After the crazy SDGOP primary the rumor mill is on fire with who is going to end up running for what. Just so everyone is on the same page, here’s what we know, what are hearing, and other speculation… Which might end up as speculative fiction, or so crazy it might be real. I wouldn’t go to any of the on-line betting parlors with it. But, it shows what the chatter is out there on these races.
Attorney General:
Lance Russell (R) – Announced, Fall River/Oglala Lakota County State’s Attorney
Austin Hoffman (R) – Announced, McPherson County State’s Attorney
John Fitzgerald (R) – Announced, former State’s Attorney, former Circuit Court Judge
My notes: I have actually heard rumors of another candidate jumping in. Which if it happens, should not come as a shocker given the crazy environment we’re existing in. The good thing in this race as it stands is that we have 3 people who are/have been county prosecutors. Anyone running for the office needs the experience of being a prosecutor, whether at the federal or state level.
Secretary of State:
Monae Johnson (R) – Incumbent
Heather Baxter (R) – Announced. Just lost her race for State House.
My notes: The latest rumor I heard is that 4th place gubernatorial candidate Jon Hansen’s name has been floated for this office, which tells you the hard-right faction of the SDGOP has ZERO faith in Heather Baxter at the moment. I’ve also heard Hansen for Doeden’s Lt. Gov, so we’ll see.
Auditor:
Catherine Barranco (R) – Announced, Economist
My notes: There was another party looking at the race momentarily, but is taking a pass. But this race could become less sleepy at a moment’s notice. If you recall, Republican activist & economist Catherine Barranco stepped into the race as her husband Dave stepped out due to a serious cancer diagnosis. It’s not a flashy or showy job, but an important one in the function of state government, because whoever gets it could make life miserable for the Governor by questioning every expense. We’ll see if anyone else decides to jump in in the remaining 3 weeks until convention.
Treasurer:
Melissa Hull (R) – Announced, office employee
Heath Shields (R) – Announced, businessman
My notes: Just like auditor, it’s one of those jobs that only a limited group wants. For a while, Former Senator Jeff Monroe had wanted it, but then he didn’t. But right now, this race has become one of the spicier contests for convention. For a number of weeks into the run up for convention, Heath Shields had been dropping criticism, mainly via facebook on how the office of Treasurer is/was being operated by the current staff including incumbent Treasurer Josh Haeder. Then on May 7th, a major bombshell was dropped on Shields via the Dakota Scout, with the headline “Bankruptcies, criminal past follow Custer man to South Dakota treasurer’s race” and opponent Melissa Hull quipping
“I can say that all new hires at the State Treasurer’s Office are required to pass a background check,” Hull said in a text message sent to The Dakota Scout on Thursday. “If what you have said is true, it does not sound like he would be hired to work there.”
Watch for this to be one of the more heated battles at the convention in Rapid City in a few weeks.
School & Public Lands:
Brock Greenfield (R- Incumbent)
My notes: Here’s the unusual office where there is no drama. Today. Tomorrow or at convention – who knows. But today there is no drama.
Public Utilities Commission:
Don Haggar (R) – Has Announced, filed committee paperwork
Peri Pourier (R) – Has a website up.
Jess Bahmuller (R) – Announced interest at Lincoln Day Dinner, but in taxiing mode at the moment
And others..
My notes: PUC is another race that could get really, really busy, very quickly. Duane Bachman announced, but has been invisible since the Bon Homme Lincoln Day Dinner. Word is that a couple of other names keep popping up. I’ve heard State Senator and anti-pipeline activist Joy Hohn’s name come up on multiple occasions. In the latest line of lunacy, I heard SDGOP Chair Jim Eschenbaum‘s name come up with the rumor being that he might resign his position and run from the convention floor. Well, if he did that, then we’d have 2 former Democrats in the race with his 32 years in the Democrat Party, since Peri Pourier also just swapped parties in the last year or so. I don’t think that either Democrat dog would hunt, but as I said in the intro; it could be speculative fiction, or so crazy it’s real. Word is that there are other more mainline candidates contemplating the job. So, look for this one to be fast and furious right up to the floor nominations.
That’s the latest on what we have to look forward to for convention in Rapid City. And it will change.
Stay tuned.
Bahmuller sent a letter out this week. She’s definitely running for PUC
Austin Hoffman is states attorney for McPherson county not Edmund’s….
Has Pischke officially decided against running for Auditor?
The most interesting will be who runs with Doeden. If he heals the rift with Hansen and picks him as a running mate, that race could get even more interesting.
If Doeden Hansen becomes the ticket I’m coming back in a few years to scorch earth
LG is still FTE right? Used to be part time.
I bet it’s BranDEI
Highly, highly unlikely. Any respect I had for Jon would go right down the drain never to come up again.
With the run-off for Governor a month after the convention, it makes the LG choice interesting.
Watch for the crazies try to pre-empt the run-off primary by adopting a resolution of endorsement for Doeden. They’re such a bunch of yahoos they’ll try to do that. Will insanity prevail? Will they vote down a resolution of support for Rounds and Jackley? Or will there be enough sane delegates present to make them behave themselves??.
One thing I have noticed about the chaos at the Republican state convention has been that the people I have seen most in favor of a Convention of States, who dismiss the doubters who are concerned about a runaway convention, are the same people who go to our state party convention and show how easy it is to run away with it.
