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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

On the lookout for biographies of SD governors

Biographies of South Dakota governors admittedly fill a niche-market. They are unlikely to sell millions of copies like John Adams, win … More

Will the SD GOP winning streak continue in 2020?

This is an update of a post that was written prior to the 2018 general election. The 2020 election marks … More

Jean Hunhoff the SD Legislature’s longest-serving woman

Updated to reflect results of the 2020 general election – the article now assumes that those elected in 2020 will … More

Gov. Kristi Noem and the Next Generation

Congratulations to Kristi Noem, who was sworn in on January 5, 2019 as the 33rd Governor of South Dakota. Governor Noem’s … More

Noem is SD’s first female governor

Kristi Lynn Noem has been elected the 33rd Governor of South Dakota. The Hamlin County Republican and her running mate, … More

Turner County is SD GOV bellwether

During the primary, this blog identified Beadle and Davison counties as the best bellwethers for a Republican gubernatorial primary. That … More

Timeline of female “firsts” in SD politics

Updated to reflect results of 2018 election, the 2019 appointment of Justice Devaney, and the 2020 election. In the 2018 … More

Presidential visits to South Dakota

An updated version of this post has been added here. Fifteen sitting presidents have made a total of twenty-five visits … More

Noem and Sutton a historically rural matchup

The 2018 gubernatorial election has had a noticeably rural feel. Candidates Kristi Noem, Billie Sutton and Marty Jackley have all … More

2018 SD GOP looks to extend its winning streak

This is an update of a post that was done prior to the 2016 general election. The South Dakota Republican … More

Kristi and Dusty win: A few observations

Kristi Noem is the Republican nominee for Governor of South Dakota, and Dusty Johnson is the nominee for U. S. … More

Counties to watch on primary night

The 2018 Republican primary is fast approaching, and the gubernatorial matchup between Congresswoman Kristi Noem and Attorney General Marty Jackley is … More

History in the making: 2018 primary

Here’s a look at some of the history that could be made in Tuesday’s GOP gubernatorial primary. If Kristi Noem … More

Closest gubernatorial primaries

With the 2018 Republican primary for governor one week away, the Argus Leader and Keloland-TV report a dead heat between … More

AG’s and US Rep’s running for governor

The 2018 Republican gubernatorial primary pits Congresswoman Kristi Noem against Attorney General Marty Jackley. If elected, both would achieve certain … More

LG-stakes: What history tells us about 2018 running mates

With the 2018 gubernatorial campaign coming into full swing, it’s not too early to start speculating about the candidates’ potential … More

Oldest and Youngest SD GOV’s

Updated to reflect the result of the primary election. The two major party nominees for Governor of South Dakota are … More

SD GOV 2018: Kristi Noem milestones

The race is on to succeed Dennis Daugaard as the 33rd Governor of South Dakota. Three major candidates have filed: Republican Congresswoman Kristi … More