This week, Drew Peterson of Salem has filed paperwork to form a Campaign Committee to run for District 19 House. And you may have heard of his campaign chairman:

Outgoing House Majority Leader Kent Peterson is chairing the campaign committee for Drew Peterson, his brother, after Kent is barred in seeking another term as a result of term limits.

In the growing ever more crowded D19 House race, Drew, a farmer and board member of SD Soybeans is currently facing Jessica Bahmuller, who was edged out in the last election after a recount and State Representative Caleb Finck, a veteran of three elections.  Also rumored to be eyeing the race is Michael Boyle, who lost in the 2018 House Primary against Kent Peterson and Kyle Schoenfish.

This might be one of the primary elections to watch, as I’m sure all will be battling hard.

Mark Willadsen to run for District 9 State Senate seat

Mark Willadsen announced his candidacy today for the South Dakota State Senate representing District 9.  Willadsen, a Republican, has owned and operated the Willadsen Insurance Agency for 39 years, and has a long history of civic service in the Sioux Falls community, including 14 years in the State House of Representatives.

“I’m excited for the opportunity to continue to serve the people of Minnehaha County in the South Dakota State Senate,” Willadsen noted. “State Senator Wayne Steinhauer, who is retiring from the Senate, has served the area for many years and I look forward to building on the work he’s done for our communities.”

Over the years, Willadsen has been a leading voice in Pierre for legislation to improve the lives of South Dakotans. One of the signature pieces of legislation he authored in recent years (HB 1091, 2016) was to change South Dakota insurance laws so ride share services such as UBER and LYFT could come to our state.  “This was a great example of business, insurers, regulators and South Dakotans coming together to keep pace with the changing times and to open up more opportunities in a changing economy.” Willadsen said.

Willadsen would be the first to admit that much of his legislation isn’t the kind you read about in newspapers, but it’s important to help the everyday lives of South Dakotans. “My legislative career has been about opening doors and fixing laws that don’t make much sense. I’m a big proponent in opening our state up for business, and making sure we keep pace with tomorrow’s economy.”

Willadsen is a graduate of Leadership Sioux Falls, past president of the Sioux Falls Morning Optimist club, the Southwest Optimist Club, Crime Stoppers, and the Sioux Falls Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors. Willadsen is a past chairman of the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce Tax Council.

Mark and his wife Suzanne have three children and twelve grandchildren.

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End of year state campaign finance reports for PAC’s and Statewide Candidates are due this week and are trickling in. There’s a few I’m particularly interested in, but while we wait for those, there’s plenty to whet our appetites.

This morning, I was particularly interested in what’s showing up for Constitutional candidates who are moving towards 2022.  Constitutional candidates often have a challenging time raising money, because they don’t always have a well-defined constituency.

Ryan Brunner leaves the Office of School & Public Lands with $1249.42 remaining in his campaign account. Brock Greenfield, running for Ryan Brunner’s office at School & Public Lands enters 2022 with $10,047 in the bank after $8182.55 in expenses last year. Fellow S&L candidate Jordan Youngberg’s report is still pending.

The Daugaard for Governor campaign might be in a retirement mode, but still commands $313,865 in his campaign account, but is slowly drawing it down with $45,000 in charitable contributions, and has handed out donations to officeholders including Dusty Johnson, Jack Kolbeck, Steve Barnett, and Will Mortenson. But, he’s also sent well wishes to  brand new legislative candidates Amber Arlint, Lisa Rave, Tyler Tordsen, and Jesse Fonkert.

Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg’s report is still out, as is Marty Jackley’s.

State Treasurer Josh Haeder comes into 2022 with $8122.27 banked for his campaign.

State Auditor Rich Sattgast currently has $855.31 in his campaign account.

Chris Nelson for PUC moves into the 2022 election season with a very healthy $72,853 in his campaign account.

And Secretary of State Steve Barnett has a tremendous $128,004.49 ready to roll for the campaign. This is very strong for a constitutional officer, who tend to struggle to raise money.   No report is due for Monae Johnson, also running for Secretary of State, who did not file her candidacy until after the first of the year.

