Here is the video that’s floating around out there allegedly in connection with the arrest of South Dakota State Senator Mark Lapka for driving under the influence, as reported by the Dakota Scout:

From the Dakota Scout, it appears that State Senator Mark Lapka is being accused of drunk farming after driving his combine into signs and a tree:

Was chatting with a candidate the other day, and they’d asked if I had been sent a copy of the Minnehaha County GOP candidate survey.

What? Yes, they actually appear to have sent out a “Candidate Platform Questionnaire,” demanding their answers on a various number of topics. All I could think was “who came up with the goofy b.s.?” Because it would seem they’re looking for an excuse – as the Minnehaha County Republican Party to not support Republican candidates:

Candidate Platform Questionnaire
Minnehaha County Republican Party
Please begin each response with a direct statement of your position, followed by an explanation of no more than 150 words. Clearly identify any exceptions or circumstances that could affect how you would vote.

1. Parental Rights and Local Control of Education
Do you believe parents should have the primary authority over their children’s education, including curriculum, instructional materials, assessments, and school accommodations? Please explain where you believe the authority of parents, local school boards, and the state government should begin and end.

2. Property Rights
Under what circumstances, if any, should government be permitted to take private property through eminent domain or restrict an owner’s use of their property? Please explain how you would vote on legislation involving eminent domain for private economic-development, and describe the due-process protections you believe property owners must receive.

3. Sanctity of Human Life
When do you believe human life begins, and what responsibility does government have to protect unborn children, the elderly, the elderly, and people with disabilities? Please state any exceptions you support concerning abortion or assisted suicide and explain how you would vote on legislation addressing those issues.

4. Lower Taxes and Limited Government Spending
Under what circumstances, if any, would you vote to increase a tax, fee or government spending ?
Explain how you would control government spending, prioritize essential government functions, and eliminate unnecessary spending.

5. Traditional Family Policies
What responsibility, if any, should state government have in promoting marriage, family stability and the rights and responsibilities of parents ? Please explain any policies you would support or oppose concerning marriage, parental authority, and the protection of children.

6. Election of Constitutional Officers
Would you support or oppose legislation to move the nominations of Attorney General and Secretary of State from the convention to the June primary ?
Please provide your reason(s) for supporting or opposing such legislation.

7. Constitutional Amendments
What are your thoughts on Amendment L which would require any proposed constitutional change to achieve a 60% support level from the voters in the general election ?

8. 4th amendment and Right to Privacy
Do you support or oppose the use of taxpayer money to install and maintain Automatic License Plate Reading equipment (aka “Flock cameras”)?
Please provide your reasons for supporting or opposing these cameraa.

SDGOP Platform (for reference)
https://www.sdgop.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/The-2024-South-Dakota-Republican-Party-Platform.pdf

I like how they can’t even manage to reference the current platform from 2026.

The point is that once again, there are those self-anointed self-important people in the GOP who are demanding purity tests to see if the candidates still hold their virgini….   er, if they are sufficiently virtuous and Republican enough to be deserving of the party’s support.   The thing is – THE PARTY’S JOB IS NOT TO APPLY PURITY TESTS. It is get Republicans elected. Period.  It’s like someone decided to form an HOA or Condominium Board for Republicans. Because they don’t want people with different views to call themselves Republican. Heaven forbid.  They often quote Reagan and say that the person who agrees with you 80% of the time is not your enemy. But how quickly that’s forgotten once they get in a room.

Why do I think that the same people are the ones who are howling when people express they won’t be supporting election conspiracist Heather Baxter to become the next Secretary of State.  They want people to blindly support the Republican ticket, but at the same time they’re looking for excuses to not support them.   Of course, this is the same Republican party group represented on the State Party’s Executive Board by Tom Pischke, who is going on trial for election fraud.  So you’ll have to pardon me if I don’t think that their purity test makes the grade.

The signs of light in Minnehaha County for Republican voters?

There are thoughtful people in the GOP down there. I was taping Dakota Town hall yesterday, and held out Taylor Rehfeldt and Ryan Budmayr who formed the Republican Roundtable, which meets monthly. They bring like-minded Republicans together for common goals and to network with community leaders. They’re there to get things done. Which is a breath of fresh air.

No judgement or purity tests required.

**Update**

I just heard from another candidate. Lincoln County GOP is doing the survey thing too.

It sounds like Independent candidate Neal Tapio did not want to answer questions at a local debate that he’d already agreed to participate in:

From the Story:

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD — District 5 House candidate Neal Tapio announced Tuesday, about two hours before the event, that he will not participate in tonight’s legislative debate hosted by the Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce, saying the selection of the event’s moderator compromises the forum’s fairness.

Tapio, a 2021 Watertown Businessman of the Year and former State Senator, said his decision stems from concerns about moderator Lee Schoenbeck’s neutrality, a longtime state legislator and political figure.

and..

