A reader shared an interesting study they did this weekend, and thought it might be worthwhile to share with Dakotawarcollege.com readers. They took a good hard look at the freedom caucus’ legislative record. And if you take a good hard look, it’s not so good.

I was wondering how effective the eight Freedom Caucus members were in getting their prime-sponsored bills passed into law compared to all other Republicans. So I did an analysis. No ideology – just looking at data. The difference is stark:

Legislative Effectiveness — Republicans Only – 2025 South Dakota Legislative Session:

Purpose – To compare legislative effectiveness of Republican Freedom Caucus legislators to all other Republican legislators using a single, objective metric: how often a legislator’s own bills (prime-sponsored) became law. This memo evaluates outcomes only and does not assess ideology, rhetoric, or intent.

Method:
• Legislature: 105 members
• Republicans: 95
• Freedom Caucus Republicans analyzed: 8
• Non–Freedom-Caucus Republicans: 87

Metric:
• Prime sponsor only
• “Win” = bill signed into law
• Excludes resolutions, commemorations, and cosponsorships

Freedom Caucus Members — Prime Sponsor Results

Member	Prime Bills	Signed	Win %
John Carley	12	2	16.7%
Phil Jensen	6	0	0.0%
Logan Manhart	4	2	50.0%
Tina Mulally	6	1	16.7%
Aaron Aylward	10	2	20.0%
Heather Baxter	9	1	11.1%
Dylan Jordan	6	0	0.0%
Tony Randolph	6	0	0.0%

Freedom Caucus totals:
• Prime bills: 59
• Signed into law: 8
• Win rate: 13.6%
• Bills passed per member: 1.0

Prime-Sponsor Performance — Republicans Only

Group	Members	Prime Bills	Signed	Win %	Bills Passed per Member
Freedom Caucus Republicans	8	59	8	13.6%	1.0
Non-FC Republicans	87	371	180	48.5%	2.07

Key Takeaways
• Freedom Caucus Republicans passed about one out of every seven bills they sponsored.
• Non-Freedom Caucus Republicans passed nearly half of the bills they sponsored.

Bottom Line:
In the 2025 session, Freedom Caucus Republicans passed 13.6% of their prime-sponsored bills. Non-Freedom Caucus Republicans passed 48.5% of their bills.

Not exactly a bell-ringing endorsement for a group that likes to send out press releases making demands of the administration and of other Republicans on how to conduct the business of government.

From Facebook, there seems to be a groundswell of opposition building to a new measure being proposed by Sen. Curt Voight of Rapid City and Sen. Carl Perry of Aberdeen.

What are they proposing? To create a new form of professional licensure for the State of South Dakota; demanding that all hunting and fishing guides register with the State of South Dakota and pay a fee for that privilege.  And it’s not necessarily a cheap license to show people where they might throw a line in the river:

Section 5. That a NEW SECTION be added to chapter 41-6:

The Department of Game, Fish and Parks shall charge a fee of:

(1) Five hundred dollars for a resident fishing or hunting guide license; and

(2) One thousand dollars for a nonresident fishing or hunting guide license.

Read Curt & Carl’s bill here.

Naturally, the bureaucratic minded team of Curt Voight & Carl Perry are already getting pushback:

People are starting to gear up to oppose this new – and what appears to be very unpopular – measure for more government.

What is your opinion? Do we need licensure for hunting & fishing guides?

Thune Statement on Arrest of Nicolas Maduro

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today released the following statement after President Trump announced that federal drug fugitive Nicolas Maduro was captured for the purposes of being held accountable for his crimes.

“For years, Nicolas Maduro, the cartel he leads, and other cartels in Latin America have trafficked drugs into the United States, which have killed hundreds of thousands of Americans. President Trump’s decisive action to disrupt the unacceptable status quo and apprehend Maduro, through the execution of a valid Department of Justice warrant, is an important first step to bring him to justice for the drug crimes for which he has been indicted in the United States. I am grateful for the brave men and women of our armed forces who carried out this necessary action. I spoke to Secretary Rubio early this morning, and I look forward to receiving further briefings from the administration on this operation as part of its comprehensive counternarcotics strategy when the Senate returns to Washington next week.”

