In September of 1814, Francis Scott Key sat detained aboard a British ship in the Chesapeake Bay. For 25 hours, he watched America’s Fort McHenry being bombarded byenemy fire. The Americans were almost destined to lose, but by the “dawn’s early light” on September 14, Key saw the stars and stripes of our flag still proudly flying over the fort. In that moment, he was inspired to write a poem that we now know as the Star-Spangled Banner.

America is, as our national anthem says, “The land of the free, and the home of the brave.” America is unique among nations. We are the only country founded not on a shared background or ethnicity, but on a value system rooted in freedom. 250 years ago, our founding fathers created these United States and declared their independence, arguing that, “all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Our nation will only be around for the next 250 years if we continue to engage in and protect democracy. After all, South Dakota’s motto is “Under God, the People Rule.” We the people are responsible for selecting our leaders, making our voices heard, and standing up for the freedoms our forefathers fought so desperately to defend.

Election Day is one of the primary ways American citizens can participate in democracy and exercise their freedom. The right to vote gives each of us a voice in the direction of our communities, our state, and our country. And it is a right we should not take for granted.

Just over 100 years ago, women were still actively fighting for the right to vote. They gave everything to secure one of the most fundamental rights in America. And today, all you have to do is walk into the county courthouse and show your ID.

As Election Day approaches, I encourage every South Dakotan to make a plan to vote. Take time to learn about the candidates and the issues on the ballot. Ask questions, seek out reliable information, and make an informed decision.

When Francis Scott Key looked across the Chesapeake Bay that September morning in 1814, he saw the American flag still flying. It was a symbol that our nation had endured and that the fight for freedom continued. Today, that flag still flies over our communities, our schools, and our State Capitol. It represents the freedoms generations of Americans have fought to preserve.

It is our duty to exercise the rights they helped secure. In 250 years, I hope Americans will still be singing about the star-spangled banner waving “o’er the land of the free, and the home of the brave.” And voting is one important way we can secure freedom for generations to come.

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A Transformative Investment in Rural Health Care
By Sen. John Thune

Having grown up in Murdo, I know firsthand both the joys and the challenges of life in rural South Dakota. Everything from package delivery to internet reliability can be more difficult far outside a major city, and whether it’s fixing rural roads, expanding broadband, or ensuring access to critical services like health care, rural communities are a priority for me.

Last year, as part of the Working Families Tax Cuts, Republicans created the Rural Health Transformation Program, which invests $50 billion in America’s rural health care. This multi-year initiative promises to put rural health care providers on a more sustainable footing for the future, and after its first year, we’re seeing its impact in South Dakota and around the country.

South Dakota received $189.4 million in the first year of this program and that money is already going toward important initiatives in our state. This fall, the Trump administration announced $7.2 million to strengthen emergency medical services and a $13 million investment in behavioral and mental health in South Dakota. These come after another announcement in August for funding to modernize technology and strengthen cybersecurity among rural health care providers in our state.

When we created this program, Republicans didn’t take a top-down, Washington-centered approach. Instead, we chose to give states the resources and freedom to find solutions to their unique challenges. I’m proud to see South Dakota taking the same approach when it comes to distributing the funding our state is receiving from the program, including gathering input from South Dakotans in rural communities.

The Rural Health Transformation Program promises to live up to its name and be truly transformational for health care in America’s small towns and farm country. It’s already getting to work here in South Dakota to get our rural providers on a firmer footing so more South Dakotans can access quality health care closer to home.

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Memorable Moments: Open and Accessible
By Rep. Dusty Johnson
October 30, 2026

 As I reflect on my time in Congress, I’m reminded of the accomplishments and moments that have made these last eight years so meaningful. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be highlighting some of the work I’m most proud of from my time serving South Dakota and the people who make our state such a special place.

One of my top priorities throughout my time in Congress has been keeping the lines of communication open and making sure South Dakotans know what I’m working on in Washington. I believe being a good representative means more than casting votes and passing legislation. It means listening to the people you represent, answering their questions, and being transparent about the decisions being made on their behalf.

During my time in office, my team has worked hard to make it easy for South Dakotans to share their thoughts, ask questions, and get answers. I’ve held more than 250 tele-town halls, public forums, and other constituent outreach events, allowing me to connect directly with people from every corner of our state, whether on a manufacturing room floor or in an ice cream shop. In 2021, my team and I were awarded the Constituent Accountability and Accessibility Award by the Congressional Management Foundation for our efforts to remain open and accessible to people like you.

