Another month, another Federal Elections Commission report for the SDGOP that leaves people scratching their heads asking “what has Jim Eschenbaum done to our party?”
SD GOP December 2025 FEC Report by Pat Powers
Jim Eschenbaum, the former 32-year democrat and now Republican party chairman who quipped at the onset of his rule that he wanted to weed the people out of the party he considered fake Republicans, and said “We don’t need any more money thrown to the state GOP than what we need to operate” appears to be finding out what happens when all his dreams come true.
Because the federal election campaign finance report for December shows yet another month of no donors stepping in to support the state’s majority political party.
Zero itemized. Zero unitemized. But more importantly Zero donors. Z.E.R.O. One cannot have a sustainable political party if no one is participating.
The report does point out that they raided the state account for $9121.96, which was transferred over to the federal account on November 12th. This leaves the party with $34,877.20 in the federal account.
Maybe they’ll have some donations in that account? Because they could not do worse here. The end of year filing for the state account that will come in February will be interesting to read because it will complete the picture of the party’s finances.
But when it comes to the federal account in the last months of the year, the finances don’t look so good. Not good at all.
The current party leaders are Republican in name only. Real Republicans are unwilling to send them a dime.
grudznick would send them a fitty if they emailed me, only because listing grudznick as their biggest donor would be a hoot.
grudznick, as a great leader, does not even know what ret/ded means. Speak clearly, young fellow, or be ignored.
I believe it is time we have a serious conversation regarding what happens if a convention is not possible. Part of me is very seriously starting to thin this is all on purpose. Look at Section V(2)(A) of the by laws. “The State Central Committee shall fill vacancies for party candidates for presidential elector or statewide office.”
While the current SDGOP, and many county central committees, lack the fortitude to see this, they are unbelievably power hungry. This entire group has had the mantra of “my way or no way” for a long time. The State Central Committee (consisting of county central committees) are not on the chopping block in the June primary. Their spots are secured for 2026. Are they worried that enough rational people will get elected back in as electors that the Central Committee will not be able to make the votes go their way? This should be a concern.
If there is not a convention, the State Central Committee, an extremely small group when looking at the entirety of Republican voters, gets to choose who they want as SOS, AG, Treasurer, Auditor, School and Public Lands, and whichever others I am missing. And that is guaranteed way for Democrats to fill many, if not all, of those positions.
You are spot on. They, the nut bags and idiots of the central committee, want to do exactly that, nominate their people for the constitutional offices, including the Lt Governor.
They are relying on the supermajority of republicans in the state to just vote a straight ticket and they will control the government, people be damned!
This group has been taking over our state from the bottom up.
Very dim future for South Dakota.
State law (12-6-56) only allows the state central committee to fill a vacancy on the ballot caused by death or withdrawal of a nominee. If there is no convention, then there are nominees and no vacancies to fill, and the SDGOP would concede all of those offices to the Democrats.
Saw a typo after posting:
If there is no convention, then there are NO nominees and no vacancies to fill, and the SDGOP would concede all of those offices to the Democrats.
The argument can go both ways. Only the first paragraph states a vacancy by “death or withdrawal.” However, that language is not mentioned in the second paragraph which is controlling to statewide office. I would argue that there is legislative intent including that language in the first paragraph but not the second. And plain language would mean that any vacancy for statewide office, regardless of reason, could be filled by the state central committee. I havent looked at any case law though and maybe there is more there.
BS GOP is locked in Demos not strong enough
You sure about that? Noem almost lost.
Some precinct delegates only come on the final day to listen to candidate speeches and then vote. Thus it could be a one day deal. Rent would have to be paid for a place, but nothing else would be needed.
Anonymous at 11:01 pm, come back and tell us “all we need is a place for a one day deal” after you have rented a convention center ballroom for your daughter’s wedding. It’s only one day, after all.
one day, only 500-600 guests. and don’t forget lunch
They have a signed a contract for a 3-day convention. They can’t chop off two days without paying a very hefty penalty.