Today, as well as the next day or so, we should see more petitions coming in through the mail. Already it looks to be an active year, with Democrats fielding candidates for 80 of the 105 legislative seats, with Republicans filling over 95 at this point.
By my count, I’m at about 97 seats filled, but I also know one or two may not get petitions in. So we shall see.
The big difference between the Republican Party and the Democrats are the number of placeholders. Placeholders are warm bodies that fill seats until the party can find someone good to run. in other words, they’re taking on for the team. Republicans rarely use them. Democrats? It’s standard operating procedure.
For example, in District 5, Alanna Silvis for State Senate. She’s ran and dropped out in prior years, at least twice, and we’ve noted her as a placeholder in the past. Definite placeholder. Or District 7’s Democrat House Candidate Zachary Kovach. From facebook:
His residence is noted as “213 W Highway 14 BYP Brookings SD 57006.” What else is at that address?
The Delta Chi Fraternity House. Suuure he’s a serious candidate for the legislature.
Now I’m not knocking fraternities. I was in one when I was in College. But everything about this candidate screams that he’s taking one for the team, and should change his name to “Placey McPlaceholder.” And this is just scratching the surface.
What will happen is that they’ll be in as candidates, giving Democrats a glimmer of hope that the party has fielded a great number of candidates. And right before the deadline to withdraw their candidacy, they’ll leave in a mass exodus. In 2014, Dems had at least 14 placeholder candidates, and 2016 wasn’t much better.
Ultimately, how many seats will they give up by not trying? Talk to me in August.
Looking at the Sec of state page and there is a blizzard of filings I see for these seats the last 2 days….
Never understood why people wait until the last minute.
After a bit o’ googling, Mr. Kovach appears to be the real deal. Looks to be a PolySci major, a research assistant with the SDSU Ethics Lab, perennial dean’s list student, and as a member of Delta Chi, interested in law and leadership. How ’bout we wait and see before casting aspersions that he’s just a placeholder ‘Bluto’ from Animal House and see what he’s got to say.
At least to the extent that they prevent uncontested races, “placeholder” candidates are a good thing, not a bad thing.
They are not a good thing…they are dishonest…if you have no intention of actually running then don’t run.
Was or is Phil Jensen’s wife a place holder?
No, she told us she was running this past weekend while we were in Deadwood and introduced as a candidate at the Meade County Lincoln Day Dinner.
I’d argue if your not willing to do your homework about your own proposed legislation ahead of time one shouldn’t hold office, but that doesn’t stop anyone.
Someone from Selby is taking on the Incumbent Senator in District 23.
Joe Yracheta DEM 03/27/2018 District 23 PO Box 109 Selby SD 57472
Placeholder or legitimately a candidate?
This should be fun either way.
Does anyone know the history of placeholders in SD? Why are they legal?
Fred here is why I think they are legal:
1) In general, it is better to have a contested race than uncontested. Thus, placeholders give time to find a candidate later.
2) How do you distinguish a placeholder vs. a person who changes their mind? If you require a signed statement, how can you prove they never intended to run so what is the point of a signed statement?
I would echo Troy’s comments.
Both parties use placeholders, for a couple of reasons.
1- the irritating one – to look like they have a political organization (it lasts until August every two years, when those folks drop out)
2- to have more time to find candidates – that’s a legitimate reason
3- to make the other party work like they have a race – that probably works to the other party’s advantage, when you think about it. (something is always better than nothing in the activity field)
4- every now and then they get to look like a genius, because one party knocks off their stronger candidate in the primary, and then the placeholder spot can be filled with a real candidate who can win against the primary victor (who’s a bad general election candidate) in the fall — that’s happened — its the functional equivalent of betting on where lightening will strike
But even more than that, how do you call somebody a placeholder – we’ve had candidates file, who weren’t sure if they could run in the fall, and didn’t, so we’ve filled the spots.
Anyway, a better strategy is to recruit people who really want to run