SD House Majority Leader Will Mortenson: “When you’re throwing a rally featuring a self-described Nazi, you’re not a Republican.”

The battle lines for the hearts and minds of the South Dakota Republican Party are being drawn for what kind of Republican people want to identify as. Either you believe that Nazi’s are bad like House Majority Leader Will Mortenson, or you throw in with Toby Doeden, the person who built a rally around someone who is said to have described himself as one.

Doeden, who had never voted in a Republican Primary until this last June is claiming that “current state Republican leaders aren’t conservatives,” in connection with last night’s rally featuring alleged “black nazi” and porn site commenter Mark Robinson. And If you read one news story today, make sure that this is it.

South Dakota House Majority Leader Will Mortenson, R-Fort Pierre, condemned the event and called those hosting it non-Republicans.

“I spoke out against Nazis when they came to the Capitol this summer,” Mortenson said in a statement, referencing a June march in Pierre by a neo-Nazi group, “and don’t like them any better when they are in Sioux Falls. When you’re throwing a rally featuring a self-described Nazi, you’re not a Republican. You belong to a different party. There’s no room for Nazi sympathy in our party or in our state.”

Doeden considered but ultimately decided against challenging U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-South Dakota, in the June primary election. Doeden said he organized Tuesday’s event to celebrate the “America First conservatives” who won their June legislative primary elections, and to rally support for their general election campaigns.

Current state Republican leaders “aren’t conservatives,” Doeden alleged.

“They’re liberals that register as Republicans because they can’t get elected as Democrats,” he said. “These people are hacks. They’re clowns. They’re disgusting. I started my PAC to eradicate hacks like that from serving in the Legislature – period.”

and..

About 150 people attended the Sioux Falls event, including some Republican state lawmakers and legislative candidates.

GO Read that here.

Universally condemned by Republicans and Democrats alike, the Doeden PAC event still appeared to have several people there who should know better, but seem to be held in thrall by Doeden’s checkbook and are attempting to suck up. In fact, SD Searchlight captured a bevy of them on a video posted to the story.

I’m immediately picking out State Rep. Brandei Schaefbauer, as well as D1 House Candidates Chris Reder and Logan Manhart in the foreground. It also looks as if Al Novstrup and Carl Perry may be at that table as well.

Is this what some who run under the SDGOP have come to? To cheer on and rally for the worst elements of the far right?

Keep in mind, they are not there to support the candidates and the goals of the Republican Party. They are there to benefit Toby Doeden’s PAC. A Political Action Committee led by a man – whose views might not have appeared on a porn website chatboard like Robinson’s are said to come from – but one whose views seem to mirror Mark Robinson’s:

 While he was publicly considering a challenge to Johnson, reporters called attention to some of Doeden’s social media posts. He encouraged the shooting of immigrants in gangs, used a profane insult to describe President Joe Biden, and labeled statistics about hatred of Jewish Americans as “fake.”

Also read that in the story.

If we can take solace in anything, it would be that there is hope that people’s better angels will ultimately reject this kind of trash rhetoric. As demonstrated by hte fact that Robinson continues to plummet in the polls, as reported yesterday.

A new Washington Post poll now has Stein ahead 54 percent to Robinson’s 38 percent, while a poll from East Carolina University has Stein at 50 percent to Robinson’s 33 percent.

Read that here.

Update

Add Dylan Jordan (d4 candidate) and free-dumb caucus leader Aaron Aylward to the guest list of the event, as Jordan clucks with pride attending the event supporting the attack of Republicans.

And as noted, here’s a previously mentioned group standing with Toby Doeden..

And it looks like Brad “protection order” Lindwurm was proud to be at the black nazi rally, and took a bunch of photos.. Sorry, alleged black nazi rally..

I had heard Taffy was among the attendees..

48 thoughts on “SD House Majority Leader Will Mortenson: “When you’re throwing a rally featuring a self-described Nazi, you’re not a Republican.””

  1. The 2025 state legislative session will be a total shitshow. In my district alone, it’s a safe bet that all three of Doeden’s disciples will be in Pierre mostly on the anti-pipeline issue. They are the loudest voices in the room playing the victim card while demonizing anyone who questions them as “radical” or “communist”. Such a pathetic state of affairs.

