I think the SDGOP was struck mute..

Interesting that now the new version of the South Dakota Republican Party has one of the big candidates running for Governor, they’re suddenly struck mute on social media.. with a day old post on the Governor visiting tornado damage and an ego post about the SDGOP chairman’s birthday…

Oh, don’t forget twitter.

Did I say “don’t forget twitter?”

With the most recent post being February 19, it looks like they forgot twitter.

PUC commissioners appoint Mohr as executive director

PUC commissioners appoint Mohr as executive director

PIERRE, SOUTH DAKOTA – South Dakota Public Utilities Commissioners Gary Hanson, Chris Nelson and Kristie Fiegen have appointed Leah Mohr as the agency’s executive director. She has worked for the commission for the past 19 years, serving as the PUC’s deputy executive director since 2009.

She replaces Patricia Van Gerpen who recently retired, wrapping up 20 years with the PUC and a 41-year career in state government.

Mohr begins her duties as executive director with the commission on July 1, 2025. Her experience prior to working for the PUC includes 13 years in director and manager positions for the South Dakota Department of Tourism and the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, three years as an advertising manager for a national insurance company and a stint as a newspaper reporter in the Black Hills.

Mohr graduated from South Dakota State University with a degree in journalism. She is originally from Eagle Butte, South Dakota. Mohr and her family make their home in Pierre.

– 30 –

Dusty Johnson event had good attendance; several hundred people there, no tables or teleprompters

Had a photo from today’s Dusty Johnson announcement shared with me today showing how good attendance was. Kind of wish I could have been there, but I’m just getting back from my daughter’s graduation, so I’m lagging behind a bit.

No big tables taking up space, and I notice that nobody needed a teleprompter with scripted messages to offer their words.  Looks like just a good event with a good group of people excited to get behind a man they believe could be our next governor.

Toby Doeden already flip-flopping. Is Dusty Johnson “dark and evil” ? Or is he “a good father” and “nice guy?”

How early in the campaign is this? 2 weeks? And gubernatorial wannabe Toby Doeden is flip-flopping his positions already?  Seriously?

I figured we’re going to see this so often, I threw together a logo for it.

Remember June 16th:

“It’s going to become abundantly clear that there are two choices in June: light versus dark, good versus evil,” Doeden said. “I’m light; I’m good. Dusty’s dark; Dusty’s evil.”

From Keloland.com

Now we have Toby from today, June 30th:

“Now, I don’t know Congressman Johnson personally, but from what I understand, he is a good father, a loving husband, and a generally nice guy.’

From Toby Doeden for South Dakota.

Someone’s polling must have shown Toby how completely unlikeable he is to create such a bi-polar flip-flop.

But what else to you expect from such a rudderless campaign that is based on nothing resembling honor or values, and is just someone with deep pockets sticking his finger in the air doing whatever he thinks is going to get him elected.

Whatever it takes. At the moment.

State Sen. Casey Crabtree in early consideration of Congressional Race

With Congressman Dusty Johnson making his entrance into the race for Governor official, State Senator Casey Crabtree issued a statement today congratulating Congressman Johnson, as well as noting his own interest in running for Congress:

I’m thankful for Dusty’s work in Congress supporting South Dakota and Trump’s America First agenda. South Dakota has had giants like John Thune, Kristi Noem, and Dusty Johnson represent us in the U.S. House, and those are big shoes to fill.

My family and I have received a lot of encouragement across the state to consider a bid for this open seat. I am strongly considering this opportunity and we will look at this as a family through prayer and serious conversations. It has been an honor serving South Dakota in the State Senate, and I am thankful for the words of support and encouragement to serve our great state in Congress.

Doeden campaign attacks Dusty Johnson through PAC using ammo that didn’t work in 2022.

Someone should ask Drew Dennert if Toby’s hand is uncomfortable.  

Unsatisfied with referring to Dusty Johnson as “Dark and Evil” the other day, now that a real candidate has entered the race for Governor, Toby Doeden is hand-puppeting his Political Action Committee after  assigning Brown County Commissioner Drew Dennert (who appears in his many commercials) a campaign job to be his attack puppy.