Johnson speaking with South Dakotans at his “Inside Scoop” town hall

Serving in Congress means making decisions that affect my neighbors, business owners, and friends across the state. Hearing directly from South Dakotans has helped me understand those impacts and bring their concerns to the table in Washington. It has challenged me to ask better questions, consider different viewpoints, and stay focused on the needs of our state. I’ve enjoyed meeting with community leaders, touring South Dakota businesses, and speaking at events. I held more than 2,000 South Dakota-based meetings, which also kept me connected to the folks I represent.

I’m grateful to everyone who has taken the time to attend an event, call my office, or share their thoughts with me over the years. Their willingness to speak up has made me a better representative, and I’m proud of the work we’ve done to keep those conversations going. Public service works best when the people and their representatives stay connected.

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This might be one of the absolutely dumbest complaints coming from candidates sure to lose that I’ve ever heard:

Independent candidate for U.S. Senate Brian Bengs and Democratic U.S. House candidate Nikki Gronli criticized the optics of a bus tour launched by their Republican opponents.

and..

Jackley said they were treating the midterms like any other election.

“We’re all of the same mindset,” Jackley, who is currently South Dakota’s attorney general, said. “We treat like every race like we’re five points down.”

and..

Card told KOTA Territory News in an Oct. 27 interview that the last-minute campaign pitch is more likely a way to encourage Republican enthusiasm in other South Dakota contests, such as the closely contested secretary of state race, as well as legislative races.

Read the entire story here.

Wasn’t this the same Nikki Gronli who went on her own tour months before her own campaign began?  A word of advice to “Three-shell Gronli,” Many people aren’t paying attention to the elections until the last few weeks, and it has been so this year more than most. So, their tour makes a lot more sense than the one she did in 2025.  If either Nikki had been paying attention, or if Dem-Independent Bengs had actually lived in South Dakota at the time, Republican candidates and office holders have been doing this kind of “bus tour” for years. 

Such as this Noem/Thune bus tour in 2010…

Like a bus carrying rock stars on tour, the campaign bus carrying congressional candidate Kristi Noem and Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., was greeted by a crowd of fans Friday night in Mitchell.

Noem also had one in 2018..

Congresswoman Kristi Noem is preparing for one final push in her quest to obtain the Republican nomination for South Dakota Governor. Noem, who is in a tight battle with Attorney General Marty Jackley for that governor nomination, is planning an “All In Tour” that includes stops in eight cities in less than 36 hours starting in Aberdeen on Sunday, June 3. 

Poor Jason Glodt with the Rounds team had a camper/bus he drug out for touring around the state darn near every election. I think he finally wore that old campaign war-wagon out as we saw it election after election.  In fact, It’s more unusual in Republican circles for there not to be a big GOTV campaign tour towards the end to rally the troops.

At the end of the day, this story is a matter of candidates who are 20% and 30% behind complaining when opponents, who were busy working much of the year, are actually out campaigning.  And they’re stuck as an afterthought when these statewide officeholders, likely to win once again, are the news story.

Next obvious story up tonight? Water is wet.

It looks like according to recent polling that Heather Baxter is in danger of losing a second election this year.

First, was for State House, when as an incumbent she lost in her primary for District 34 House against Becky Drury and Mike Derby. And now, it appears that her opponent for the Secretary of State’s race, Democrat Terence Davis, is within striking distance of winning the race after his endorsement by current Secretary of State Monae Johnson:

Republican Heather Baxter, of Rapid City, is a state legislator for District 34 and a member of the South Dakota Freedom Caucus, a far-right, populist group that has pushed for lower taxes, less state spending and, notably for Baxter, election reform. She has called for hand-counting ballots in the state – her website currently states that she supports “improved hand-counting methods.” It also formerly stated that “she advocates for hand-counted paper ballots, no more voting machines, proof of citizenship and having Election Day a holiday.” That language has since been removed.

and..

Terrence Davis, a former state trooper in Tennessee and South Dakota, was chosen as Democrats’ secretary of state nominee during the June party convention. Davis is currently employed with East River Legal Services in Sioux Falls and is pursuing a doctoral degree in law and public policy through Liberty University, according to the South Dakota Searchlight.

Read the entire story here.

That’s one of the closer races they polled this year. Brian Bengs wishes he could poll this close to Mike Rounds.

This race is potentially lost for Republicans. And can you blame them? Heather Baxter might be the single worst candidate we’ve put up ever in terms of electability.  And the only promise she brings is hand counting and the full backing of the election conspiracists. Honestly, even though it might not make an ant hill’s worth of difference, I consider this one of those races where it might be better to either not vote and skip over it, or if you’re so inclined, vote for someone else besides the Republican nominee.  I just don’t see Baxter doing anything in this position except serving as an agent of chaos.

Politically, it’s not good for Republicans, but there are times when you have to look past politics, and consider the state of the union.