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BOLO ALERT. BOLO ALERT.  Be on the lookout for former Rapid City news anchor Shad Olson. Because according to documents filed in court, he’s a wanted man.

After pleading “No Contest” and receiving a suspended imposition of sentence for charges related to a domestic violence incident in early 2024, nearly 2 years later an arrest warrant has been issued against former Rapid City news anchor Shad Olson by the prosecuting attorney in Meade County.

In the PETITION TO REVOKE SUSPENDED IMPOSITION OF SENTENCE filed by Tanner Jackson, Meade County Deputy State’s Attorney, the document details that Olson, pictured left in his arrest photo, failed to honor a number of the terms of his agreement for suspended imposition of sentence, according to a court document filed on December 19th:

• • (1) Defendant failed to pay court appointed attorney fees, investigator fees, and transcript costs;
  • (2) Defendant failed to complete alcohol evaluation, abide by the recommendations of the evaluation, and provide proof of completion; and
  • (3) Defendant failed to complete anger management and provide proof of completion, in violation of the conditions ordered by the Court.

As a result, a warrant of arrest has been issued against Defendant Shad A Olson for his violation of the terms and conditions of the Defendant’s suspended imposition of sentence.

The warrant issued on December 23rd by 4th Circuit Magistrate Judge Chad Callahan further details to ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OF THIS STATE that they shall arrest Shad Olson and deliver him to the courtroom of the Meade County Magistrate Court. And that “the Warrant of Arrest may be served at any time of the day or night, weekends, or holidays.”  A bond has been set in the amount of $500 in the matter to encourage his appearance.

According to court documents reviewed today, there’s no indication that the warrant has been executed. So if you see something – say something, and notify your local police department or Sheriff’s office of his location.  Although, I might suggest that people in Brown County & Lawrence County be extra “on the lookout” that they might have to call the Sheriff.  He’s been said to be often seen with a certain State Legislator who has homes in those locations. (IYKYK)

In case you were looking for the documentation on all of this..

Shad Olson December 23 2025 Arrest Warrant by Pat Powers

Looks like Democrats have picked up another candidate for Governor. Who may or may not get on the ballot.

Why do I think this? Because at least on the surface they have not demonstrated the organization and critical mass to show they have the organization to collect the petition signatures and to raise the funds to conduct a statewide campaign.

Either way, I bring you Anthony Sitter of Aberdeen:

Anthony Sitter sdcfdisclosure by Pat Powers

In looking at his website, it appears to be a placeholder. And not finding much else.

This part of the discussion will probably be done towards the end of March when petitions come due.

Remember this email from the State GOP chairman back in May?

It has been brought to my attention this morning that Toby Doeden’s campaign is asking County parties to endorse him. It has been discussed many times that this would not be appropriate for the party to influence the election process, other than supporting Republicans. 

Read that e-mail from the chair here.

“not..appropriate for the party to influence the election process..” The chairman’s words. Not mine.  If that’s the case, then what on earth is the Davison County Republican Party doing with the monthly meeting agenda they just sent out?

Well, no kidding that Hansen needs signatures. So do a lot of other candidates. It seems that according to the favoritism in the Davison GOP’s agenda they are acting inappropriately and trying to influence the election process. According to the rules laid out (in writing) by the SDGOP chairman.

Also – looking ahead – I can’t help but wonder how that naked favoritism is going to work for the Davison County GOP when they are calling candidates other than Jon Hansen and begging for donations for their Lincoln Day Dinner program?

Just asking.

Sen. Randy Deibert will be hosting events next week previewing the 2026 legislative session for constituents in Lawrence County:

On Thursday the 8th, the Senator is hosting a session in Spearfish at Sawyer Brewing. On Friday, January 9th, Randy will be joined by State Representative Mary Fitzgerald and County Commission Eric Jennings

Check it out!

From reports I have received, South Dakota has lost two remarkable figures in state politics this New Year’s.

