Jackley Wins South Dakota Chamber Poll

PIERRE, SD: In a South Dakota Chamber of Commerce poll conducted Thursday at their annual Business Day gathering in the state capital, a majority of the Chamber members from around the state said they supported Attorney General Marty Jackley for governor.

Asked who they would vote for if the election were held today, 60 percent chose Jackley, while 23 percent chose Congresswoman Kristi Noem and 17 percent chose State Senator Billie Sutton:

“I’m incredibly grateful for such a positive outpouring of support from members of the Chamber, but this is about more than supporting my candidacy for governor,” Jackley said. “To me this is a message of support for the ideas that we’ve been circulating throughout the business community the past several months.”

The poll comes after the release of three policy initiatives from the Jackley campaign. Destination South Dakota addressed the state’s tourism industry, and the Pheasant Hunting Initiative pitched a plan to restore the population of the state bird. This week’s Hometown South Dakota Initiative offered five proposals for economic growth.

“Since creating new jobs is our top priority, we’ve been seeking input from small businesses and community leaders across the state, and our policy initiatives will continue to reflect the advice that we receive,” Jackley said. “Our campaign is truly a team effort, and our message to the Chamber is that we want to partner with them to make South Dakota an attractive place to live, work and do business.”

This is the second year in a row those polled by the Chamber have thrown their support behind Jackley, who received 39 percent of the vote last year compared to 24 percent for Noem and 11 percent for Sutton.

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Noem Opens Sioux Falls Campaign Headquarters

Sioux Falls, S.D. – Kristi Noem opened her Sioux Falls Campaign Headquarters Friday. The office will serve as a volunteer outreach center, where South Dakotans can find information about Noem’s vision for South Dakota as well as collect signs, bumper stickers and other Team Noem materials. The office is located at 3300 S. Holly Avenue in Sioux Falls.

“With restaurants, concerts, shopping, and more, this community has long served as a hub for activity in eastern South Dakota, and I’m hopeful our new Sioux Falls location will serve the same purpose for our campaign,” said Noem. “I want to thank everyone who came together to celebrate today’s grand opening. Their support and willingness to help spread our vision for South Dakota means the world to me.”

PHOTOS FROM THE GRAND OPENING

Noem in Mitchell Saturday for Campaign Kickoff Tour

Sioux Falls, S.D. – Kristi Noem will be in Mitchell on Saturday, February 24, as part of her statewide campaign kickoff tour. During the tour, Noem will host events in rural Hamlin County, Pierre, Rapid City, Sturgis, Aberdeen, Sioux Falls, Yankton, Vermillion and Mitchell.

WHAT: Noem to Referee Coborns Dodge for a Cause Dodgeball Tournament
WHEN: Saturday, February 24 at 1:00PM (CT)
WHERE: Mitchell Recreation Center (1300 N Main Street, Mitchell)

WHAT: Noem to Keynote Vietnam Veterans Era Reunion
WHEN: Saturday, February 24 – 6:00PM (CT)
WHERE: Ramada Inn (1525 West Havens Avenue, Mitchell)

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South Dakota Democrat Legislators are teaming up with Democrats’ captive Political Action Committee  “The Majority Project” to raise money for their elections next week:

Given how many people are in the picture, they’ve got a long way to go to hit a majority.

Here’s the PAC’s latest campaign finance filing, in case you’re interested.

Rep. Kristi Noem Scores 100 Percent on FRC Action’s New Scorecard

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Family Research Council (FRC) Action recently released its annual scorecard for the First Session of the 115th Congress. U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) is among a new record of 245 Members of Congress who scored a perfect 100 percent for votes cast last year. She was recently presented with FRC Action’s “True Blue” award for displaying unwavering commitment and consistent support of faith, family, and freedom.

Votes in the U.S. House and Senate included:
• No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion
• Disapproval of Obama’s HHS Title X Rule
• Obamacare Repeal and Replace
• Confirmation of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court
• DOD Transgender Funding (Blocking Funding for Sex-Reassignment Surgeries)
• D.C. Budget Autonomy
• D.C. Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Amendment
• Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act
• Independent Payment Advisory Board Repeal
• Confirmation of Amy Barrett to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals
• Tax Cuts & Jobs Act

Family Research Council Action President Tony Perkins made the following comment:

“We thank Rep. Noem for consistently voting to defend and advance faith, family and freedom. As a ‘True Blue Member’ she voted 100 percent on FRC Action’s Scorecard including votes to repeal and replace Obamacare, deliver long-needed tax cuts that are already providing much needed relief to working families, stand for religious liberty, overturn President Obama’s transgender military policy, end the forced partnership between taxpayers and Planned Parenthood, and protect pain capable babies.

