Campaign finance

A sign identifies a polling place during a city and school election on June 6, 2023, in Rapid City. (Seth Tupper/South Dakota Searchlight)

Anti-abortion group sues South Dakota over campaign finance requirements

BY: - June 6, 2023

A Virginia anti-abortion group wants a federal judge to strike down a South Dakota law that requires nonprofit organizations to list their top five donors on political messaging. Students for Life of America is a nonprofit advocacy group launched in 2006, with an aim to educate and connect anti-abortion students with messaging tools and one […]

(Illustration by Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight)

Interest groups spend thousands on social events for lawmakers, with no disclosure

BY: - March 25, 2023

PIERRE — Politicians, lobbyists and liquor dealers gathered in the back room of a restaurant. It was mid-January, a couple of weeks into South Dakota’s annual legislative session. Everybody was unwinding after a long day at the Capitol, chatting and mingling.  Pork roast was on the menu. People lined up for drinks at the bar. […]

Rep. Roger Chase, R-Huron, talks with House Republican intern Abbie Schneider on the House floor during the 2023 legislative session at the Capitol in Pierre. (Joshua Haiar/SD Searchlight)

House surprises bill sponsor, rejects higher campaign contribution limits

BY: - January 31, 2023

PIERRE – To the surprise of its Republican sponsor, a bill aimed at raising the maximum amount that individuals and entities can contribute to political campaigns in South Dakota has failed to pass in the state’s House of Representatives.  The bill, which was introduced during South Dakota’s 38-day legislative session in Pierre, would have raised […]

COMMENTARY
Gov. Kristi Noem attends an event Oct. 12, 2022, at a Sioux Falls grocery store. (John Hult/SD Searchlight)

Noem’s sales-tax promise shows panic during a campaign that should be easy

BY: - October 30, 2022

Kristi Noem’s sudden interest in repealing the sales tax on groceries seems like a desperate campaign tactic for a governor who should be coasting to reelection. It shocked legislators, and her onslaught of advertising saying she will repeal the sales tax belittles a Legislature responsible for funding state government.  One has to wonder why Noem […]

South Dakota gubernatorial candidates Jamie Smith, left, and Kristi Noem.

Analysis: 80% of Noem’s reported individual donations are from out-of-state

BY: - October 27, 2022

Around 80% of the individual donor addresses listed on Gov. Kristi Noem’s most recent campaign finance filing are out-of-state, according to an analysis of public records by South Dakota Searchlight. The tally of out-of-state addresses listed in Democratic challenger Jamie Smith’s records was 5%. The Noem campaign has a large lead in fundraising. The Republican […]

Gov. Kristi Noem attends an event Oct. 12, 2022, at a Sioux Falls grocery store. (John Hult/SD Searchlight)

Noem campaign leads statewide candidates in fundraising

BY: - October 25, 2022

Republican Gov. Kristi Noem leads her Democratic challenger Jamie Smith by a wide margin – at least in terms of cash on hand. That’s one takeaway from the release of campaign finance reports for South Dakota political candidates on Monday, the deadline for pre-election disclosures. Noem started the reporting period in May with nearly $7.8 […]