I am told that last night former Speaker of the House Harvey Krautschun passed away. Harvey was a long-time leader of the Spearfish business community, and served 12 years in the legislature.

As noted in his bio section at the legislative research council’s website:

More information will be forthcoming.

This morning I’m also told that Frank Brost, Chief of Staff for Governors Mickelson and Miller from 1987-1995 has passed to eternity as well.

In 1993, Brost was set to step down as Governor Mickelson‘s chief of staff, and had been lauded by Governor Mickelson for his work on behalf of the administration:

“During his tenure, Frank was the driving force behind my agenda, personally seeing to it that the priorities of this administration–economic development, the environment. education, health care and government efficiency–were addressed,” the Governor said.

Murdo Coyote, 4/8/93

Yet this plan to step down changed 11 days later when Governor Mickelson lost his life in a tragic plane crash. And Brost remained on as COS to help Governor Miller’s administration.

In the last year, Brost participated in an oral history project, and you can see him as interviewed by Lieutenant Governor Tony Venhuizen about South Dakota politics and government in the 70’s and 80’s.

Please keep the families in your thoughts and prayers at this time while they mourn the passing and celebrate the lives of their loved ones who contributed much of their lives to making South Dakota a better place.

Governor Larry Rhoden Holds Record-Breaking Fundraiser;
Largest Candidate Fundraiser in History of Union Center

Union Center, SD – Last night, Governor Larry Rhoden marked the end of 2025 by breaking the record for the largest candidate fundraiser in the history of Union Center, his hometown. The fundraiser, held at the Central Meade County Community Center in Union Center, raised over $30,000 in a town of approximately 40 people. It is believed to be the largest fundraiser, per-capita, in any town in state history.

“I am grateful for this generous support,” said Governor Larry Rhoden. “I’m not independently wealthy, and I haven’t been raising money for years, so every little bit helps. These are the people who know me best, and I appreciate their confidence in me to keep serving as their Governor.”

A comparable fundraiser in Sioux Falls, per-capita, would have raised approximately $150,000,000.

“I’ve been studying gubernatorial history for 20 years, and I’m not aware of any fundraiser in any town in this state that raised such a large amount of money, per-capita,” said Lieutenant Governor Tony Venhuizen, author of The Governors of South Dakota.

The Rhoden for Governor campaign looks forward to building on this momentum and other strong fundraising results to close out 2025.

“2025 was a great year for South Dakota! In 2026, we will continue to keep South Dakota strong, safe, and free. Happy New Year!” concluded Governor Rhoden.

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Candidates, especially statewide; If you’re not thinking about your advertising plan, you should be. 2026 is going to be the hottest election season in a generation.  In the first part of the year there will be a burst of announcements – some surprises and some not so well kept secrets. And where is everybody going to read about it? Here at dakotawarcollege.com.  And just to remind you, the 2026 legislative session is going to be one of the hardest fought in recent history.  Are you a lobbying group, and you want to get your message in front of the people who cast a vote? Here’s your opportunity.

The election will bring many opportunities for advertisers to get their message out to “those in the know” of South Dakota politics and and community opinion leaders as we count the days until the next legislative session! You can also add those who regularly monitor the pulse of the process as readers and opinion leaders – whether they love this website or hate it – there are a lot of eyes available to get your message in front of. Literally – thousands are clicking on this website daily for the latest in political news, gossip, and whatever else the state’s leaders are up to.

Advertisers – I have a limited number of spots open, and questions on ad prices, ad positions, and ad commitments may be directed to the webmaster by clicking here. There is limited space available at the moment, such as spots in the left column, as well as spots #1 & 2 on the right. Ads run in their position through the site, meaning they are not rotated, and are available on a first-come first-served basis. Discounts are provided for extended commitments.

Please don’t forget to check out our current advertisers including Monae Johnson for Secretary of State, US Senator John Thune, Dusty Johnson for Governor, Senator Mike Rounds, Emmett Reistroffer for House District 35, Heath Shields for State Treasurer, Dakota Campaign Store, and more advertisers who will be posting soon.

Remember, you can always drop me a note if you have questions or if I can hook you up with ad space!