Tapio also criticized the Chamber’s selection process, saying Schoenbeck’s role as moderator…

“is a stain on the reputation of the Watertown Chamber of Commerce and is unfair for the voters of Watertown.”

Tapio, who is running as an Independent, said his decision reflects broader concerns about political leadership and party dynamics.

“I am a lifelong Republican who believes strongly in hard work, sacrifice, merit, faith and family,” Tapio said. “The very reason I am running as an Independent is because too many in the Republican (and Democrat) Party leadership are not guided by ethical behavior and a simple belief in right and wrong.”

Read it here.

Basically, he’s the only politician in the world who meets the standards in his head, so that’s why he’s running as an independent, and can’t handle questions posed to him that everyone else at the podium is going to answer.

This is the same person who, last time he ran, started yelling at faith leaders, and said he’d get elected to Congress if terrorists attacked America.

If he was elected, would he run away and leave the Capitol anytime someone disagrees with him?  (We had one of those already, and we got rid of him.)

Neal, if you can’t stand the heat, don’t try to push your way into the kitchen.

From ActBlue, the Democrat fundraising platform.. apparently someone didn’t get the memo. Because they’re certainly under the impression that Brian Bengs is a Democrat in sheep’s clothing:

“We need your help to elect Brian Bengs and flip South Dakota, re-elect Catherine Cortez Masto and keep Nevada blue, and build a historic Democratic Senate Majority.”

I’d like to hear that explanation next time Bengs tries to claim he’s not running as a Democrat. (Or is he going to snap his fingers in someone’s face when they ask that?)

Gov. Rhoden Expands Economic Opportunity in Aberdeen

PIERRE, S.D. –  Today, Governor Larry Rhoden expanded economic opportunity in Aberdeen by supporting Aberdeen’s new public works facility, business park, and “Future Makers Lab by 3M.”

“Economic development is about opening doors of opportunity for our kids and grandkids to pursue their dreams right here in South Dakota,” said Governor Larry Rhoden. “I am proud of the work Aberdeen is doing to open doors for the next generation. I’m confident that these projects will propel Aberdeen and South Dakota towards an even brighter future.”

Last year, Governor Rhoden announced support for two new business parks in Aberdeen with a $1 million award from the Future Fund. Today, Governor Rhoden and local leaders broke ground on the first of the two business parks, Roosevelt Business Park, and a new public works facility that will create the infrastructure needed to support Aberdeen’s continued growth.

Governor Rhoden also cut the ribbon on Aberdeen Public Schools’ new “Future Makers Lab by 3M,” which transforms traditional school spaces into hands-on labs for engineering, robotics, and advanced manufacturing. 3M has worked with approximately a dozen schools across the United States to create these labs, which are designed to support students on their career journeys, fill future hiring gaps, and help the local community.

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From my mailbox, a reader was pointing out that while Democrat/Independent/whatever US Senate candidate Brian Bengs pretends to call himself not a Democrat on the issues.. he’s not very Republican either. At all:

South Dakota Right to Life recently endorsed Mike Rounds.

This should come as no surprise to anyone. Mike has been a staunch pro-life advocate. He’s consistently opposed taxpayer-funded abortions in the Senate and supported the Hyde amendment.

Brian Bengs, on the other hand, is a pro-abortion advocate running in a state that just rejected a pro-abortion Constitutional amendment (Amendment G).

Mike has the voting record to back up his pro-life beliefs. Bengs, meanwhile, has his own public statements putting his out-of-touch positions in full view.

Back in August on Hub City Radio in Aberdeen, Bengs clearly outlined his pro-abortion stance, stating that “Roe had it right”. In other statements, he’s claimed the U.S. Supreme Court “got it wrong” on the Dobbs decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade and restored the constitutional right of states to enact abortion restrictions.

In that same Aberdeen interview, Bengs asserted that women should have the right to choose up to the point of viability—liberal code for abortion on demand.

Just look at who is actively defending Bengs on Facebook: Nancy Turbak Berry, a prominent leader in South Dakota’s pro-abortion movement. She worked alongside Bengs to push Julian out of the race (read her column here) and serves as co-chair for the state’s current pro-abortion initiative (read about that here).

If you’re a South Dakota voter and your top issue is Life, the choice is clear: Mike Rounds for Senate.

So, Bengs bombed on the NRA score. Bengs has now been bounced on Life issue. I can’t wait to see what else he claims to be “Republican” on.

A Stable Future for College Sports
By Sen. John Thune 

College sports has a unique place in South Dakota. It’s deeply rooted in our communities and families. Many college athletes at our state’s schools are South Dakotans themselves, and they have the opportunity in college to compete at a high level with the support of their friends, parents, and neighbors.

Anyone who knows me knows I’m a big sports fan, and I spend a lot of time at games around South Dakota. But in the last several years, whether I’m in a high school gym on a Friday night or at a tailgate on a Saturday morning, the current state of college athletics is bound to come up in conversations with fellow fans. Anyone who follows college sports knows that these last few years have been complex and, at times, chaotic, and that the status quo cannot continue.

