This is new.  Unlike the last time he “explored” running for office, Toby Doeden’s campaign actually filed organizing papers for a campaign.

Filed with the South Dakota Secretary of State’s office on May 22nd, the “Toby Doeden for South Dakota” committee has submitted paperwork noting Doeden’s campaign for Governor is official:

DoEden Disclosure by Pat Powers on Scribd

Jessica Post of Aberdeen, who social media notes as the HR manager at the Aberdeen Chrysler Dealership, is noted as serving as the campaign’s treasurer.

Lots of things coming up this week, including Toby “Dumpster-Fire” Doeden’s announcement that he’s going to pretend to run for Governor this coming Wednesday in Aberdeen. Or at least, it’s what another rounds of text messages blasted across the state is trying to tell us.  Mine was mail-merged into a message that led off “Patrick, I was looking at the RSVP list for Wednesday night and didn’t catch your name.”  Well, no kidding.  Hard pass on Toby Doeden’s South Dakota scowling tour.

I did hear an interesting item from the guys in the back room telling me that while his sound guys are local to Aberdeen, Doeden is bringing in a lighting and a camera crew from Rapid City, and he has a very extensive list of demands. Including a backstage confidence monitor, 3 teleprompters layering the room, and full room uplighting. And supposedly he’s bringing a bus.

Someone must think they’re Van Halen on tour with all the demands. And more on this trend of candidates needing teleprompters for their announcements.. The 2% Jon Hansen show needed two of them. Which means, of course, 4% Toby needs three of them?  I remember when they used to do an announcement tour around the state, hitting the major towns in time to make the media that day. Now, they bringing in teleprompters because their speeches are scripted by others, and so inauthentic they struggle to learn them. In fact, their media flaks may not be done writing them until it’s showtime!

Inauthentic teleprompter candidates in South Dakota. We must be hitting the big-time.

Stay tuned.

A Safer Border – a Safer South Dakota
By: Gov. Larry Rhoden
May 23, 2025

Former Governor Noem would often say, “What you see with your eyes, you carry in your heart.” I knew just how much of a challenge it is to secure America’s Southern Border – and how utterly the previous administration in Washington failed in that regard. But it’s hard to fully appreciate the challenge without seeing it for yourself.

I visited our South Dakota National Guard soldiers stationed at the Southern Border in Eagle Pass, TX. The biggest eye opener was just how vast the challenge is. It’s incredible that the Trump Administration and Secretary Noem have secured the border so quickly – and I’m proud that the men and women of our own SDNG are working alongside them.

I received multiple briefings and had the opportunity to survey the border from a variety of perspectives. First, I met with our 109^th Engineer Battalion and got a briefing of their mission, which they’ve been on since this past fall. They were originally stationed in southern California, but they moved to the Texas border after President Trump took office. Their mission has been a night and day difference since that transition. Now, they’re able to actually protect the territorial integrity of the United States.

Our guardsmen (and some from Wisconsin) showed me the Picnic Observation Outpost near the Rio Grande. From this vantage point, they are able to see any migrants crossing a long stretch of river, and their surveillance is supplemented by impressive technology.

We then headed down to the river where the Texas Department of Public Safety hosted us for an airboat tour of the Rio Grande. This tour took off from Shelby Park, which became a flashpoint in 2023 when as many as 4,000 illegal aliens crossed the border daily at this location alone.

Texas DPS then gave us a helicopter tour, which included the border wall that was constructed near town. A previous South Dakota National Guard deployment was working alongside Texas to construct border wall in this area just last year, and it looks like they did great work!

Finally, we received a briefing from Border Patrol at the Del Rio Sector. They outlined their actions to stop drugs, human trafficking, and other illicit activities from crossing the border. I noticed how high their spirits are – and they confirmed that their morale has risen now that they’re back on mission under President Trump and Secretary Noem. They’re finally back on offense to defend our people from the criminal cartels. And they were grateful for the support of our National Guard soldiers.

In the last few years, every state became a border state because of how wide open the Southern Border became. That situation has clearly turned around – I saw the evidence with my own eyes. I’m glad that Secretary Noem is doing the hard work to achieve that alongside President Trump.

