South Dakota Democrat Party Executive Director Dan Ahlers has stepped forwards to serve as the Democrat Party’s Candidate for Governor in 2026, according to media reports, and a newly unveiled website:

With a little grit and determination, I started a small business and served my community for 25 years. It’s that same grit and determination that South Dakotans past and present used to build this great state. Together, we have overcome tough times. But today, we face challenges we haven’t seen since the Great Depression. These challenges are complicated by politicians that have chosen party politics over representing you.

As a community leader, I brought a diverse group of entrepreneurs, non-profits and churches together to build a stronger community. For 6 years, I served District 25 in the state legislature. During that time, I collaborated with my Democrat and Republican colleagues to pass legislation that improved the education and funding for students with disabilities. We improved funding and increased access to quality health care. And I worked across party lines to increase funding to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Family, ensuring thousands of South Dakota children have access to nutritional food.

Working in the minority, it would have been easy to sit back and blame Republicans for the problems and challenges we faced as a state. Besides, what can a Democrat accomplish in Pierre? I’m not built that way, and I was determined to find a way to get work done. I looked for opportunities to work together and found common causes. As a result, we passed legislation and increased funding to areas many thought was impossible. 

Now more than ever you need a strong voice in Pierre. Send me to back to Pierre, and I will put that same grit and determination to work for you.

Read the website here.

 

 

Jon Nelson Announces Candidacy for South Dakota House of Representatives, District 8

Jon Nelson, a lifelong resident of Lake Preston, has announced his candidacy for the South Dakota House of Representatives in District 8.

He and his wife, Cathy, have farmed together for more than 40 years and continue their generational farming operation alongside their son and his family.

Jon has been deeply involved in the agriculture industry having been a member in multiple state commodity organizations and currently represents his region as District 6 Director for the South Dakota Soybean Association. As a graduate of Class 6 of South Dakota Ag and Rural Leadership, he was elected class president and has served multiple terms on the SDARL Foundation Board helping to support the development of local and state leaders.

In years past, Jon also dedicated 12 years to the Lake Preston School Board, including several years as board chair, where he helped guide local education and supported students and families in the community. Additionally, as a lifelong member of North Preston Lutheran Church, Jon has held numerous leadership roles and currently serves as Chair of the Cemetery Association.

As a lifelong farmer and cattle feeder, Jon is committed to protecting landowner rights, agriculture and strengthening rural communities through growth, opportunity, and responsible long-term stewardship promoting an effect government that spends our tax dollars wisely. His goal is simple: to keep rural South Dakota strong so the next generation, including his grandchildren and others can choose to build their lives here and prosper.

Jon respectfully asks for your support as he seeks to serve District 8 in the House of Representatives and give back to the state of South Dakota.

In case you missed it, the Dusty Johnson for Governor commercial that aired tonight during the Super Bowl is available on-line to watch:

There’s more mayhem coming from former 32-year Democrat Jim Eschenbaum’s SDGOP in the run up to their February Central Committee Meeting in 2 weeks, with their meal hosted by former independent Justin McNeal.

How do you know you’ve alienated the leadership of the State Republican Party? When you have to go to Justin McNeal to host your buffet. 

The party released their P&L Statement to show us the kind of job he has been doing in managing the party.  You can judge for yourself:

2025 SDGOP_PandL by Pat Powers

 

Page 1 is simply the budget they had proposed at one of the last meetings. The P&L is more the actual. So, when on page 1 they promise to raise $15,000 at their pheasant fundraiser, page 2 shows whet they actually did. Their net was $1500.

Here’s page 2, where you can dig into things further:

The one that grabbed my attention was the “Governor’s Pheasant Hunt,” that didn’t actually have the Governor there, unlike prior years.  In fact, it didn’t have anyone who will ever be Governor, considering Jon Hansen was the only candidate there.  It could have been billed as the “4th place in the Governor’s Race Hunt.”

The P&L sheet notes that the party took in $11,664.96 for that event. But the P&L also notes that the expense for that event was $10,164.96. Wait.. so reconciling the two figures, their take on what used to be a far more significant event for Republicans 4 or 5 years ago.. was $1500?   That’s after their income projections were $15,000?  I think they misplaced a decimal.  Most Lincoln Day Dinners bring in more than that.  In a normal party organization, that’s one phone call.  Not the total take from one of their major events for the year.

If their finances continue to trend as they have, in their financial outlook for 2026, the State Republican Party claims that they need $135,000 to put on the Republican State Convention. In their current state, they might be lucky to clear $13,500.

Just caught this on facebook in the early hours of this morning, sleepily scrolling.. and it woke me up with a start. A scary tale to begin my day with.

