From the Secretary of State’s website:
According to the Secretary of State, State Senator Tom Pischke, who is facing felony charges for falsifying election documents has withdrawn from his campaign for the 2026 election.
This triggers a process where the Republican central committee members who reside in his district (including precinct people) will select someone to run in his stead. That process begins with the withdrawal..
12-6-55. Withdrawal by nominee–Time and place of filing.
Any person nominated to any elective office may cause that person’s name to be withdrawn from nomination by request in writing, subscribed and sworn to by that person before any officer qualified to administer oaths and take acknowledgments. The request shall be filed with the officer with whom the nominating petition was filed pursuant to § 12-6-4, not later than the first Tuesday in August at 5:00 p.m. before the next election. No person’s name withdrawn under this section may be printed upon the ballots for that office unless the same person is subsequently selected to fill the vacancy in accordance with § 12-6-56.
and they are replaced on the ballot via SDCL 12-6-56:
12-6-56. Party committee–Party candidate vacancies.
If a vacancy occurs by reason of death or withdrawal after a primary election, a party candidate for public office may be chosen if a meeting of the appropriate party central committee is held and the results are certified to the appropriate official within the times prescribed by § 12-8-6.
If the vacancy is a party candidate for presidential elector or statewide office, the vacancy shall be filled by the State Party Central Committee. If the vacancy is a party candidate for public office other than presidential elector or statewide office, the vacancy shall be filled by a vote of county party central committee members in attendance who reside in the affected district.
The certification of the results shall be signed by the person responsible for calling the meeting under § 12-6-57 or the person designated to conduct the meeting under § 12-6-57.
No information is immediately available as to whether a plea agreement has been reached yet in the felony charges Pischke is currently facing prosecution for.
But it’s very likely this marks the end of his political career.
It’s a shame it lasted as long as it did.
Hahahahaha. He’s one of the worst legislators in the history of South Dakota, if not the worst.
Not sure about worst but probably 3rd least effective.
Putting him behind Carly and Ismay?
What an embarrassment to the Republican Party he should apologize to his constituents.
The Crazies have done enough for SD…Or should I say, to South Dakota. Now to hope the committee to replace him is not filled with whack jobs.
It is. They’re likely throwing Jon Hansen in there. Same crazy in better, more well spoken, packaging. Very unfortunate.
And just like that…Goes out like a fart in the wind. Did not even make Ahole of the Month
Well, we have a (now former) State Delegate in West Virginia who just resigned after being Federally charged with seducing a minor via the Internet. So I think he would’ve given Tom a run for his money.
I don’t care what happens with his seat as ling as Marsha Symens stays away. She is just not a good person.
But with Bryan Breitling running; maybe someone can awnser? Could he be appointed from the precint people? Since he is running as a IND what does that look like?
Symens is dishonest. I wouldn’t buy a used car from Jon Hansen. I would prefer Kris Langer or Jordan Youngberg in that seat.
Langer off the sauce yet? Is Youngberg still not a yes man ? Time will tell but Langer or Youngberg would be better for that district than any other choice.
Has anyone checked the signature to make sure Tom actually signed it?
ROTFLOL
Maybe Hansen signed it for him!
A fitting end. So long chump.
Say it with me: Senator Jon Hansen.
If there is any justice in this world, not Jon Hansen.
of course Hanson wants it but the district’s precinct committee men and women include Kris Langer, Dennis and Linda Daugaard, and Jordan Youngberg. They might not want to vote for him
I can assure you Langer/ Youngberg and Dennis/ Linda won’t support Jon. They can def all agree on that. I think Langer has beef with Youngberg not sure…. Youngberg has been quiet on this Pischke thing. Perhaps taking the high road? He has always swung ahead of his age and was the Majority Whip. But Langer was senate majority leader and all in all did a good job. Has anyone talked to these folks ???
Youngberg has his sights set elsewhere
Please God, no. Didn’t the rest of the state prove we don’t want him efficiently enough? Take the hint.
Anyone else notice the Notary signed on June 22?
Trust me on this: the plan all along was for Pischke to drop out of the Senate race, Hansen would drop into that slot, (if he can’t be governor he’ll try for senate pro temp) and either Buchholz or Sample would be kicked to the curb so that Tom could drop into the house race.
That was why he was trying to rig the elections of the precinct committee men and women in the first place.
The plan did NOT include Pischke getting caught or Carrie Sanderson winning one of the house seats. Boo-hoo.
Couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy.
Has Shad Olson finally been to court yet?
It is actually difficult to figure out which of the elected officials in a county, like auditor and sheriff, are registered Republicans who reside within the district, AND get their contact information, AND send notices out. I have done this, and some of the letters were returned as undeliverable. Go figure.
Because it is a multi-county district, the meeting must be called by the state chairman.
To be legitimate, it has to be done correctly, by August 11th, and It’s a minefield.
but hasnt yet resigned from the positions he holds on the county party?
he wants to vote for his replacement
cory could refuse to hold a meeting until he resigns from both.
Biggest election fraud in SD history and not a peep from his buddies in Whackadoodle Nation.
Yep, and he did it to help Hansen return to the state house.
Whether Hansen was in on that part of the plan might require an inspection of Pischke’s texts and emails.
As the MAGA turns…
Republican election fraud. Every accusation is an admission worth these people.
at this morning’s Brookings meet and greet with Heather Baxter, nice looking fella showed up and said he had attended a meeting at which a resolution was proposed to strip Pischke of his Minnehaha party office, and this fella thought “they’re just kicking a man when he’s down,” a statement that didn’t go over well in a group, albeit a small group, of people who are all about election integrity and transparency.
But the idea that Pischke is “down” and the party is kicking him, was interesting. Tells you some people have no comprehension of what he did.