South Dakota politics

Republican incumbent Sen. John Thune (center) faced off with Democrat Brian Bengs (left) and Libertarian Tamara Lesnar (right) in a televised debate on South Dakota Public Broadcasting, co-hosted by Dakota News Now.

Abortion, inflation, farm policy explored in only U.S. Senate debate

BY: - November 4, 2022

SIOUX FALLS — Three candidates for South Dakota’s lone U.S. Senate seat sparred over the causes and remedies for inflation, veteran’s affairs, immigration and abortion policy on Friday, but found common ground on meat packing monopolies.  Republican incumbent Sen. John Thune faced off with Democrat Brian Bengs and Libertarian Tamara Lesnar in the televised debate, […]

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 […]