The South Dakota Republican Party has formed a new platform committee in preparation for the next convention. And to say it’s markedly different that the last, is an understatement. Because it’s not your typical platform committee.

It’s like Rod Serling dropped in to narrate what’s happening. Just to inform us that in the Twilight Zone, they’ve convened the ‘Republican Party’s platform committee.’  A platform committee of the damned.

Boasting 4 members from Pennington County, Tonchi Weaver, Dale Bartscher, Phil Jensen and Tony Randolph, clearly Jim Eschenbaum, the former 32-year Democrat who passes for the Party Chair asked himself who are some of the most divisive people in the Republican Party? So he could include them on the committee.

Rep. Phil Jensen, who is such a horse’s hindquarters that even the Jon Hansen/Scott Odenbach faction of the party kicked him out of the House GOP caucus, in addition to stripping him of committees and positions in this and the last sessions?  Tony Randolph, who at one time voted to keep rapists in high school classrooms, and is the prime sponsor this year of HB 1212, to place women who have abortions under arrest and charged with murder?  Tonchi Weaver who was attacking Governor Kristi Noem for not being conservative enough in the last election?

Of course, we can’t leave out Minnehaha County’s contribution of former State Rep. Steve Haugaard. The lead counsel trying to defend Julie Frye-Mueller in suckle-gate. His views were rejected by the Republican Party as a group in the Republican Party in 2022 on a basis of 76.4% to 23.6% after he challenged Governor Noem in that race – for again, not being conservative enough.  They also did it again at the convention that year, when Haugaard sought to push out now Governor Larry Rhoden as Lt. Governor on the ticket. 

Now Eschenbaum wants to have Haugaard help write the standards via the party platform planks that the Republicanism of Governor Larry Rhoden would be judged by? I’m guessing no one consulted the Governor on that appointment.

There’s others of varying degrees of obnoxiousness on the platform committee. But suffice it to say that I have no doubt that we’ll hear more about the Republican Party Platform Committee of the Damned – especially their end product – in South Dakota’s media this year.

In the Media.. and in the Twilight zone.

Just had this video sent to me which points out how House Bill 1005 would help diversify America’s hyperscale data processing to make it more secure:

From the Rural National Defense Initiative.

Dean Kirkeby Confirmed to the GFP Commission

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Larry Rhoden’s appointment of Dean Kirkeby to the South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Commission was confirmed by the South Dakota State Senate.

“South Dakota is the most beautiful state, and protecting our great outdoors is a responsibility we don’t take lightly – we owe it to our kids and our grandkids,” said Governor Larry Rhoden. “Dean Kirkeby is a lifelong steward of the land, and his commitment to conservation, habitat protection, and public access will be a strong asset to our state.”

Dean Kirkeby is a lifelong South Dakotan and a 1978 graduate of South Dakota State University. He operates a family farm with his sons and provides public access to deer and pheasant hunters. He is also a private pilot and has incorporated flying into his farming operation to survey livestock, crop land, and land enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program. For over twenty years, Kirkeby served on the Merton Township board.

Kirkeby will be replacing Jon Locken, who completed his eight-year term this January.

“I appreciate my appointment to the SD GFP Commission and the trust Governor Rhoden has placed in me,” said Dean Kirkeby. “As a commissioner, my primary goal will be keeping the outdoors open and accessible to everyone that wants to enjoy it.”

Dean Kirkeby has been married for 36 years. He and his wife have three sons and five grandchildren. You can find a photo of Dean Kirkeby here.

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America First
By Rep. Dusty Johnson
February 6, 2026

BIG Update

Free, fair, and accountable elections are vital to the survival of our democracy. Without common sense guardrails, our election system is severely compromised. I’ve been supportive of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act to protect our elections. It requires individuals to provide proof of citizenship when they register to vote in federal elections. It also requires states to remove noncitizens from existing voter rolls.

I voted to pass the SAVE Act when it passed the House in March 2025, but the Senate has not considered it yet. This week, I joined fellow House members to urge the Senate to take up this legislation. Several states, including South Dakota, have removed noncitizens from their voter rolls in recent years – Congress must take action to strengthen election security.

BIG Idea

The sale of year-round E-15 will increase supply and demand of American-made fuel and lead to American energy dominance. President Trump is eager to sign a deal to deliver year-round E-15, supporting American producers and lowering the cost consumers see at the pump.

I’m working in the House to deliver a deal that President Trump can sign. This week, the Rural Domestic Energy Council met to work on a plan that can pass the House and Senate. I’m confident we will reach a deal that provides year-round E-15.

