Super Bowl LVII, played today at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, is a matchup between two of the league’s…
Guest post: Women in SD politics
State Sen. Erin Tobin of Winner is the prime sponsor of Senate Joint Resolution 505, a proposed constitutional amendment that…
The origin of the “Hoghouse” in the South Dakota State Legislature
As with any institution, the South Dakota State Legislature has its own traditions, procedures, and jargon. Many are common to…
Senate makes history in action against Frye-Mueller
On Wednesday and Thursday, the South Dakota State Senate acted against Sen. Julie Frye-Mueller for what the Argus Leader described…
Kristi Noem sworn in for second term
Governor Kristi Noem took her oath of office today, officially beginning her second term as South Dakota’s 33rd governor and…
South Dakota History in 2022
As the year comes to a close, we think back on the year that was. We saw new arrivals and…
Daschle at 75
Thomas A. Daschle was born in Aberdeen on December 9, 1947 – today is his 75th birthday. Daschle is a…
Kristin Anderson passes on
I was sorry to see news of the passing of Kristin Anderson, the only child of Gov. Sigurd and Vivian…
Guest post: Technology’s effect on the Legislature: Doing the people’s work in the modern age
A guest post by Augustana University student and 2022 legislative intern Noah Greble. We often reflect on the ways that…
THE GOVERNORS OF SOUTH DAKOTA back in print with 2022 updates
With the 2022 election behind us, I now have available updated copies of my book, The Governors of South Dakota.…
SD House Republicans pick leadership team
Tuesday’s general election delivered Republicans a 63-7 majority in the State House of Representatives – a gain of one seat and…
SoDakGovs featured in “The Dakota Scout”
This week’s print edition of The Dakota Scout once again features content from this blog. The November 17-23, 2022 includes…
Debra Anderson, SD’s only female House Speaker, passes on
Debra Anderson, a former South Dakota state representative and the only woman to serve as speaker of the South Dakota…
SD Democrats elect legislative leadership
Democratic legislators have elected their leaders for the next two years. Leading the minority caucus in the Senate will be…
SD Senate Republicans elect new leaders
Tuesday’s general election delivered Republicans a 31-4 majority in the State Senate – a loss of one seat but still…
Women and tribal members reach new highs in solidly Republican SD Legislature
The 2022 general election is in the books, and voters have once again elected Republican supermajorities to the South Dakota…
Noem wins big as Republicans dominate in SD
The storyline from Election Day 2022 is a familiar one in South Dakota – a big win for Republicans up…
A historic win for John Thune
U.S. Senator John Thune celebrated a big reelection win yesterday, winning a fourth term against challenger Brian Bengs with approximately…
SoDakGovs debuts Online Almanac of South Dakota politics
Just in time for the 2022 general election, SoDakGovs is launching an Online Almanac of South Dakota politics. Since this…
Republicans gain in voter registration
The lead-up to the 2022 general election has generated renewed discussion about the Republican Party’s advantage in voter registration in…
2022 Election Preview
This Tuesday, November 8 is Election Day. Every election makes history, and this year’s election will be no exception. The…
Partisan control of the South Dakota State Legislature (2022)
This is an update of a post first written prior to the 2016 general election, and last updated with the…
John Thune set to make history
With Election Day just over a week away, U.S. Senator John Thune is strongly favored to win reelection, with a…
Can a Sioux Falls candidate get elected governor?
South Dakota voters head to the polls in less than two weeks, and the marquee race is the contest between…
Dems duck Dusty, again
In 2020, Congressman Dusty Johnson made history by running for U.S. house from South Dakota without a major party opponent.…
Will the SD GOP winning streak continue in 2022?
This is an update of a post that was written prior to the 2020 general election. The 2022 election marks twelve years…
Five Guvs at the State Capitol
The South Dakota State Capitol is a special place. It’s a place where South Dakotans gather to discuss issues and…
Reaction to Gov. Wollman’s death
South Dakota political leaders have offered their condolences on the passing of Harvey Wollman, 26th Governor of South Dakota. Gov.…
Tom Lawrence on Harvey Wollman
Tom Lawrence is a longtime political reporter and columnist in South Dakota. His current publication, The South Dakota Standard, is…
Official statement from Gov. Wollman’s family
Note: This statement was issued on behalf of the Wollman family by Jody Severson, who served in Governor Wollman’s administration…
Gov. Harvey Wollman 1935-2022
Harvey Lowell Wollman, twenty-sixth Governor of South Dakota, died Tuesday, October 18, 2022 at the age of 87. His death…
Gordon Mydland passes on
The news comes of the passing of Gordon Mydland, a former South Dakota attorney general and circuit court judge. Mydland,…
“History 605” podcast features Plains Political Tradition, Vol. 4
The “History 605” podcast debuted last year, an innovation of Dr. Ben Jones, the state historian and host. Each episode…
History in the Making: 2022 Gubernatorial Milestones
The 2022 gubernatorial election is little more than a month away. Voters will choose between the incumbent governor, Republican Kristi…
Joe Kirby writes on “The Artist in the South Dakota Penitentiary”
Yesterday on his personal blog, Joe Kirby wrote an interesting post about Frederick H. Morse, a portrait painter who spent…
The Plains Political Tradition, Vol. 4 is released
Today is the release date for The Plains Political Tradition: Essays on South Dakota Political Culture, Volume 4. This is…
Campaigning on Crutches
Governor Kristi Noem announced this morning that, following a back injury a few weeks ago, she underwent back surgery at…
South Dakota and the Queen
The passing of Queen Elizabeth II yesterday is major worldwide news. Although a constitutional monarch, she is a major world…
SoDakGovs: As Seen in “The Dakota Scout”
The Dakota Scout, a new newspaper published by longtime political reporters Jonathan Ellis and Joe Sneve, released today its second…
Plains Political Tradition vol. 4 available for pre-order
The Plains Political Tradition: Essays on South Dakota Political Culture, Volume 4 is now available for pre-order from the South…
SD Legislative Districts, 1889-2021
Recently, legislative redistricting enthusiast Cully Williams shared on Twitter every South Dakota legislative district map since statehood in 1889. Maps…
George McGovern at 100
One hundred years ago today, George Stanley McGovern was born in the small South Dakota town of Avon. McGovern’s life…
SD’s “Million Vote Club”
Updated to reflect the results of the 2022 general election. There are many ways to measure South Dakota’s top political…
Jackley joins a short list of unopposed nominees
The South Dakota Democratic Party held its state convention this weekend to adopt its platform and nominate candidates for statewide…
Jennifer Keintz is Jamie Smith’s running mate
Today, Democratic gubernatorial nominee Jamie Smith announced that he will ask the State Democratic Convention to nominate Jennifer Healy Keintz,…
Noem releases autobiography
Governor Kristi Noem released yesterday her autobiography, Not My First Rodeo: Lessons from the Heartland. The book is a first…
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.…
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…
SD GOP looks to November
The South Dakota Republican Party held its state convention in Watertown June 23-25, 2022. News outlets have noted a record-setting…
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…
SoDak Governors 