A reader shared an interesting study they did this weekend, and thought it might be worthwhile to share with Dakotawarcollege.com readers. They took a good hard look at the freedom caucus’ legislative record. And if you take a good hard look, it’s not so good.
I was wondering how effective the eight Freedom Caucus members were in getting their prime-sponsored bills passed into law compared to all other Republicans. So I did an analysis. No ideology – just looking at data. The difference is stark:
Legislative Effectiveness — Republicans Only – 2025 South Dakota Legislative Session:
Purpose – To compare legislative effectiveness of Republican Freedom Caucus legislators to all other Republican legislators using a single, objective metric: how often a legislator’s own bills (prime-sponsored) became law. This memo evaluates outcomes only and does not assess ideology, rhetoric, or intent.
Method:
• Legislature: 105 members
• Republicans: 95
• Freedom Caucus Republicans analyzed: 8
• Non–Freedom-Caucus Republicans: 87Metric:
• Prime sponsor only
• “Win” = bill signed into law
• Excludes resolutions, commemorations, and cosponsorshipsFreedom Caucus Members — Prime Sponsor Results
Member Prime Bills Signed Win % John Carley 12 2 16.7% Phil Jensen 6 0 0.0% Logan Manhart 4 2 50.0% Tina Mulally 6 1 16.7% Aaron Aylward 10 2 20.0% Heather Baxter 9 1 11.1% Dylan Jordan 6 0 0.0% Tony Randolph 6 0 0.0% Freedom Caucus totals:
• Prime bills: 59
• Signed into law: 8
• Win rate: 13.6%
• Bills passed per member: 1.0Prime-Sponsor Performance — Republicans Only
Group Members Prime Bills Signed Win % Bills Passed per Member Freedom Caucus Republicans 8 59 8 13.6% 1.0 Non-FC Republicans 87 371 180 48.5% 2.07 Key Takeaways
• Freedom Caucus Republicans passed about one out of every seven bills they sponsored.
• Non-Freedom Caucus Republicans passed nearly half of the bills they sponsored.Bottom Line:
In the 2025 session, Freedom Caucus Republicans passed 13.6% of their prime-sponsored bills. Non-Freedom Caucus Republicans passed 48.5% of their bills.
Not exactly a bell-ringing endorsement for a group that likes to send out press releases making demands of the administration and of other Republicans on how to conduct the business of government.
With the time Phil Jensen has been in the legislature that is a horrible productivity record. Cannot believe his district has sent him back a few times. Another wasted seat.
Shocker
Maybe I look at it the wrong way but I prefer them. Useful idiots. They don’t get anything accomplished which is sometimes the best thing for the people.
I’m saddened. Tina was (is?) a member of the federated Republican Women. She chose her path in Watertown. A terrible path. Again, I’m just saddened because I thought she was common sense over belonging to a clique.
Also interesting that they brought far greater number of bills than normal Republicans but passed far fewer. They utilized far more of LRC’s time and resources and utilized far more time of fellow legislators for bill hearings. In all, they cost the taxpayers of SD far more money to get far less done than normal Republicans.
There are now no normal Republicans. The ways you would assess normality in the GOP have all been obliterated.
They’ve lost the ability to engage in our Democratic process, so it’s not a shock they’re running a Tommy Tuberville Hail Mary to just end it altogether. Hail to the Thiefs
Should add in the fringe freedom caucus. Those that aren’t officially members, but in all practicality are. Voita, Ismay, hunt, et al. The numbers will likely be even worse.
DEI is right in there with them.
These are the eight members who declare themselves as Freedom Caucus on the SD Freedom Caucus website.
Don’t forget Wacky Taffy is among that faaaarrrr right group as well!!