I spent six years in the South Dakota National Guard and discharged as a buck sergeant, so it is an incredible (and sometimes surreal) honor to serve as Commander in Chief of the South Dakota National Guard. I’m honored that our own soldiers are playing a role to keep South Dakotans – and all Americans – safe, strong, and free.

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Remember the Fallen
By Sen. John Thune

 I recently had the privilege of welcoming a group of South Dakota veterans to Washington during an Honor Flight visit. These are always special for me. They’re an opportunity to simply say “thank you” to those who served. No matter how many times I do it, Honor Flights always inspire me and make me grateful to be an American and an heir to what these men and women fought for.

After the visit, KELOLAND News ran a story on this Honor Flight, and a quote from one Vietnam veteran struck me. He said, “I’m no hero. The heroes are the ones that didn’t get to come back and have families, didn’t get to become grandparents. They’re the heroes.” This is a common sentiment among veterans. I heard it often from my dad, a World War II veteran who almost always talked about the men with whom he served rather than his own service. But no matter how often I hear this, it stops me in my tracks because it reminds me that we ask those who serve our country to be willing to sacrifice everything.

Many Americans have, in fact, sacrificed everything serving our country, and we honor them on Memorial Day. These brave Americans gave their lives, their futures, and all that that future could hold to defend our country, protect our liberty, and secure peace for us. So, as we celebrate Memorial Day, we remember their heroism and sacrifice and take inspiration from their commitment to the ideals upon which our country was founded.

This year marks 80 years since the end of World War II. Millions of Americans served in the military during the war. More than 400,000 Americans died during it, including about 1,700 South Dakotans.

Among these are men like Captain Arlo Olson from Toronto, South Dakota. Captain Olson was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery in advancing through Italy, where he was killed in 1943 leading the advance. Philip native Lieutenant Earl Ferguson’s B-24 bomber was shot down while it was targeting an oil field in Romania. And Private Glenn Dow from Sioux Falls was killed on Omaha Beach on D-Day.

These men, and countless others, gave their lives in defense of our freedom and to secure peace for us. They entrusted to us the future that they would not see themselves, and they call on us now to defend the peace that they won.

On Memorial Day, we remember that our freedom has come at a cost. And we recognize that it is on us to live up to the ideals for which generations of Americans have been willing to give their lives. These are America’s heroes, and we are a grateful nation.

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The One Big, Beautiful Bill
By Rep. Dusty Johnson
May 23, 2025

 BIG Update

I voted to pass the House’s One Big, Beautiful Bill, which is a strong, conservative package that prevents the largest tax hike in American history while saving $1.6 trillion, the largest spending reduction in a generation.

The bill secures our borders by finishing thousands of miles of walls and barriers and hires thousands more Border Patrol and ICE personnel. It also funds the enforcement of the successful “Remain in Mexico” policy.

By extending the current tax rates, the average South Dakota taxpayer will avoid a 25% tax hike, which would cost a family of four $1,431 more per year. Allowing these tax cuts to expire would also cost South Dakota thousands of jobs. The National Association of Manufacturing estimates 17,000 South Dakotans would lose their jobs and our state’s economic output would decrease by $3.1 billion.

The bill also implements commonsense policies to right-size federal programs. I’ve heard a lot of misinformation about Medicaid and SNAP benefits, and I want to set the record straight: this bill does not change benefits for seniors, pregnant women, those with disabilities, or those with children at home. The bill ensures illegal immigrants do not receive Medicaid and SNAP benefits, ensuring we take care of the neediest Americans first.

Additionally, the bill ends taxes on tips and overtime, decreases taxes on Social Security, defunds Planned Parenthood, and prohibits taxpayer funding for transgender surgeries.

BIG Idea

Buying a home in Indian Country is a challenge due to complicated bureaucracy in the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). The BIA delays have hindered many tribal citizens’ dreams of homeownership. I’ve partnered with Senator John Thune on the Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act to streamline the approval process for mortgages on tribal trust land.

This week, the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indian Affairs held a hearing this week on our bill. I had the opportunity to introduce Eric Shepherd, Executive Director of the Sisseton Wahpeton Housing Authority.

Click here or the image above for Johnson’s opening statement

BIG News

Memorial Day is a time to reflect on the sacrifices our service members have made for our country. I got to greet another Honor Flight at the World War II memorial this week. More than 80 veterans, including two WWII veterans, were on this trip. I had the opportunity to thank them for their service.

