Third candidate in D33 announces, triggering likely House Primary

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A third candidate has emerged in the House District 33 race, adding another likely primary election to the tally.

Curt Massie, a Republican from Rapid City, has announced his intention to run for election in South Dakota House District 33.

The district includes mostly rural portions of Pennington County surrounding west, north and south Rapid City. It also includes and a portion of Meade County from Summerset to just west of Black Hawk.

District 33 is currently represented in the House by Taffy Howard and Phil Jensen. Howard has announced her candidacy for South Dakota’s Congressional seat.

Read it here.

Phil Jensen is expected to run again, and Rapid City resident Dean Aurand has already filed paperwork for the race.

Pro-Life Rule Blocking Telemedicine Abortions Approved

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Pro-Life Rule Blocking Telemedicine Abortions Approved

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Kristi Noem and the Department of Health’s rule blocking telemedicine abortions was approved by the South Dakota Legislature’s Interim Rules Review Committee.

“Chemical abortions are four times as likely to cause a woman getting an abortion to end up in an emergency room – and we have a duty to protect the lives of those women,” said Governor Noem. “I look forward to the day when the life of every unborn child is protected in South Dakota. Until then, South Dakotans will know that if a mother uses abortion pills to end her unborn child’s life, she will not get those pills from a stranger over the internet.”

In September, Governor Noem signed Executive Order 2021-12, directing the South Dakota Department of Health to establish rules preventing telemedicine abortions in South Dakota. The rule does the following:

  • Requires that no medical abortion by use of mifepristone and misopristol take place except in a licensed abortion facility, with an observation period;
  • Requires in-office visits for the taking of the mifepristone and separately for the misopristol. This provision makes South Dakota the only state in the nation to protect the life of the mother to this extent;
  • Ensures that South Dakota law is properly followed by requiring that the mother be informed that, after administration of the mifepristone, it is possible to rescue the unborn child and stop the abortion from occurring; and
  • Requires abortion facilities collect and maintain certain information.

Governor Noem plans to work with the South Dakota legislature to pass legislation that makes these and other protocols permanent in the 2022 legislative session.

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Party without candidates for Governor, Congress canceling big event citing COVID

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The South Dakota Democrat Party is announcing today that they’re canceling their big New Year’s Gala event citing COVID.  But I can’t help but notice that they’re also the party without any candidates as well…

Might just be a coincidence.

Republican Matt Doyle files to run in D7 House, possibly triggering primary. Roughly 15 or so GOP primaries so far.

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Republican Matt Doyle of Brookings has filed paperwork to form a campaign committee in support of a race for District 7 House, making him the third candidate in that race and triggering yet another primary election in this already busy season.

And it’s just plain getting crazy as I’m counting over 15 primaries so far, and we’re not through the first week in January. What primaries are out there/strongly rumored so far…

D2 House – Sjaarda, Schoenbeck & Kull
D3 House – Weis, Perry, Rylance, Possibly Dennert, and I’ve heard another may also get in.
D4 House – Deutsch, Grimm, and I’m told another.
D5 House – Bartels, Callies & Kobat
D7 House – …As mentioned
D9 House – Milstead, Soye, Fonkert.. possibly one other
D11 House – Karr, Mulder, Bonynge
D12 House – Jamison, Schuster, Heisey
D16 House – Jensen, Vasgaard and Karla Lems. Lems announced before redistricting, so we’ll see if she moves forward.
D25 House – Gross, Hansen, Pischke
D30 House – Watch for a primary in some configuration.. this district is somewhat fluid at the moment.
D34 House – Derby, Olson, Twiggs

D1 Senate – Rumors are flying that Current D3 State Rep. Dennert may abandon District 3 for District 1, and challenge incumbent Senator Mike Rohl, who was one of the Senate’s hardest-charging giant slayers in the last election, where he took out long-time Dem Legislator Susan Wismer in a traditionally Dem District.  You would think that this would be dumb on Dennert’s part, but with the crowded D3 House field, neither path is attractive, so rolling the dice might be an acceptable risk for him.

D2 Senate – Spencer Wrightsman is the lone ranger in the race right now, but rumors are that the field may get crowded, as there are a lot of people interested.

D3 Senate – Long-time legislator Al Novstrup is being challenged by newcomer Rachel Dix. Dix has strong community involvement for her age, so this could be one to watch.

D12 Senate – Arch Beal is running for the Senate, but there are rumors that an insurance executive might be jumping in to run for that seat as well.

D24 Senate – Incumbent Mary Duvall has a challenge from the right in former Pierre City Commissioner & current state employee Jim Mehlhaff

D25 Senate – Incumbent Marsha Symens is being challenged by former legislator Kevin Crisp.

D26 Senate – Newcomer Republican Christian Skunk and return Republican candidate Joel Koskan will be going head to head for the seat being vacated by Democrat Troy Heinert.

D31 Senate – With incumbent Tim Johns stepping back, Ron Moeller had already been in the race, and I’ve heard rumors of a strong contender also stepping up to run for the race as well.

Did I say 15?  OK, we’re at 20 already at the legislative level.  Plus there’s a few more rumored, and more that I’m sure will develop, which I’ll keep to myself.

Don’t forget that at the statewide level, we have primary elections for US Senate, Congress and Governor. And prospective convention fights for Attorney General, School and Lands, and as of this week, Secretary of State.

Since the last election there have been several advocacy group who have popped up with plans to run their own candidates for various offices.. but most of those don’t come with any money, so we’ll see if that have any measurable effect or to what extent they get involved (or try to take credit).

On the D side of things, so far Democrats have one primary for D15 House with incumbents Linda Duba & Jamie Smith being challenged by (Current? Former? ACLU employee) Kadyn Wittman… and that’s about it. Forget primaries for statewide office, as they sort-of have one candidate for the US Senate race, and that is it. They have yet to field a candidate for Congress or Governor, and Constitutional Candidates for many years have been those they can talk into it.

And that’s what I know this morning.

Join Jake Schoenbeck for a petition signing event (For District 2)

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District 2 House Candidate Jake Schoenbeck is hosting a “pints and petitions” event to have people come together and sign his petition for office, while enjoying some fellowship of craft brews.

From the Facebook Post:

I love politics and I love craft beer so I thought I might as well combine them! Join me at A Homestead Brew (Brewery in the Southeast corner of Minnehaha) this Saturday from 4-8pm. I’ll be there with my petition for District 2 House of Representatives. While you’re there, I encourage you try one of the many great beers at Homestead, including one that is being released that same day!

Note: To sign my petition you need to be Republican in District 2 (Brandon, East of Veteran’s Highway and North of 57th in Sioux Falls, and Valley Springs). If you’re not, I would still enjoy your company and Lee at Homestead would love your patronage!

Check it out!

Thune: Democrats Want to Change the Rules in the Middle of the Game to Pass Radical Policies

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Thune: Democrats Want to Change the Rules in the Middle of the Game to Pass Radical Policies

“Removing the filibuster would erase this protection and allow the majority – including an incredibly narrow or merely technical majority, as Democrats have now – to trample minority rights.”

Click here or on the picture above to watch the video.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed the Democrats’ latest threat to abolish the legislative filibuster. Thune noted that abolishing the filibuster would fundamentally change the character of the Senate and remove one of the most significant protections of minority party rights in our system of government.