Dr. James O. Hansen, a longtime educator and public servant, died on Tuesday, aged 94. Jim’s first career was as…
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,…
“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…
A look at the Chiefs of Staff to the Governor
An updated version of this post is available on the Online Almanac of South Dakota Politics, here. The news today…
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…
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…
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,…
“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…
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…
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…
Remembering Sheila Bonrud
Sheila Bonrud passed away on Wednesday morning, May 17, 2023, at the age of 81. Sheila wasn’t a public figure…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Farewell to Randy Seiler
The sad news comes that Randy Seiler, the former United States Attorney and outgoing chairman of the South Dakota Democratic…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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.…
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…
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…
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…
“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…
South Dakota and the Super Bowl
Updated as of 2026. Super Bowl LVII, played today at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, is a matchup between…
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…
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