The news comes that Jim Burg died last night, at the age of 82. Burg spent 30 years in state … More
Category: Uncategorized
Kenneth Stofferahn, Democratic gubernatorial candidate and PUC commissioner, passes on
Longtime political figure Kenneth Stofferahn passed away on March 18, 2024, aged 89. A three-term public utilities commissioner, Stofferahn also … More
It’s official: No vetoes from Governor Noem in 2024
Governor Kristi Noem announced today that she has signed the state budget bills, the last remaining bills before her for … More
Online Almanac of South Dakota Politics now includes state university presidents
As part of this blog’s continuing quest to inform, the Online Almanac of South Dakota Politics now includes a new … More
“The Dakota Scout” features VP post
The Dakota Scout is once again featuring content from this blog. Yesterday, the online edition posted an updated version of a … More
Podcast series by SDPB’s Strubinger a major contribution to SD History
This week, Lee Strubinger, the Politics & Public Policy Reporter for South Dakota Public Broadcasting, released a nine-part serial podcast … More
Lawrence: Thank McGovern for Iowa Caucuses
A day after South Dakota’s neighbor, Iowa, gave a big win to former President Donald Trump, reporter Tom Lawrence has … More
South Dakota History in 2023
As the year comes to a close, we think back on the year that was. The year began as Gov. … More
The history (and future?) of South Dakota’s state flag
The news reports this week that Sen. Reynold Nesiba is considering legislation to create a commission to recommend a new … More
Blogger Joe Kirby on SD’s role in First Amendment jurisprudence
I recently read an interesting post by Joe Kirby, the author of SiouxFallsJoe.com and a fellow enthusiast for South Dakota … More
ChatGPT votes Dolly for Speaker
This post is a little off-topic from South Dakota history, but it’s a continuation of my experimentation with ChatGPT. In … More
Tim Kessler passes on
The sad news comes that Tim Kessler, 66, passed away on Tuesday, October 10, 2023. Kessler was a prominent businessman … More
How Mt. Rushmore reopened during the 2013 federal shutdown
The Dakota Scout reported today that Governor Kristi Noem is exploring options to keep Mount Rushmore open if the federal … More
Blogger Joe Kirby on the history of downtown Sioux Falls
Joe Kirby, the author of the blog SiouxFallsJoe.com, is a resident of downtown Sioux Falls and a tireless advocate for … More
Back to the Future: Huron’s Karen refugees recall SD’s settlement by ethnic communities
One doesn’t need to live in South Dakota for very long to see the legacy left by the European immigrants … More
“The Eighteen-Day Running Mate” recalls a strange chapter in SD political history
During one of my recent appearances on “The Dakota Town Hall” podcasts, I mentioned a book that I read several … More
Kristi for VP: What would it mean?
On Friday evening, former President Donald J. Trump visited Rapid City to address South Dakota Republican Party’s “Monumental Leaders” fundraiser. … More
SD Democrats fall to 3rd
During the lead-up to the 2022 general election, SD political reporters wrote about the Republican Party’s continued growth in the … More
Mitchell Republic features 1895 theft of SD state treasury
The theft in 1895 of the entire South Dakota state treasury by the outgoing treasurer, W. W. Taylor, remains one … More
Gene Lebrun, lawyer and Democratic leader, passes on
The sad news comes that Gene Lebrun, age 84, died on Sunday, July 23. Lebrun, a Rapid City attorney, served … More
Guest Post: The 200k Club
Marcus Mahlen, a Sioux Falls commercial real estate broker and fellow history enthusiast, contributed this interesting post. As a Webster … More
Ron Schmidt, 1998 US Senate nominee, dies
The news comes that Ron Schmidt, a longtime politico who was the 1998 Republican nominee for U.S. Senate, died on … More
Talking through the Governors on “Dakota Town Hall”
“Dakota Town Hall” is a weekly politics podcast hosted by Brad “Murdoc” Jurgensen and Jake Schoenbeck. With the summer bringing … More
Farewell to Jim Hansen
Dr. James O. Hansen, a longtime educator and public servant, died on Tuesday, aged 94. Jim’s first career was as … More
Jim Beddow 1942-2023