  2. Given their poor choices should the public and news media refer to them going forward as members of the NAZI Party of SD?

    When the 2025 SD Legislative session begins there will be the

    SDGOP Caucus-closed to public
    SDDP Caucus-open to public
    Will the (NAZIS-SD) have their own caucus? If so, will it be open to the public?

    Lt Governor Mark Robinson (NAZI-NC)

    Lists will have to be updated to change party designation.

    1. There have been 3 caucuses for sometime. The Freedom caucus, lead by such stalwarts as Steve Haugard, Spencer Gosch, Jon Hanson and Phil Jensen.

  3. Its time for the SD GOP to loudly call out these imbeciles and do whatever it can to support fundamental, conservatives with South Dakota values. Not that long ago, the SD GOP and its county committees used to have a process of selecting their very best candidates for public office. Now, its a race to see who can be the first to say “I’m more conservative than you” while burning down everything in their path. The SD GOP needs some true leadership fast, before this current fracture becomes a true break. Much like Anonymous, I have little faith that the 2025 SD Legislature will get much accomplished. Throw in a possible IM28 victory in November and the Legislature will truly be in a pickle to try to plug the massive funding hole. Get the popcorn ready, it should be a show indeed.

    1. Black Hills Bob, I tried. I saw this shitshow on the horizon over 10 years ago and tried to stop it. I saw how bad actors were recruiting and using precinct committee men and women against the party, and started sounding the alarm. Craig Lawrence was the state chairman when I realized what they were doing behind the scenes, when one of them called me and wanted me to run for state party treasurer, not because of my accounting skills, but just because they wanted me to flip over the applecart..They were trying to do that with all the state executive positions, just trying to flatter people into burning down the house..
      Later they recruited people for precinct positions, telling them how to vote and cause problems at conventions. In 2020 their minions voted down a resolution honoring the abolition of slavery. I thought “NOW are we going to do something about these people?” but no, nothing was done, and it got even worse at the 2022 convention. Now they have taken over some of the county parties, they sit on the state central committee and it’s too late. They are the party now.

  4. Any way we can get confirmation of who attended? This seems right up Travis Ismay’s alley but I’m guessing he couldn’t afford a seat. It also follows a lot of odenbach’s rhetoric but maybe they couldn’t make the drive.

    1. Any individual who purchased a ticket will have to be named in campaign finance reports as the cost of the ticket was over the itemized limit. If Toby or DFA provided tickets for free to individuals they will have to itemize those amounts as in-kind donations.

      DFA has broke campaign finance laws in the past so I doubt those names, outside of a complaint being filed and acted upon, will ever be released.

  5. Their website lists their endorsed candidates —
    If you live in those areas or have friends and family in the area — make sure they know who the candidates are who’ve been “blessed” by Toby and his merry band of whackos

    Senate –
    Carl Perry – District 3
    Joy Hohn – District 9
    Mark Lapka – District 23
    Tom Pischke – District 25
    John Carley – District 29
    Taffy Howard – District 34

    House –
    Logan Manhart – District 1
    Christopher Reder – District 1
    Aaron Aylward – District 6
    Wendi Hogan – District 6
    Matt Wagner – District 8
    Lee Qualm – District 21
    Scott Moore – District 23
    Spencer Gosch – District 23
    Jana Hunt – District 28A

    County Commission –
    Cole Heisey – Minnehaha
    Kyler Dinger – Brown

        1. Sitting back and watch the party you’re in charge of crumble like a house of cards while kicking yourself for being dumb enough to run for GOP chair is something.

          It’s time for the Congressional delegation to step in and dictate the next chairman/woman to clean this mess up.

  6. Nazi is as a Nazi does.

    A Nazi would punish free speech through exclusion.

    Totalitarianism: system of government that is centralized and dictatorial and requires complete subservience to the state.

    What do you do when global corporatism infiltrates and usurps the power of the nation state, assuming the mantle of government?

    If you are against the freedom to associate – even with ideologues of differing opinion – you might be a Fascist.

    Fascist is as a Fascist does.