Johnson greets Honor Flight veterans at the World War II Memorial

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(Editors note – Huge hat tip to KB for the photo!)

Caught wind of this ‘big fundraiser’ from a recording of this last week’s SDGOP exec board meeting that was sent my way. But as bad as it sounded at the meeting, this event looks much worse in execution as they advertise it in the Miller, SD newspaper:

The SDGOP’s golf tournament:

‘This is going to be the SDGOP’s big fundraiser? That they’re splitting with the Miller American Legion?   Must just be me missing the disclaimer required by law.. or the logo for branding the whole thing as GOP related?

Oddly, I’m also missing the raffle being noted and registered on the statewide raffle list as well.

After this, maybe GOP Leadership should start panhandling on the corners around Sioux Falls. There’s a good corner by WalMart on Louise.

I would wager that would be more lucrative than this.

Suck it pic.twitter.com/8ruAeJSum2

— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) May 22, 2025

Attorney General Jackley Announces Specifics For ICE 287(g) Partnership

 PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announces the state Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) is entering into a partnership with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Department (ICE) to enforce federal immigration law on violent criminals and illegal drug dealers in South Dakota.

“Providing DCI agents with federal immigration enforcement authority over violent criminals and drug dealers will better protect South Dakota communities.” said Attorney General Jackley.  “What I witnessed on the border reinforces my belief the additional 287(g) federal authority will strengthen DCI’s ability to take immediate action on illegal immigrants who are violent offenders or dealing drugs in our State. To be clear, I am restricting the use of this federal authority to violent criminals and drug dealers.”

Attorney General Jackley along with other State Attorneys General announced Wednesday, that as the chief law-enforcement officers of their respective states, they will seek 287(g) federal authority for their respective states and agencies. The announcement was made while they toured the southern border in Arizona.

There exist three main levels of authority under 287(g).  First, in relation to jails. Second, in relation to warrants.  Third, the task force and most comprehensive authority.

DCI has requested implementation in the Task Force Model which is part of the 287(g) Program. DCI intends to establish a Task Force Program headquartered in Pierre. Federal authorities would initially train DCI agents from Eastern and Western South Dakota to serve as 287(g) Task Force officers.

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Sioux Falls City Councilman Barranco to seek Republican Nomination for State Auditor

Sioux Falls City Councilman David Barranco announced this morning he is seeking to become South Dakota’s next State Auditor. Since a landslide 2022 electoral victory, Barranco has represented Southeast Sioux Falls, among the state’s fastest-growing and most successful regions.

Three times, Barranco has been elected unanimously to serve as Audit Committee Chair, and he is proud to have presided over an unprecedented three straight “A+” financial audits. Asked to summarize his accomplishments in that role, David said: “We increased the number of audits performed and simultaneously reduced total dollars spent. We found ways to cooperate with the city, increasing financial security while improving systemic efficiency. We devised sustainable innovations to uplift working families without imposing new taxes. In short, we got more for less and our credit rating improved.”

An attorney with 28 years’ experience, Councilman Barranco graduated from the University of Texas’ Law School and Plan II Honors Program. His wife, Catherine, is the Teenage Republican’s statewide adviser and a past president of the South Dakota Federation of Republican Women. David and Catherine are blessed with two sons: Christopher (13) and William (10).

Known in political circles as a thoughtful, fiscally conservative problem solver, David is humbled to enjoy the support of many prominent South Dakotans, ranging from elected officials to business leaders to hardworking grassroots activists.

“We’re profoundly thankful for the great men and women who’ve pledged to back this effort, and we look forward to sharing more details soon.”

Toby Doeden is out in the field again this week with his text message polling asking if people like him or hate him, and who they might vote for if he was in the race for Governor:

Interesting that he’s dropped Marty from the field.. and not himself or Jon Hansen.   And there’s no word on whether he’s broken 4% in his own polling.

Elsewhere on the topic, Dakota Scout has the state’s biggest “No sh*t Sherlock” story today, and noted there are reports that Doeden is to “announce his gubernatorial campaign next week.” 

We will see how long that lasts, after last year’s entrance into congressional exploring abruptly vanished when this website noted that he had never voted in a Republican Primary before. 

So, of course, now that he has voted in one primary election, that means he’s qualified to seek the Republican nomination for governor. Right?