Your thoughts on the top political stories of 2018….

Pat Powers

As I’m working on the list of the top South Dakota political stories of 2018, I thought I’d share the list I’ve been working on sorting out based on the stories I’ve written over the past year, as well as the popularity of those same stories.

Candidates for SD Top Ten Political stories of 2018

  • Kristi Noem wins general election for Governor
  • Constitutional Party/Parties
  • The implosion of Jolene Loetscher
  • Caucus Loyalty and the non-rebellion
  • Democrat do-over convention
  • President Trump visits Sioux Falls
  • Kristi Noem over Marty Jackley in June Primary
  • DiSanto V. Johnson
  • Free Speech on Campus
  • Fall of Shantel Krebs
  • Dan Kaiser, the man who would be kingmaker
  • Dusty Johnson is new Congressman
  • Paul TenHaken wins Sioux Falls Mayor
  • Ravnsborg outmaneuvers everyone
  • Michael Clark and the cost of a comment
  • GOP Wins again/Dems lose again

I could go on to many subtopics, and may yet break down some main headings to subheadings.. but are there any other major topics that should be considered in the “top ten” for the most important political stories of 2018?

The floor is yours.

(Update – And I’m already adding the SD v. Wayfair/Online sales tax to the list..)

36 thoughts on “Your thoughts on the top political stories of 2018….”

  1. Not surprising you would trumpet Wayfair, are you and Cory Heidelberger collaborating on that story?

    1. It is news to go to the US Supreme Court and win as a state, you can agree or disagree with that, but still newsworthy

  2. 1. First female governor has to be 1. Kristi overcame all obstacles.

    2. I also think number two is Billie Sutton’s campaign. Argus/Kelo/RCJ polls. Sutton came up a Jackley endorsement away from winning.

    3. Jackley undecided between Noem/Sutton on Oct. 19th and the effort by GOP powerbrokers or team Noem go persuade him to endorse her.

    4. The GOP primary 44-45 in Argus poll and the Laura Kaiser nuke that followed.

    5. TenHaken routs field to become mayor and frontrunner for the next open office in SD.

    6. Jason Ravnsborg dominates GOP convention and coasts against Seiler.

    7. Pence visits SD day before election to push GOP over the top. He doesn’t come to SD the day before if it is in the bag.

    8. GOP constitutionals dominate with 60% plus. Showing no Sutton coattails.

    9. Dusty Johnson is going to be a force in SD for decades. Quietly dominates.

    10. Sutton still campaigning past November 2018 .Eyeing Rounds and a Senate seat or a 2022 rematch with Noem.

    2. your list is largely dominated by stories about the governor’s race….

      I think that the Governor’s race is #1 as Sutton made it closer than any Democrat in 40 years….and all the problems Kristi had with an election that should have been a cakewalk.

      I agree TenHaken, Dusty and Ravnsborg are in top 5…all came out of no where in last 5 years…even Dusty who is more know, but was out of politics for 4 years or so came back and all 3 are positioned well to serve for the next 8 years and then in 2026 we could have an interesting year..(if rounds doesn’t run again and/or the Gov is open because of term limited Noem or a Dem Sutton and GOP running against him) PLUS who else comes onto the scene in that time we don’t know about

    3. Whoever wrote this shows a deep understanding of SD politics. I might have added something about Stace and Laura as top political morons.

  3. Is Langer taking out Curd news? I mean she is one of the few women leaders ever and the first since Barb Everist.

    1. It has nothing to do with her being a woman and everything to do with her being more conservative than Curd.

  5. I would also thank the host here–reminder of some stories I forgot about Johnson v disanto as top example

  6. the Butina story doesn’t show up on this site for some reason. But agreed, it should be top 10. Beyond that, Gov’s race and SF Mayor’s race are high on the list. As for Anonymous 12:17, I scoff at your allegation — a win is a win. Run perfectly – no. But she’s getting sworn in soon.

