A Great Week for Grassroots Conservatives in South Dakota
The ongoing evolution of the South Dakota Republican Party
Two key events last week reflected the rising influence of grassroots conservatives in the South Dakota Republican Party and in South Dakota politics in general: the primary election on Tuesday, 4 June and the South Dakota GOP Convention on 6-8 June at the state capital in Pierre.
Let us examine the topic.
THE PRIMARY RESULTS
Shock waves were sent around the state as a number of incumbent state legislators were retired in favor of grassroots challengers, many of whom were new to politics. [Note: a “grassroots conservative” is a person who supports the US Constitution and South Dakota state, in particular the US Bill of Rights. The South Dakota “twist” involves additional emphasis on protecting private property rights, retaining local control, and supported limited (least) government.]
Fourteen incumbent Republican state legislators were defeated, including every Republican whip in the state House of Representatives who ran for reelection. On the state senate side, Sen. Jean Hunhoff (R-Yankton), the lead appropriator with over 20 years of service in the legislature, was defeated by Lauren Nelson, a political unknown, while Sen. Michael Walsh (R-Box Elder), a recent appointee by Gov. Kristi Noem, and Sen. Gary Cammack (R-Union Center), a former Republican majority leader in the Senate, were also defeated by newcomers.
In a low turnout primary election (just 27% of registered Republicans voted), several issues motivated grassroots voters last week, including the influence of money in politics, election integrity, and especially Senate Bill 201. The latter was passed by the state legislature and signed in March by Gov. Kristi Noem. It provides for a more streamlined regulatory process that would facilitate the construction of a controversial carbon dioxide pipeline network in eastern South Dakota. The pipeline would transport carbon dioxide (compressed at 2,200 psi), a by-product sequestered from ethanol production plants in South Dakota, to an underground reservoir in North Dakota.
A number of South Dakota landowners, including the South Dakota Property Rights coalition, are strongly opposed to the provisions of SB 201, which failed to strengthen the state’s eminent domain laws and diminishes local county control and regulation of transmission pipelines. Eminent domain has been employed by governments under the Fifth Amendment to the US Constitution for public use and “common good” purposes. The original intent did not allow for takings by private corporations for private gain. SB 201 prohibits local rules regarding routing or setback distances or zoning permits and preempts all local laws and ordinances and regulations governing the construction of all transmission lines, including carbon dioxide, electrical power, and hydrocarbons (gas and oil), all provisions of which were opposed by many landowners.
South Dakota is a heavily Republican state. Republicans have controlled both the state legislature and the governor’s office since 1995, with super majorities elected over the last decade. As a result, to win a Republican primary in the state greatly increases a given candidate’s chances of being elected during the general election. If that continues to hold true in 2024, there will be more grassroots conservatives in the state legislature in 2025 than in the past 50 years.
THE SD GOP STATE CONVENTION
The influence of grassroots conservatives in the South Dakota GOP continues to grow, as evidenced by the outcome of the three-day South Dakota State Convention completed last Saturday. State GOP Chairman John Wiik (R-Big Stone City) remarked at the beginning of Saturday’s session that this year’s convention was the cyclical 18-year nadir in terms of the number of statewide elections up for grabs. The South Dakota GOP elects candidates for various statewide offices at their state conventions, including lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, public utilities commissioners, state auditor, commissioner of education and public lands, etc. This year, only one statewide election was conducted at the convention – for one of the three public utilities commissioners.
Despite being a low-interest convention compared to prior years in terms of statewide candidate elections, a total of 431 delegates representing 56 of South Dakota’s 66 counties were present to conduct party business, many of whom were newly elected grass roots precinct committee men and women who were attending their first state convention.
In addition to reelecting Kristie Fiegan (R-Parker), the incumbent public utilities commissioner, the delegates selected the state’s three presidential electors for the Electoral College vote, as well as the National Committee man and woman who represent South Dakota at the Republican National Committee. The three presidential electors selected were Gov. Kristi Noem, Lt. Gov. Larry Rhoden, and Attorney General Marty Jackley. Ried Holien (R-Watertown), the incumbent National Committeeman and mayor of Watertown, was unanimously reelected without opposition while Heidi Engelhart (R-Aberdeen) was overwhelmingly elected with grassroots support over Amber Hulse (R-Hot Springs) who had just won her state senate primary election on Tuesday.
The influence of grassroots conservatives was further exhibited in the consensus adoption of a number of key resolutions submitted before and during the convention by various delegates. Among them were resolutions that: (1) provided “unequivocal support” to President Donald Trump, (2) condemned Democrat lawfare, (3) condemned actions of the FBI involving election interference, (3) supported the state of Israel, (4) opposed voter manipulation schemes, and (5) supported eminent domain reforms.
CONCLUSION
Grassroots conservatives continue to make incremental gains in the South Dakota Republican Party. The primary election results shocked many observers, and the resolutions passed by consensus at the State GOP Convention were further indications that rank-and-file Republicans are having an increasing impact in the evolution of the South Dakota Republican Party.
The end.
Interesting update for your state. NC has a huge governor’s race. Keep an eye on it.