Please note – the location for the General Election Rally featuring Governor Larry Rhoden, Senator Mike Rounds, and Attorney General Marty Jackley has been updated.

NEW LOCATION:
McCrory Gardens
631 22nd Ave.
Brookings, SD 57006

Thursday, Oct 29th – Doors open at 4:30PM and event begins at 5:00PM – OPEN AND FREE TO THE PUBLIC – see you there!

Senator Rounds Is Right to Hold the Postal Service’s Feet to the Fire
by State Representative Jessica Bahmuller

As a municipal Finance Officer, I handle large volumes of mail including utility billing, invoices, and public service correspondence. I know how much planning goes into getting mail where it needs to go, and how quickly things can get complicated when delivery schedules become unreliable.

For municipalities, delays mean missed deadlines, added costs, and frustrated residents. For families, it can mean waiting longer for a prescription, a payment, or an important document. And in rural South Dakota, where the nearest alternative may be miles away, there’s often not much anyone can do but wait.

That’s why I’ve been paying close attention to Senator Mike Rounds’ efforts to address the Postal Service’s problems in South Dakota.

Rounds has been raising concerns about mail delays for years, and he’s done more than write a few letters asking for answers. He helped secure a commitment to keep the Huron processing facility open, along with $3 million in improvements. He’s pushed for upgrades to mail processing in Sioux Falls and requested an independent investigation into service problems across the state.

That investigation, released in September, confirmed what many South Dakotans already knew: mail service in our state has been falling short.

Rounds has also placed a hold on nominees to the Postal Service Board of Governors, making clear that the agency needs to show progress before the Senate hands more responsibility to its leadership.

I think he’s right to do it.

The Board of Governors doesn’t get much attention outside Washington, but its decisions affect just about everyone who sends or receives mail. The board selects the Postmaster General and oversees major decisions about how the Postal Service operates. Its members serve seven-year terms, so the people confirmed today will have a hand in shaping mail service for years.

That matters in South Dakota, where a change to a processing facility or delivery schedule can have consequences hundreds of miles away.

We’ve seen how difficult it can be for cities to plan around unreliable service. When mail takes longer than expected, residents don’t necessarily care whether the problem started at a local post office, a regional processing center, or somewhere in Washington. They just know their mail didn’t arrive when it was supposed to.

And while the Postal Service faces real financial and operational challenges, South Dakota shouldn’t have to accept worse service as the price of fixing them.

As Congress heads into its final weeks of the year, there’s a chance these nominations could get swept into a larger package of unfinished business. That’s often how Washington works. The calendar gets tight, negotiations pick up, and appointments that deserve a closer look end up moving together. But these nominees shouldn’t get a pass simply because Congress wants to finish its work before the holidays.

Senators ought to ask each nominee what they plan to do about rural mail service, whether they support keeping processing operations closer to the communities they serve, and how they’ll make sure the Postal Service follows through when it promises improvements.

Senator Rounds has spent considerable time getting the Postal Service to acknowledge the problems South Dakota is facing. His efforts have helped protect local processing operations, secure investments, and bring some much-needed scrutiny to an agency that hasn’t always been responsive to rural customers.

The Senate should give these nominees a careful look, consider them individually, and make sure South Dakota’s concerns are addressed before moving forward.

For those of us whose businesses depend on the mail, that’s not asking too much.

Jessica Bahmuller
Municipal Finance Officer and State Representative
Alexandria, South Dakota

From a release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 28, 2026

Campaign Finance Complaint Filed with South Dakota Secretary of State Over Contribution to Taffy Howard Campaign
Filing requests state review of reported $5,063 contribution and compliance with South Dakota campaign finance law

RAPID CITY, S.D. — Ranee Haglund, Chairwoman of the Pennington County Democratic Party, has filed a formal campaign finance complaint with the South Dakota Secretary of State’s Office, requesting an official review of a reported $5,063 contribution from South Eastern Strategy to the campaign committee Taffy Howard for SD.

The complaint raises questions about whether the reported contribution complies with South Dakota Codified Law § 12-27-8, which governs contributions from business entities to legislative candidates. Based on the contribution limit cited in the complaint, the filing asks the Secretary of State to determine whether the reported amount exceeds the applicable annual limit of $1,000 and, if so, whether corrective action is required.

The potential excess amount identified in the complaint is $4,063. The filing requests that the Secretary of State examine the relevant campaign finance disclosure records and determine whether the contribution was properly classified as a monetary or in-kind contribution, whether it complied with applicable law, and whether any required return, correction, or other action has occurred.

“This complaint is about transparency and accountability in South Dakota elections,” said Haglund. “Campaign finance laws exist to provide clear rules for candidates and contributors and to help voters understand how campaigns are funded. When a disclosure raises questions about compliance, the appropriate step is to ask the state’s campaign finance officials to review the facts and determine whether the law has been followed.”