At the end of September, the U.S. Senate passed a bill to restore stability to the college sports ecosystem. The Protect College Sports Act would preserve the opportunities that have been available for generations of student athletes while ensuring these opportunities can coexist with the new opportunities available to the current generation of athletes.

Restoring stability to college sports begins with uniform eligibility rules. The Senate-passed bill would limit athletes to one transfer without loss of eligibility, a maximum five years of playing time, and bar professional athletes from competing in college athletics. Additionally, it would bring transparency to athlete compensation and protect student athletes from bad actors. And importantly, the Protect College Sports Act includes safeguards that preserve opportunities in women’s and Olympic sports.

This bill has been a work in progress for a number of years. I’ve sat down with college athletes, coaches, athletic directors, and college presidents in our state. Their input has been invaluable, and I’m proud that this bill has support from South Dakota universities and, most importantly, from hundreds of thousands of student athletes around the country.

As an athlete, fan, and member of a sports family, I’ve seen how sports shapes individuals and opens doors for them. My dad was a Big 10 basketball star in the 1940s. He had the chance to play point guard for the University of Minnesota, where he was the team MVP and the high point man at a game in Madison Square Garden – quite a journey for a small-town kid from South Dakota. My daughter ran cross country and track at Belmont University and was inducted in that school’s hall of fame.

The Protect College Sports Act is about ensuring that the same opportunities that were available to my dad and daughter will be available to the next generation of student athletes. We have a responsibility to protect college sports and preserve stability for athletes so they can focus on their sport, their education, and their future.

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Coming Home
By: Gov. Larry Rhoden
October 2, 2026

  A few weeks ago, I did something I never thought I’d do – I joined a cheer routine at a Brandon Valley High School football game! Their marching band had just learned the exciting news that they were selected to play in the 101st Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2027. Waving pom poms in the air was certainly outside of my comfort zone, but it was an honor celebrating our incredible students and their accomplishment. They were playing against O’Gorman High School, and I was met with the same energy on the other side of the field.

There is something special about homecoming. For a few days each fall, an entire community comes together. Students, teachers, and their family and friends all have a reason to show school spirit. It doesn’t matter what grade you are in, what your background is, or what you do outside of school. You are part of the same community, and everyone comes together to celebrate.

Recently, I was in Aberdeen for Northern State’s Gypsy Days. A college town homecoming is one of the best examples of the spirit of community, and there were as many folks in that parade as I’ve seen anywhere! Whether you are walking in a parade, down main street, or into a stadium for the big game, the energy is palpable. Alumni come back to visit their alma mater and reminisce about the faculty who invested in them, the friendships they created, the games they attended, and the memories they made.

Our schools are not just places where students learn. They are places where our kids and grandkids discover their talents, build friendships, and learn how to lead. And South Dakota is blessed to have so many dedicated educators that encourage them along the way.

As Governor, I want every young South Dakotan to know that our state is Open for Opportunity. You don’t need to move away to land your dream job – there are opportunities for you right here at home. Whether your future takes you into agriculture, healthcare, manufacturing, education, technology, entrepreneurship, or public service, South Dakota is a place where you can build a good life.

But if you do choose to leave for college, a career, or another opportunity, South Dakota will always be a place for you to come home to.

I am proud to call South Dakota home. And I am even more proud of the kids and grandkids who will carry that tradition forward and keep South Dakota home for generations to come.

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For the Future
By Rep. Dusty Johnson
October 2, 2026

BIG Update

I spoke with a new generation of business leaders from the Sioux Falls area participating in the Leadership Sioux Metro program. These individuals represent a wide range of industries and communities across the Sioux Falls region, bringing different experiences and perspectives to the table. We had a great conversation about the importance of community, leading authentically, and finding ways to make a meaningful contribution to an organization. I enjoyed hearing about their experiences and discussing how today’s leaders can help shape the future of Sioux Falls and the surrounding communities.

Johnson speaks with Leadership Sioux Metro participants

BIG Idea

Legacy Elementary School in Tea was recently named a South Dakota Blue Ribbon School, recognizing the hard work happening in the classroom every day. I toured the school and had the opportunity to talk with administrators, teachers, and students about what they’re working on and what makes Legacy such a special place. The school’s staff is dedicated to helping students succeed, and it was great to see that commitment firsthand. Strong schools are the foundation of strong communities, and it’s encouraging to see educators, families, and students working together to give kids the tools they need to succeed.

Johnson at Legacy Elementary in Tea

BIG News

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced a $13 million investment in behavioral health care for South Dakota through the Rural Health Transformation Program. I’ve been advocating for increased support for behavioral health, and this funding will help expand access to these critical services across our state. Congress established the historic Rural Health Transformation Program to provide long-term solutions to the health care challenges facing rural America. This investment is another step toward strengthening South Dakota’s rural health care system and ensuring patients can access the care they need closer to home. The administration will continue announcing program awards to support South Dakota’s rural and tribal health care needs.

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