raises the bar for pro-life protections in America.”

Jay Sekulow, chief counsel of the American Center for Law and Justice, pledged to represent the State of South Dakota in any potential litigation against this legislation. Jay is already working with the State’s legal team in the ongoing Planned Parenthood v. Noem litigation, and he is conducting that work pro bono.

“It is an honor and privilege to stand with Gov. Noem and her fight for the protection of life of the unborn. We will be honored to defend this legislation alongside the Governor and the Attorney General for the great people of South Dakota,” said Jay Sekulow.

You can read the heartbeat legislation here. You can read the telemedicine abortion ban here.

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I hate to say it, but Steve Haugaard might want to cut his losses now:

Haugaard Report by Pat Powers on Scribd

After transferring $10k from his legislative campaign, Haugaard still failed to break $50k in donations otherwise.

$3,221 unitemized. $43,000 itemized against $20,411.86 in expenditures, leaving him with $35,809.14 cash on hand.

For a gubernatorial effort against a campaign with reportedly $7 Million plus in the bank, this campaign isn’t going anywhere very fast, because it’s not really a campaign. And it might be over before it has started.

Update – I had to run out, but as I get home and look at this report, $18,717.14 of his 20k in expenses was for consulting.

Did I say anemic? I’m thinking it’s worse.

The always massive Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo is in fill swing in Rapid City, and the candidates are out there in force.

Governor Noem has a booth, Senator Thune and Congressman Dusty Johnson are sharing space. Senate hopeful Mark Mowry got the checkbook out and has his own booth.

Senator Mike Rounds’ team is there running a constituent services stop, as he’s not running this cycle.

\I’m hearing anecdotal reports from the Stock Show that boothless Gubernatorial candidate Steve Haugaard has teamed up with US Senate Candidate Bruce Whalen who bought space for collecting petition signatures, since Steve was space deficient at the start of the show.

Surprisingly, no booth for Taffy Howard in her home area.

Kind of surprised at that one. They’re only running 325,000 plus people through the show, and it’s the second largest event in the state of South Dakota following the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

Patrick Schubert, one of the trio who won’t get on the ballot is also boothless, and I’m told we’re seeing nothing from Democrats.

It is West River, so there’s not a lot of dems out there. Certainly not among the group attending.

Dusty Johnson Announces Re-Election Campaign

Today, U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson officially announced his intent to seek re-election to the U.S. House.

“I promised South Dakota two things when I ran for this seat:  I’d be a conservative and I’d get things done,” said Johnson. “I’ve kept my promises, and that’s why I’m the right person to continue fighting for South Dakota in the U.S. House.”

During his three years in the U.S. House, Johnson:

• Was named Republican leader of the Agriculture subcommittee that oversees livestock.

• Was named the most effective Republican on agriculture issues and awarded the “Outstanding New Member of Congress” by the American Farm Bureau.

• Led efforts to keep the Supreme Court at nine justices and get Americans back to work by ending the additional federal unemployment payments.

• Passed or implemented more than 15 original bills, including the Ocean Shipping Reform Act to bolster the American supply chain.

• Opposed $5 trillion in spending bills with liberal priorities like the Green New Deal.

• Passed the Cattle Contract Library Act to provide price transparency to producers and implemented the Butcher Block Act to expand processing space for small cattle processors.

• Was named third most effective Republican on tribal issues.

• Received a 98% conservative score and was named the most “Transparent & Accountable” Republican Member of Congress.

“I’ve built a reputation for being an effective leader in Washington when it comes to fighting for South Dakota agriculture and implementing policies that impact Americans from day to day,” said Johnson. “I’ll continue to put South Dakotans first and work hard to get things done when Republicans take the House majority this November.”

Last cycle Johnson won the primary election 78% to 22% and the general election 81% to 19%. Prior to his election to the House in 2018, he worked as vice president of Vantage Point Solutions, a South Dakota-based broadband engineering firm. He previously served as chief of staff to Governor Dennis Daugaard. Johnson and his wife Jacquelyn reside in Mitchell with their three sons.

Click here to watch Johnson’s campaign announcement video. Click here to watch the full length video.

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State Representative Taffy Howard might be on pace to run for a mid-level constitutional office, but she’s getting her butt kicked in the fundraising battle as she attempts to look like a serious candidate for Congress:

Taffy Howard 2021 EOY FEC Report by Pat Powers on Scribd

 

Who sent her money? A number of current/former legislators sent her a check, including Former Rep. Blaine Campbell, Former Rep. Gordon Howie, Rep. Phil Jensen’s wife Janet, & Rep. Liz May. Senator Julie Frye-Mueller was in for $1000, while State Rep. Scott Odenbach only kicked her a check for $500, as did Fall River State’s Attorney and former State Rep. Lance Russell.  And it appears that Minnehaha County Treasurer Kris Swanson sent Taffy off $500.

But, it wasn’t anywhere near enough to post any gains in the fundraising battle. Howard posted total campaign contributions of $57,526.00, only 2/3 of the $86.5k she raised in the prior quarter. 

This is not going in the right direction, especially when you compare it to Dusty Johnson, who just just crushed it with $379k raised, and $2.2 Million in the bank.  It seems that some of the same people who donated to the ill-fated campaign of Liz May in the last election are the same ones throwing money at Taffy. Except there are fewer of them.

If anything, it seems that the challenge from the hard-right has energized donations to our current Congressman and accelerated his pace of fundraising.

Nothing new on her spending, where Howard spent $4k a month on her consultants. They’re the only people who seem to be making out in this venture, which is quickly headed south for the winter.  Right now, she reports $113,939.28 in the bank.

Hang on for April 15th or so, when we’ll find out if Taffy has been able to get on the ballot, and possibly turn the negative trend around.

Barry Hulse can stand down. It looks like House Minority Leader Jamie Smith is apparently going to be the Democrat’s latest sacrifice to the altar of state politics, as word is out tonight that he will be Dem’s candidate for Governor:

South Dakota State Representative Jamie Smith (D-Sioux Falls) will make a run at the governorship this year.

Smith, 50, has represented District 15 in the South Dakota State House since 2017. He has served as Minority Leader for Democrats in the State House since 2019.

An Augustana University graduate, Smith currently works as a realtor for Hegg Realtors in Sioux Falls. Prior to that, Smith was an educator and coach in Sioux Falls. He and his wife, Kjerstin, have two sons.

Read it here.

We’ll have to see if he gets on the ballot, but I imagine the race will be entertaining.

And I’m sure we’ll hear more about his appreciation for Hillary Clinton:

(Argus Leader, October 30, 2016, page A7)

Among many other things..

Saddle up!