The complaint does not presume that a violation has been established. It asks the Secretary of State’s Campaign Finance Division to review the available documentation, determine the applicable legal requirements, and take any action warranted by the findings.

Campaign finance disclosures are an important public resource, allowing South Dakotans to evaluate the sources and amounts of financial support provided to candidates for public office. A review by the state’s campaign finance officials can help clarify how the relevant contribution should be treated under South Dakota law.

Haglund submitted the formal complaint along with relevant campaign finance disclosure documentation for the Secretary of State’s review.

Filing details

• Filed: Wednesday, October 28, 2026
• Recipient: South Dakota Secretary of State, Campaign Finance Division
• Candidate: Taffy Howard
• Committee: Taffy Howard for SD
• Contributor identified in the complaint: Southeastern Strategies
• Reported contribution at issue: $5,063
• Statutory provision cited: SDCL § 12-27-8

The Pennington County Democratic Party encourages voters to remain engaged in the electoral process and supports transparent, consistent enforcement of campaign finance laws.

 

Rhoden for Governor Unveils “Honor” Ad

Pierre, SD – Today, the Rhoden for Governor campaign unveiled the “Honor” ad to close the 2026 general election for governor. The ad features Governor Larry Rhoden in his welding shop. You can watch the ad here.

“Almost two years ago, South Dakota gave me a tremendous honor. I’ve never taken it lightly,” said Governor Larry Rhoden. “South Dakota doesn’t need a talker — it needs someone who does the work. With your help, I’d like to keep doing the work.”

In the ad, Governor Rhoden highlights his results, including:

• Reducing crime;
• Protecting life;
• Strengthening the 2nd Amendment; and
• Delivering the largest property tax cut in South Dakota history.

The general election is November 3, 2026. Learn more about Governor Rhoden’s results to keep South Dakota strong, safe, and free at RhodenResults.com.

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L No Campaign’s Dark Money Exposed
No on L Ads Warn of Outside Billionaires. Campaign Finance Reports Tell a Different Story

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — The No on Amendment L campaign has spent more than $1.5 million dollars claiming out-of-state billionaires trying to buy influence over South Dakota’s state Constitution. Their television ads claim that “out-of-state billionaires and their lobbyists” are the proponents behind Amendment L.

The L No campaign committees’ financial disclosure statement filed this week raises serious questions about the integrity and truthfulness of the Amendment L opposition group.

According to reports filed with the South Dakota Secretary of State, the L No committee has raised more than $2.2 million. Nearly all of it came from two Washington, D.C.-based organizations: The Fairness Project, which contributed $1.697 million, and the National Education Association, which contributed $500,000.

Proponents of Amendment L led by the Save our South Dakota Constitution committee, reported just $47,458.80, with no disclosed contribution from a California billionaire. Instead, South Dakotans have fully funded the effort.

“South Dakota voters deserve an open and honest debate about Amendment L, and so far our opponents have failed the test,” said Rhonda Milstead, treasurer of the Save Our South Dakota Constitution ballot question committee. “The finance reports show the truth about who’s funding each side of this issue–hardworking South Dakotans asking for a yes vote, and out-of-state pro-abortion radicals asking for a no vote.”

The Fairness Project’s involvement goes well beyond South Dakota. Looking back to the 2024 elections, the organization contributed more than $22 million to campaigns supporting pro-abortion-rights constitutional amendments in Florida, Missouri, Arizona, Montana, and Nebraska.

That included $16.4 million for Florida’s abortion amendment campaign. In Missouri, where voters approved abortion rights in 2024, The Fairness Project has since contributed nearly $12 million toward defeating a 2026 measure that would repeal those protections.

“It’s clear to me that Amendment L is the most important Yes vote for pro-life South Dakotans to consider in 2026,” said Rep. John Hughes. “The Fairness Project wants radical pro-abortion language in South Dakota’s Constitution. Right now, they’ve spent nearly $2 million to make it easy to pass their radical agenda. South Dakotans need to stand up and vote yes on Amendment L.”

The Fairness Project is a Washington-based nonprofit that isn’t required to publicly disclose all its donors, so we do not know who its billionaire donors are. Its political spending is documented. The original source of every dollar is not.

The Yes on L committee believes voters deserve to know who is financing the messages they see on television. The latest reports provide a clear comparison between the two campaigns’ disclosed fundraising. The No effort is almost solely funded by out-of-state organizations, while the Yes campaign is fully funded by fellow South Dakotans.

South Dakotans can draw their own conclusions. But the debate over outside money should begin with the financial records, not misleading television ads.