From Punchbowl News this morning:

And you can read it yourself in Johnson’s latest report, where Johnson reports a great month with $378,553.44 in contributions, against a lean $68,846.00 in expenses, leaving him $2,022,889.99

Dusty YearEnd 2022 FEC Repot by Pat Powers on Scribd

From Sanford Health comes this weeks’ update on COVID hospitalizations:

The number of people hospitalized is remaining steady, but as compared to last week, it seems like the number of people who have been both vaccinated and boosted requiring hospitalization is at a higher percentage. But, in good news, we’re getting a few off of ventilators.

Still, well worth noting that you stand a better chance of not ending up in the ICU or on a ventilator if you’re vaccinated.  Follow the science.

From Twitter:

Our goal is to avoid war. Deterrence is the key. We need to send a strong message to Vladimir Putin that an invasion in Ukraine will cost him blood and treasure. Last night, I joined @ErinBurnett on @OutFrontCNN to discuss the situation. pic.twitter.com/6UDHAsxIWX

— Senator Mike Rounds (@SenatorRounds) January 25, 2022

I caught this interesting tidbit tonight.

Apparently, the Minnehaha-Lincoln Republican Women are hosting the entire group of US Senate wannabees at lunch later this week. I think we can refer to it – with a high level of confidence – as a farewell lunch.

Because in about 60 days, I think it’s a pretty sure bet that none of the three will be running.

As of last night, it looks like a Democrat has declared himself as a candidate for Governor.

Barry Hulse of Vermillion has filed paperwork to form a committee declaring himself as a “Democratic Candidate for Governor of South Dakota.”

His on-line footprint is a bit sparse at the moment, but he does have a Facebook page for his candidacy.  We’ll see if he gets any farther than that.

I’m kind of thinking that Jay Williams must have been busy.

Not a huge amount of activity today, but in District 7, former State Representative Doug Post has filed to run in the primary for the house. I show a 4-way race with Tim Reed, Mellissa Heermann, Matt Doyle, and Post.

District 20 State Rep Lance Koth informs me that his petitions “have been filed with SOS for District 20 Representative,” bringing the number of candidates up to two in the House.

And I’ve spoken with two today who will be new candidates running in previously unannounced primary elections, continuing the upward curve we’re on for activity.  But strangely, Democrats are nearly nonexistent to this point. We may actually end up with more Republican primary elections than general elections for legislative seats.

Keep watching for updates.

Gov. Noem Appoints Jarrod Johnson as Interim Commissioner of School and Public Lands

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Kristi Noem appointed Jarrod Johnson as Interim Commissioner of School and Public Lands, effective February 1, 2022. The current commissioner, Ryan Brunner, will step down from his position and join and Governor Noem’s office as a senior policy advisor. Ryan’s last day in elected office will be January 31, 2022.

“Ryan has been a tireless servant to the people of South Dakota as Commissioner of School and Public Lands, and he has earned respect throughout the halls of the Capitol and across the state. We are excited to have him join our team in the Governor’s Office,” said Governor Kristi Noem. “Jarrod will be a capable and qualified steward of the office until the next commissioner is elected by the people.”

Jarrod Johnson previously served as South Dakota’s Commissioner of School and Public Lands from 2007-2013. While in office he served on the South Dakota Investment Council, was President of the Western States Land Commissioner’s Association, and was a South Dakota representative on the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission. In addition, Jarrod also was appointed by the Secretary of the Interior to the Bureau of Land Management Resource Advisory Committee of Montana and Dakotas.

Jarrod has served South Dakota Agriculture in several leadership capacities, including as past President of the Sioux Basin Cattlemen’s Association, the board of directors of South Dakota Agriculture and Rural Leadership, a board member of the Western South Dakota Buckaroos, the property rights chairman of the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association, and appointed member representative of Agriculture United for South Dakota.  Jarrod is also a current member of the South Dakota Stock Growers Association and the General Beadle Club. Jarrod and his wife Nancy ranch in Minnehaha and Meade counties.

“I am grateful to Governor Noem for this opportunity to serve the people of South Dakota,” said Jarrod Johnson. “I plan to serve in this position in an interim capacity and will not be running for this office in the fall. My goal is to ensure a smooth transition to the next commissioner following the November election.”

You can learn more about the Office of School and Public Lands here.

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