George McGovern at 100

One hundred years ago today, George Stanley McGovern was born in the small South Dakota town of Avon. McGovern’s life … More

SD’s “Million Vote Club”

There are many ways to measure South Dakota’s top political figures. This blog has in the past attempted a few: … More

Jackley joins a short list of unopposed nominees

The South Dakota Democratic Party held its state convention this weekend to adopt its platform and nominate candidates for statewide … More

Jennifer Keintz is Jamie Smith’s running mate

Today, Democratic gubernatorial nominee Jamie Smith announced that he will ask the State Democratic Convention to nominate Jennifer Healy Keintz, … More

Noem releases autobiography

Governor Kristi Noem released yesterday her autobiography, Not My First Rodeo: Lessons from the Heartland. The book is a first … More

Noem picks Mark Vargo for AG

Governor Kristi Noem today announced that she will appoint Mark A. Vargo to serve as South Dakota’s thirty-second attorney general. … More

LG selection through the years

The recent State Republican Convention in Watertown featured a rare contested ballot for the lieutenant governor nomination. Lt. Governor Larry … More

SD GOP looks to November

The South Dakota Republican Party held its state convention in Watertown June 23-25, 2022. News outlets have noted a record-setting … More

Ravnsborg removed in historic impeachment trial

Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg was removed today from his office, and barred from serving in state office, following a trial … More

Three new statues complete Trail of Governors

This morning, three new statues were unveiled for the Trail of Governors in Pierre: Andrew E. Lee, Frank M. Byrne, … More

2022 Trail of Governors preview

This Friday, the Trail of Governors in Pierre will unveil and place three new statues. The unveiling is at 10 … More

LG-stakes 2022

With the primary elections behind us, attention now turns to the upcoming Republican and Democratic party conventions. Governor Kristi Noem … More

Noem wins most votes for governor in SD primary history

The 2022 primary season is over, as Governor Kristi Noem, U.S. Senator John Thune, and Congressman Dusty Johnson all fended … More

Daugaard selected for SD Hall of Fame

The South Dakota Hall of Fame this week announced its class of inductees for 2022. The Hall, which is located … More

Rounds upset Barnett and Kirby, 20 years ago today

Twenty years ago today – June 4, 2002 – Mike Rounds achieved one of the biggest upsets in South Dakota … More

Farewell to Red Allen

The news comes that Carrol “Red” Allen passed away on May 3, 2022. Allen, a Democrat, served a total of … More

State House passes first-ever impeachment

Today, the State House of Representatives voted, 36-31, to impeach Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg. The impeachment resolution, which included two … More

Don Barnett remembers the Rapid City flood

Don Barnett was a 29-year-old second-year Mayor of Rapid City in June 1972 when his city was struck by the … More

When Gov. Bulow vetoed the state budget

The last week of the legislative session always focuses on finalizing the state budget. As the news reports on the … More

A personal note

Readers of this blog might be interested to know that I have decided to run for the South Dakota State … More

Henry A. Poppen turns 100

My grandfather, Henry A. Poppen, was born one hundred years ago today, on February 12, 1922, on his parents farm … More

The Dem Dozen

This week, House Minority Leader Jamie Smith launched his 2022 candidacy for governor. Smith joins a Democratic Party field that … More

Jamie Smith, Dem leader, to run for Governor

Austin Goss of Dakota News Now reports today that, according to his sources, House Minority Leader Jamie Smith will seek … More

First Dem launches Gov bid

Update: Hulse will not be the only Democratic candidate, as House Minority Leader Jamie Smith is joining the field. Further … More

John Thune goes for Four

U.S. Senator John Thune announced today that he will seek a fourth six-year term in the U.S. Senate. The announcement … More

In SD, US Senators have never just retired

This morning, Tom Lawrence has an excellent historical article, looking at U.S. Senator John Thune’s upcoming decision as to whether … More

The Over 25 Club: SD’s longest-serving state officials

Public service is an important part of South Dakota’s culture. Many, many people take a few years to serve, on … More

Bob Dole, “South Dakota’s third senator,” dies

The news breaks that Bob Dole died this morning. Dole, a World War II hero, was a major figure in … More

Haugaard takes on Noem, and history

The news today reports that Steven G. Haugaard will challenge Governor Kristi Noem in the 2022 Republican gubernatorial primary. The … More

Impeachment in South Dakota

On November 9, the South Dakota State Legislature will meet in special session to consider the impeachment of Attorney General … More

Gov. Farrar to lie in state

The Office of Governor Kristi Noem today that former Gov. Frank Farrar, who died on October 31, will lie in … More

Gov. Wollman remembers Gov. Farrar

Bob Mercer has a nice interview on KELOLAND.com with former Governor Harvey Wollman, remembering his longtime friendship with former Governor … More

Terry Woster on Jim Soyer

Colleagues, friends, and family gathered today in Sioux Falls to bid a final farewell to Jim Soyer, a former chief … More

Jean Rounds: SD loses a true “First Lady”

South Dakotans were very sad to learn that Jean Rounds, former First Lady and wife of U.S. Senator Mike Rounds, … More

Gov. Frank Farrar 1929-2021

Frank Leroy Farrar, twenty-fourth Governor of South Dakota, has died. The former governor passed away early this morning in Rochester, … More

Jim Soyer: A Life of Service

Jim Soyer, a former chief of staff to Gov. Bill Janklow and longtime Governor’s Office staffer, has passed away. Jim … More

Special Legislative Sessions in South Dakota

The South Dakota State Legislature has met in special session thirty times. Twenty-six times, the special session was called by … More

Janklow on 9/11

“There will be no nonsense tolerated by anybody.” Gov. Bill Janklow, as quoted by the Associated Press on September 18, … More

Remembering Les Jensen

Word came this morning that Les Jensen, son of Gov. Leslie Jensen, has passed away. Les, who was 90, was … More

Carv Thompson 1932-2021

The Governor’s Office announced today that flags will fly half staff at the State Capitol on August 28, 2021 in … More

Convention keynotes in 1974 had White House futures

Sometimes, the study of history can lead to unexpected discoveries. Tonight, I was looking back to South Dakota newspapers from … More

Farewell to David Lust

The sad news broke this afternoon that David E. Lust has died. He was only 53. Lust, was an Aberdeen … More

Presidential visits to South Dakota (updated)

Fifteen sitting presidents have made a total of twenty-seven visits to South Dakota. Since South Dakota became a state in 1889, … More

Ranking the Presidents, 2021

Today C-SPAN released its fourth presidential historians survey. The survey follows C-SPAN’s earlier surveys of presidential greatness, which were run … More