Click here or the image above to read more

BIG News

Tax season has arrived once again. Thankfully, the Working Families Tax Cuts Act provided historic tax relief for American taxpayers. The standard deduction has been boosted to $31,500 for families, which means the first $31,500 of your family’s income is tax free.

The Working Families Tax Cuts Act also cuts taxes on tips and overtime, as well as Social Security. Families will see an increased Child Tax Credit and can establish a tax-deferred savings account (also known as a Trump Account) to set children up for success. Children born between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2028 are eligible for a $1,000 investment from the Treasury Department into their Trump Account.

Conservative leadership in Washington means keeping more of your hard-earned money. For more information on the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, and how it affects you, visit whitehouse.gov/obbb/.

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South Dakota Voters Express Strong Broad Support for Vaccines

89% of SD Voters Say Vaccines are Essential
to Protecting Our Health and Our Kids

SIOUX FALLS, SD (February 6, 2026) – South Dakota Families for Vaccines released the results of a poll today that shows widespread support for vaccines among likely voters. The survey conducted by co/efficient reflected that nearly nine in ten voters (89%) say vaccines are very or somewhat important, with 76% saying childhood vaccines are very important.

“This polling confirms what we already know: voters understand the role vaccines play in keeping South Dakota healthy,” said Carmen Toft, director of South Dakota Families for Vaccines. “We expect our elected officials to protect the proven public health standards our families clearly value, not weaken them.”

Respondents overwhelmingly expressed confidence in traditional vaccines. A strong majority view traditional vaccines positively, with 90% saying they are a very or somewhat good thing, and 77% believing they are completely or mostly safe.

Support for maintaining school immunization requirements is decisive, with voters favoring current standards by a 76% to 24% margin. Voters prioritize preventing rare but deadly diseases over weakening long-standing safeguards.

Voters clearly reject non-medical exemptions, with nearly six in ten (59%) viewing them as a direct risk to children rather than an issue of parental rights. This finding reflects broad public understanding that strong vaccine requirements are essential to protecting kids, families, and community health.

The poll also shows strong agreement that vaccination is a shared responsibility. Nearly three-fourths (72%) believe individuals have a responsibility to protect public health, even when balanced against personal freedom considerations. Despite this clear public opinion, the House Health and Human Services Committee passed HB 1153 out of committee on Thursday with a floor debate likely next week.

The poll was conducted January 22-26, 2026 by the research and analytics company co/efficient. It surveyed 1414 likely general election voters and has a margin of error of +/-3.45%.

Vaccine Day of Advocacy

The poll’s findings come as South Dakota Families for Vaccines prepares to bring advocates and health care leaders to the Capitol for Vaccine Day of Advocacy on Thursday, February 12, in Pierre. SDFV will be joined by partners including Immunize South Dakota, the South Dakota State Medical Association, the South Dakota Public Health Association, and the South Dakota chapters of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Together, advocates will meet with lawmakers to share data, personal stories, and a clear message from voters: protecting public health and maintaining strong vaccine standards matters to South Dakota families.

About South Dakota Families for Vaccines

South Dakota Families for Vaccines is a volunteer-driven, grassroots network of South Dakotans dedicated to advocating for public health rooted in fact-based public policy and promoting immunizations across the lifespan for healthier families and communities. For more information visit www.sdfamiliesforvaccines.org.

Kind of getting tedious to write about Rep. Schaefbauer’s legislative efforts, or lack thereof, but they just keep coming.

After writing about her new bill, “Brandei’s Law,” and how all of her legislation seems to be coming from “Shandei,” I thought I was done.

Then Searchlight had a story about how she spoke on the floor on because she forgot her ivermectin, they should shield those prescribing horse medicine to humans from liability.  Nope. Not doing 3 in one day, even though this stuff begs to be written.

This morning, the bill that Rep. Schaefbauer was re-running from last year, House Concurrent Resolution 6008, was dispatched in almost record time by House Judiciary.  Schaefbauer testified for it, Phil Jensen testified for it. Dylan Jordan testified for it.  And then no opponents.  And no discussion?  It was moved do pass by Hunt.. which died for lack of a second. But then a motion was made to send it to the 41st day.  Boom. Quick, quiet, and done is done. That bill was killed.

But, why would they kill Schefbauer’s legislation like that? Why when her bills come up, are the people in the House of Representatives voting against it?

According to a comment from Representative Schaefbauer on facebook yesterday, under a post from Shad Olson about Schaefbauer’s copy-cat church riot bill, her bills are being dumped by the House of Representatives because there are too many tiny minds in the room.

Is claiming that the 48 members of the South Dakota House of Representatives who voted against House Bill 1124 are “tiny minds in the room” going to win supporters for Brandei and influence people to vote for her legislation?

I somewhat doubt it.