I’d like to see Jon Hansen run for AG. I disagree that the candidate has to have criminal court experience. Here’s why: SDCL 1-11-1 there’s a lot going on with a wide diversification. The AG does not personally handle many cases. He/she has specialized divisions such as Appellate, criminal, Consumer protection, DCI, etc. the AG.s role is primarily executive, policy orientated, and supervisory obligations. He has experience in leadership, policy, etc. the criminal prosecution side is where the AG’s office is already strong. In.
You’re an idiot. Why you would want an AG (South Dakota’s TOP PROSECUTOR) with no prosecution experience is absolutely asinine.
Also, in reference to your horrendous candidate in question – of these “qualifications” policy: all he ever did was vote “no”. Mandate “no”. He’s never built anything in his life. Leadership – the legislature was an absolute shitshow under his “leadership,” and the voters of South Dakota have spoken as to what they thought of his qualifications and cronies. The guy has never had a REAL JOB! But you think he’s an ideal candidate to oversee all law enforcement and legal procedures in our state? Yeah, NO THANKS!
He’s a dud. Accept it and move on. The rest of us are literally begging you!
Let the adults back in the room.
Jon needs to get a real job. Or maybe he’ll drum up another ethical cause to “fight for,” i.e., raise millions to pay himself and brag about another imaginary “dragon he slay” to keep us all “safe”.
The last time we had an AG with no prosecution experience, it didn’t go well.
Hansen also has experience in misusing funds, paying himself with money donated to save babies, for “consulting,” as well as directing that money to defeat 100% pro-life candidates in Republican primaries. The reason? Those candidates wouldn’t support Hansen’s bids for leadership.
Pro-life money was used to advance Jon Hansen’s political career.
Hansen is one of the reasons Tom Pischke keeps getting re-elected. He didn’t like it when Les Heinemann ran for that seat (one of his own volunteers told me that at a parade we were all at)
She said “Jon is so frustrated that people are running against Tom because he can always count on Tom’s support.”
If you are wondering how it is the voters of District 25 can be so stupid to keep electing Pischke, it is because of Hansen’s quiet endorsement.
What is Jon Hansen’s relevant job experience? Not criminal. Not civil. Not appellate, not federal court. Not medicaid fraud. Not consumer protection. The AG does all of those. Not just in the courtrooms but runs the entire division of criminal investigation. Hansen occasionally does adoptions.
And anon at 12:09 is wrong. Good AGs go out and try the big cases all the time*. Lead from in front. Not a policy wonk hiding out in the head office.
*Ravnsberg had no court experience other than his driving convictions. How did that work out?
pretty sure his experience is “COMMUNITY ORGANIZER”
If Hansen and his supporters hadn’t mounted a competitive campaign, Johnson’s TV ads probably would have made Doeden governor. The whole scenario seems miraculous and funny, and I think Hansen should run for attorney general.
Hansen’s supporters are the reason Hansen isn’t in the runoff. They were all too radical. If support was shown for another candidate on social media, his supporters were there immediately to try and tear that person down. Hansen personally was able to stay out of the mud slinging. But his supporters were doing more than anyone else’s on social media. And that hurt him.
Jon Hansen was consistently soft on crime as a legislator, voting against multiple public safety and crime bills. That raises a serious question: how can someone seek to become Attorney General after repeatedly opposing measures designed to protect victims and hold criminals accountable?
Exactly. We need an AG that is strong on public safety and will care about victims. Hansen is not it.
I’ve never met Jon Hansen, but people I trust have vouched for him. Whatever your specific disagreements, it’s probably more complicated than not caring about victims.
There is no I or ME in AG. Therefore Jon is not qualified for the job!
After listening to the debate and some speeches, you are absolutely correct.
If a sitting and currently nominated legislator does decide to run for one of the above, do they have to abandon their current campaign? I.e. Joy Hohn
For legislative (and county) candidates, if they are nominated at convention, they would have to withdraw from their legislative race, and the local GOP committee(s) for their district would replace them on the election ballot.
Thank you for clarifying. Now, do we want to prop Hohn up for the nomination and risk the precinct people of D9 to pick someone?
The treasurers race should not be a heated battle at convention, it should be a slam dunk for Hull.
The Texan, Heath Shields has had multiple personal bankruptcies, pleaded guilty to prostitution charges and felony drug possession. Plus, he pulled a gun and fired a shot when his neighbor was snow-plowing a road in Custer County two years ago (all facts according to The Dakota Scout). We don’t need this criminal having access to the state’s bank account or have the keys to the unclaimed property vault! His wife only got 11% in her bid to become commissioner in Custer County. I can’t imagine the intelligent delegates to the GOP convention would give him any more than that.
There are many people at the convention who are insaner than most. They show up for the free food and beer and pound on the tables. Mr. Shields, the criminal from Texas, is their sort of fellow, as the people of the District numbered 30 are just starting to find out. That the microwaved turkey dinners are costing a proud amount of cash will diminish that ilk, and Mr. Eischenbaum wrecking the party will bolster the same ilk. We shall see.
But the food isn’t free; every meal is a fundraiser to help pay for the convention.
If the delegates don’t pay for the meals, if they don’t show up until Saturday, the bills won’t get paid.