    1. mr. dale, there has not been successful fully-decentralized nationwide local rule, since before samuel made saul the first king of israel.
      our trinity of legislative, judicial and executive powers, wielded by duly elected officers in a central location, wasn’t something a band of hippies slapped together during woodstock – it dates back to the initial signing of the us constitution itself.
      the cavalier flippant denigration of centralized government, necessary to govern a population numbering in the hundreds of millions, is always mystifying to me. you seem to be schooled in these topics – i’m always surprised that you choose to undermine the integrity of our long established processes, but don’t INSTEAD choose to demand that we have elected officials who aren’t self-styling nazis, liars and insurrectionists.
      freedom is weird and twisty and so far no nation has done it better than the good old usa.

    2. Dale, you’re using typical right-wing deflections here, and they don’t hold up. Trying to flip the script by saying that opposing Nazis makes someone a “fascist” is not only misleading but also a classic bad-faith argument. Rejecting hate speech isn’t the same as suppressing free speech—it’s about recognizing that certain ideologies, like Nazism, are inherently violent and dangerous. Pretending that associating with Nazis is just a matter of “differing opinions” is a huge distortion. There’s a clear line between free expression and giving a platform to dangerous extremists.

      Your mention of “global corporatism” is another distraction tactic. It’s irrelevant to the fact that the issue here is hosting a rally with a self-described Nazi, not vague conspiracy theories about the state. And invoking “freedom of association” as a defense for supporting Nazis is a stretch—freedom doesn’t mean we have to accept intolerance and hatred. Tolerance has its limits when it comes to ideologies rooted in violence and division.

      This whole “debate Nazis for the sake of free speech” angle is just irresponsible. Nazis don’t promote healthy discourse—they push for hate and violence. So, no, rejecting Nazis isn’t an attack on free speech; it’s about refusing to normalize dangerous ideologies. This kind of bad-faith argumentation does nothing but muddy the waters and avoid dealing with the real issue.

  7. Aberdeen has endured some serious hits with Presentation College and Banner closing. What a disgrace and dishonor to those who served as elected officials in the past that had major positive impacts while fighting for Aberdeen, Brown County and the region. Absolutely terrible messaging for economic and workforce development plus recruitment of students for Northern unless they hope to attract more NAZIS.

    1. We have also lost Hub City, Inc as well as MFG while those three knuckelheads have been representing us.

      1. Katie was the only decent candidate.
        Al and Brandei are being challenged by Erin Ronayne Rudner.
        I hope she cleans up

        1. All he needs is a dem, Jackley, Rhoden and Dusty to clog up the race with their 20-30% and he could pull off an upset.

          1. With all voters Toby couldn’t even break 10%. That’s why he wants that 4 way race in a closed primary where he possible could get that upset.

            Toby lined people up and made them wait for the film crew to catch him handing out food before Thanksgiving – you think he cares about anyone other than himself? You’re mentally unwell if you do.

            1. I don’t think he could break 40% but if he only needs 28%-38% in an open primary with half a dozen decent candidates he could make the run off. Trump has a major following in SD and no one on the gov race radar has a Trump following.

  8. Thanks Brad for creating a lovely photographic record of the candidates who pass muster with the alleged Nazi sympathizers

      1. Wonder if this will be used against her in her divorce. I can’t imagine a judge would want to grant very much alimony to a woman who uses her resources to support a self-proclaimed Nazi.

    1. I especially liked Brad’s photo with Minnehaha County Auditor and chief election denier Leah Anderson. I wonder if she knows about Brad’s protection orders?

  9. I will be disappointed, but not overly surprised, when the FEC filings and disclosures of this PAC are undoubtedly fumbled again. Will the SOS and AG hold TinyToby accountable this time? Or cower and offer a finger wagging again?
    Unacceptable.

    Ultimate conservative. Condemning RINOs and Liberals alike — when in reality all Toby does is play by liberal logic and rules.

    Anyone aligning with this guy should be run out of our state immediately – These Nazi cronies are a cancer to our state!

  10. We thought we had bottomed out with Kaleb Weis since the quality of our legislative delegation had been tanking for some time. Unless voters choose different this cycle we have yet to hit rock bottom with the I’m not sure what to call them for political party D3 & 1 Bad Dream Team. They should be booted from the Republican Party or what is left of the Grand Old Party.

    Peg Lamont and Joe Barnett must be rolling in their graves.

    Tobias Doeden should pick Kaleb as his running mate for 2026 Governor’s race.

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