“Rep. Noem deserves praise for her unwavering commitment to stand for life, family, marriage, and religious liberty. South Dakotans should be encouraged to know that they have a Member of Congress such as Rep. Noem who has come alongside other members and our president to begin the work of rebuilding our nation, and protecting the very values that made America great,” concluded Perkins.

Rep. Kristi Noem added:

“Faith, family and freedom are the cornerstone of our country and the tenets by which I try to live. I am thrilled by the progress we’ve seen over the last year, whether that be the appointment of a pro-life Supreme Court Justice, states getting more flexibility to defund Planned Parenthood, or the passage of the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act through the U.S. House. More must be done, but I’m optimistic that with the help of organizations like Family Research Council we’ll continue to move in the right direction. I’m proud to be a partner in this fight and honored to be given the ‘True Blue’ award.”

Click here to download a copy of the Vote Scorecard.

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The State Chamber of Commerce had their annual meeting today, and a reader in attendance was kind enough for forward me a snapshots of the big political contests in their unscientific plebiscite among attendees.

No specific information as to how many were in attendance, but Dusty Johnson won the congressional contest, and Marty Jackley won the Gubernatorial poll among those voting.

And the campaign rolls on!

UPDATE: My source did provide me a picture of the crowd:

Noem in Sioux Falls, Vermillion and Yankton Friday for Campaign Kickoff Tour

Sioux Falls, S.D. – Kristi Noem will be in Sioux Falls, Vermillion and Yankton on Friday, February 23, as part of her statewide campaign kickoff tour. During the tour, Noem will host events in rural Hamlin County, Pierre, Rapid City, Sturgis, Aberdeen, Sioux Falls, Yankton, Vermillion and Mitchell.

WHAT: Noem to Open Sioux Falls Campaign Headquarters
WHEN: Friday, February 21 at 9:45AM (CT)
WHERE: Sioux Falls Campaign Headquarters (3300 S. Holly Avenue, Sioux Falls)

WHAT: Noem to Meet with USD College Republicans
WHEN: Friday, February 23 – 12:00PM (CT)
WHERE: Muenster University Center (414 E. Clark Street, Vermillion)

WHAT: Noem to Hold Listening Session on Housing Challenges
WHEN: Friday, February 23 – 1:30PM (CT)
WHERE: Chamber of Commerce (116 Market Street, Vermillion)

WHAT: Noem to Hold Listening Session on Vocational Training
WHEN: Friday, February 23 – 3:30PM (CT)
WHERE: Kolberg Pioneer Trading Center (700 W 21st Street, Yankton)

Innovative Systems CEO Endorses Jackley for Governor in New Ad

MITCHELL, SD: Roger Musick, CEO of Innovative Systems in Davison County, has endorsed Marty Jackley for governor in a new ad following the launch of the attorney general’s Hometown South Dakota Initiative.

“Marty’s first degree is in engineering, and that experience has helped him connect with companies like ours which are focused on advancing South Dakota in the technological space,” Musick said. “His Hometown Initiative is just the latest example of his leadership. It’s been very well received by folks here in Mitchell, and I’m especially glad to see he emphasized the need to modernize broadband in South Dakota.”

For 20 years Musick has led a team of nearly 200 professionals who provide expertise in the areas of telecommunications, electrical engineering, embedded systems design, software engineering and marketing.

“To have the endorsement of a job creator, community leader and pioneer in the field of telecommunications is truly humbling,” Jackley said. “Business owners like Roger helped shape our Hometown Initiative, and we’re going to continue to hold economic roundtables across the state.”

Jackley’s first economic roundtable in Harrisburg included mayors, commissioners and business leaders, and one of the Hometown Initiative’s planks is a commitment to annual meetings with each of these groups to discuss economic issues.

“The people of South Dakota don’t want platitudes in this campaign,” Jackley said. “They want policy, substance and fresh ideas, and we’re going to give it to them.”

Jackley’s Hometown Initiative can be viewed here: https://www.martyjackley.com/hometown-south-dakota-initiative/

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I’m not sure what exactly to say about this. Except, quite possibly, David Zokaites has defeated Lora Hubbel in the contest for the most bizarre campaign advertising ever.

Noem Opens West River Campaign Headquarters

Rapid City, S.D. – Kristi Noem opened her West River Campaign Headquarters Wednesday in Rapid City. The office will serve as a volunteer outreach center, where South Dakotans can find information about Noem’s vision for South Dakota as well as collect signs, bumper stickers and other Team Noem materials. The office is located at 1739 W Main Street in Rapid City.

“West River has always fought for me, and whether it was securing a strong livestock disaster program in the last Farm Bill, fighting to save the Hot Springs VA, or increasing support for the Ellsworth Air Force Base, I made a commitment to fight for them too,” said Noem. “I was blown away by those who came out to celebrate the grand opening of our new West River Campaign Headquarters and incredibly grateful for their support and their willingness to recruit others to Team Noem too.”