Dennert/Doeden’s statement coming quickly after Dusty Johnson’s announcement, attacks Johnson on the basis that he believes that Dusty was supposed to blindly vote how Trump wanted each and every time, as opposed to doing that thing that Congresspeople are supposed to do.. reading legislation:

That’s it? It’s a rant about a single vote on border bill funding which some saw as an unconstitutional mechanism, not being a crazy person, voting for South Dakota road construction, and voting to support a congressperson in the state next door?  That was used in attacks and ignored in the last election?

You notice that we have yet to get anything concrete from Doeden other than how he intends to run South Dakota that as a CEO, I’ll tell other people to figure it out.

And now he’s using ammo that didn’t work in this last election through surrogates?

Not even a “nice try.”  Just a weak-ass one.

Dusty Johnson on KELO: time to push past the angry voices with “small visions” for South Dakota

KELOland news is covering the Dusty Johnson Gubernatorial Announcement, and alluding to the fact that it already looks like at least one of the candidates is going to be the poop-flinging ape in the race:

Doeden has already attacked Johnson in an interview with KELOLAND News. While saying he’s proud to be an “outsider,” Doeden said there will be two choices for voters: light vs. dark.

“I’m light; I’m good. Dusty’s dark; Dusty’s evil,” Doeden said June 16. “Those are going to be the two choices.”

and..

Johnson said Monday he anticipates a contentious primary.

“My politics are about addition and multiplication, not about subtraction and division,” he said. “There are certainly some angry voices out there. But I think it’s my job to push back against those angry voices. I think voters are tired of the fear and anger that is coming from small minds with small visions.”

Read the entire story here.

Former Legislative candidate undercover on social media, as she claims information on human trafficking gang

Here’s a facebook exchange that edged it’s way into the twilight zone, under a recent post on the Dakota Scout facebook page between Dakota Scout co-owner Joe Sneve, and someone writing as “Sam Ross” claiming to have information on a Human Trafficking gang:

If you click on the “Sam Ross” profile picture it brings up this:

This “Sam Ross” looks kind of familiar…  And if you look at her profile further, she sounds familiar as well..

Wait.. wait..  “The county auditor would not help me when criminals under the guise of being IRS Contract Investigators from Pagosa Springs, Colorado committed election fraud….”   I think we’ve heard this before:

Yep. And that would be former D17 candidate Robin Schiro. If you recall..

I think that might even be the same picture.

You know, somehow, in her “undercover alias” when she says she has information on a Human Trafficking gang, I think I would tend to take that with a grain of salt as well.

Dusty Johnson passes on acknowledging 2% or 4%, has nice comments about Gov. Rhoden

The Dakota Scout is writing today on Congressman Dusty Johnson’s entrance into the Governor’s race, as the front runner in state polling on the contest didn’t acknowledge those at the bottom of the polls, but reportedly had nice comments for the man who would be his main rival for the office, current Governor Larry Rhoden:

“I love this state,” he said in an interview with The Dakota Scout. “I think the next 20 years could be South Dakota’s best, but it’s not inevitable. I think we need a real plan. I think we need real leadership, and I’m excited to pull together that plan and pull together that team.”

and..

A spokesman for the Doeden campaign said it would issue a statement following Johnson’s announcement.

In a statement to The Dakota Scout, Hansen said his campaign represented the biggest conservative fighters on the biggest issues faced in the state.

and..

Johnson declined to address his potential opponents, other than saying he gets along well with Rhoden.

“I think a lot of things are going well in South Dakota, and I know there are some candidates that the premise of their campaign is attacking where South Dakota is at right now. That’s not me,” Johnson said. “I know South Dakota’s got challenges. I know we can do better, but South Dakota is pretty well run. Pretty gosh darn well run.”

Read the entire story here.

Not sure Dusty really needs to say anything about the also-rans at this point, other than to point out how South Dakota views them, according to recent polling:

Does the person leading at 28% need to acknowledge the guys at 2% or 4% yet? Probably not.