The sad news comes that Jim Beddow, the 1994 Democratic nominee for governor, passed away on Sunday. Beddow, a native of Woonsocket, … More
“The Dakota Scout” features post on presidential candidates
Another issue of The Dakota Scout has hit the newsstands, once again featuring content from this blog. The June 22-28, 2023 includes this … More
A look at the Chiefs of Staff to the Governor
The news today is that Mark Miller will be departing this summer as chief of staff to Governor Kristi Noem. … More
The Daugaards at 70
Today is Dennis Daugaard’s 70th birthday. The 32nd Governor of South Dakota was born at Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux … More
SD Gov History on “Dakota Town Hall” and “The Dakota Scout” podcasts
This blogger has recently appeared on two weekly podcasts, which are available for download. “Dakota Town Hall” is a weekly … More
Dakotans running for President
This blog is SoDakGovs, not NoDakGovs, but it is nevertheless notable that Doug Burgum, the two-term governor of North Dakota, … More
“Run with the Govs” slated for June 17
The annual “Run with the Govs,” a 3.5-mile run or walk, will be held in Pierre during its annual Oahe … More
Guest post: ChatGPT on Peter Norbeck
Last month, this blogger asked ChatGPT to write a post about South Dakota’s youngest and oldest governors. The experiment was … More
Governor Noem pays tribute to Sheila Bonrud
Governor Kristi Noem’s weekly column today is a remembrance of Sheila Bonrud: Remembering Sheila By Gov. Kristi Noem It is … More
Remembering Sheila Bonrud
Sheila Bonrud passed away on Wednesday morning, May 17, 2023, at the age of 81. Sheila wasn’t a public figure … More
South Dakota Law Review focuses on Ravnsborg impeachment
Volume 68, Issue 2 of The South Dakota Law Review is out, and it features numerous articles on the impeachment … More
Kevin Woster column highlights Trail of Governors
Last week, Kevin Woster and I took a walk along the Trail of Governors in Pierre. Kevin wrote a great … More
SD Gov comebacks
Grover Cleveland, as every grade schooler learns, is the only U.S. President to serve two non-consecutive terms. Bill Janklow is … More
Oldest and Youngest SD Govs: Now on the Online Almanac
Added today to the Online Almanac of South Dakota Politics: a ranked list of South Dakota governors by age at … More
Herseth post featured in “The Dakota Scout”
Another issue of The Dakota Scout has hit the newsstands, once again featuring content from this blog. The April 20-26, 2023 includes … More
George S. Mickelson died 30 years ago today
April 19, 1993 is a date that is etched in the mind of many South Dakotans. It was on the … More
Farewell to Randy Seiler
The sad news comes that Randy Seiler, the former United States Attorney and outgoing chairman of the South Dakota Democratic … More
Guest post: ChatGPT writes about South Dakota’s governors
This blogger is always looking for ways to save time, so I thought the time might be right to turn … More
Maps of every SD Gov election added to Online Almanac
New this week, the Online Almanac of South Dakota Politics has added county-by-county maps depicting the results of every general … More
A new leadership role for Tim Rave
This week, former legislator Tim Rave of Baltic was elected to a one-year term as president of the South Dakota … More
In search of Ralph Herseth
A fortuitous Facebook post answered a question that had been lingering in this blogger’s mind for several years. First a … More
Bulow memoirs featured in SOUTH DAKOTA MAGAZINE
The March/April edition of South Dakota Magazine includes a short feature about William J. Bulow, South Dakota’s first Democratic governor. … More
Jack Billion, 2006 Dem nominee for governor, dies
Dr. Jack Billion, the 2006 Democratic nominee for governor, passed away on Saturday. An orthopedic surgeon and U.S. Air Force … More
Jim Abourezk, 92 today, passes on
Jim Abourezk, a brash and outspoken attorney who served South Dakota in the U.S. Senate, died today on his 92nd … More
John Thune recognizes Jim Abdnor at 100
Jim Abdnor was born on February 13, 1923 in Kennebec. Abdnor was a consummate politician and “people person” and one … More
“The Dakota Scout” features SoDakGovs post on Hoghouse
Amidst its fine coverage of the South Dakota State Legislature, this week’s print edition of The Dakota Scout once again features content … More
SoDak Governors 