  7. 1. Noem Nukes Jackley
    2. Noem Narrowly Defeats Sutton
    3. W Goes Down
    4. Dusty Dominates
    5. Tobacco Tax Trounced
    6. Langer Becomes Leader
    7. SD Stays Deep Red

    1. Wow…I can’t believe it took over 2 hours for one of the trolls to trot that old chestnut out! Happy Holidays Troll…here’s hoping 2019 gives you new material.

          1. my favorite is how they keep lying about him and all he does is keep winning and killing them with kindness.

    2. Stace Nelson wastes delegate’s time at Republican convention should be in there: no chance at all, but he got his 15 seconds of infamy.

      A lot of people out there seem to have a real ax to grind against Jason; sore losers much? Still think your guy should have won? Experiencing the Democrat’s I-Still-Can’t-Believe-My-Candidate-Didn’t-Win syndrome?

      Get over it and grow up.

      2. “Stace Nelson wastes delegate’s time at Republican convention”
        Agree.
        He is worthless.
        But more to the point:
        Stace Nelson wastes “everyone’s” time at SD Legislature.

  10. How about Ann Tornberg–lead a party to lose every statewide race and lost a senate seat and only gained one house seat to net zero in the legislature—then declares she is running for reeelection

  11. The fall of Shantel Krebs–and the rise and fall of Neal Tapio….they divided up a majority of the vote and helped Dusty win—

    Shantel would have easily won re-election to Sec of state I believe but now I don’t see a path back for her anywhere…same for Tapio unless he challenges Shoenbeck first and that would be an entertaining race to watch!

    1. I agree with GOP, Defeat of W has to be in the top 5. In polling done 5 months before election day, over 60% responded they would vote yes for W. The opponents were out spent 3 or 4 to one in dollars and out of 2,500 donors to support W, 17 had a South Dakota address. Huge victory against the East Coast Libs!

    2. His friend Shad Olson could run his campaign again. Lee Schoenbeck would get 85% of the vote.

  12. #1- A lot of noise but in the end the Democrats still irrelevant. Corollary: noise is not relevance.

    #2- The worst statewide campaign strategy I have ever seen saved by a significantly superior candidate and #1.

    #3- The reminder in the AG race hard work, listening to core constituencies, playing to your strengths, not getting pulled into the muck by your opponents, and outlining a solid vision wins elections.

    1. And lying about being a real lawyer. The people fell for the lies which is very sad. Just as Lederman set out to make sure krebs was not elected. Dirty dirty dirty.

      1. Give it a rest. I saw him in Court the other day and joked with him about your lies of him not being a lawyer. He showed me his bar card in jest and it looked just like mine.

        Yeah he didn’t go kiss the ring of big money or the States Attorneys Association…GOOD! They couldn’t have screwed up our state more with supporting SB 70…then you get a clean cut honorable guy that runs and fights to fix that horrible law and somehow he is not the real lawyer…please.

        Jason is a great guy, that works harder than anyone I know and won overwhelmingly, he didn’t just squeak it out folks he won big. I think because he took on issues and is an outsider. Get over it, he will be AG soon and he will be a great one!

      2. Do you realize that painting him as a non-traditional lawyer probably helped him?

        It did with me. Slick courtroom Perry Mason’s is not the job of the AG. Good AG’s hire them in a case by case basis, kinda like accessing a surgeon only when you need surgery. It is nonsense to hire a surgeon to run a hospital.

        1. Probably don’t need a license to be a doctor. Just go ahead and operate. Hope you don’t get killed.

      3. Do you have any proof to your allegation than Dan “set out to make sure Krebs was not elected?”

  13. I’m wondering what the SDGO’s owner is going to castigate as RINO Liberal Anti-2nd Amendment in SD Statute they can use when Governor Noem signs the bill allowing concealed carry without a permit.

    Lautenslaugers are surely going to need a new Poster Child for their fundraising and postcard attacks.

Comments are closed.