- Main
Page « 2022
Governor Races «
South
Dakota Governor
| SOUTH
DAKOTA |
Nov. 8,
2022 Governor
|
|
Plurality: 93,887 votes (26.81 percentage points). SD
Secretary of State
Notes: Gov. Kristi Noem (R), seen as a possible 2024 presidential candidate, easily won a second term (>), defeating House Minority Leader Jamie Smith (D) and Tracey Quint (L). KELO reported that Noem "won more votes than any previous SD governor." She did particularly well in rural counties, while Smith only carried five of the state's 66 counties. The last Democrat elected governor was Dick Kneip in 1970 and 1974 (Lt. Gov. Harvey Wollman finished out the last five months of Kneip's term after he took up an ambassadorship in July 1978). Noem drew national attention for her largely "hands off" reponse to the COVID pandemic. In a March 2021 article, Rolling Stone dubbed Noem "the Covid Queen of South Dakota." However, speaking at CPAC in Orlando in Feb. 2022, she stated, "Looking around the world today, we see fundamental freedoms evaporating because of COVID lockdowns, but not in South Dakota. We drew a clear line, and the line between tyranny and freedom is getting more clear every day across our country." In Dec. 2021, the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) named Noem the "Best Governor in America." Noem has also formed a federal PAC, the Noem Victory Fund, and written a memoir, Not My First Rodeo: Lessons from the Heartland (Twelve (>), June 28, 2022). Noem has traveled extensively out of state (1,2). A sampling of her 2021 appearances includes: fundraising reception in Cameron, TX (Feb. 26), CPAC in Orlando (Feb. 27), re-election campaign fundraiser hosted by Donald Trump Jr. at Mar-a-Lago (Mar. 5), Arkansas GOP Reagan-Rockefeller Day Dinner in Benton (June 4), the NC Republican Convention, (June 5), the Family Leadership Summit in Iowa (July 16), Lake County GOP Summer Gala in Wheeling, IL (July 22), re-election campaign fundraiser in Cheyenne, WY (July 29), Jeff Duncan's Faith & Freedom BBQ in SC (Aug. 24), roundtable at the Reagan Ranch Center in Santa Barbara (Sept. 28), Republican Jewish Coalition meeting in Las Vegas (Nov. 5), Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association National Convention in Las Vegas (Dec. 1), and Noem Victory Fund fundraiser in McLean, VA (Dec. 8), PA GOP Commonwealth Club Dinner in Warminster, PA (Dec. 9). Noem officially announced her bid for re-election on Nov. 12, 2021 (>); according to a news release she had raised more than $10 million since 2018 and had about $6.5 million in cash on hand. Lt. Gov. Larry Rhoden continued as Noem's running mate. In the June 7 primary, Noem defeated state Rep. and former House Speaker Steven Haugaard by 91,661 votes (76.40%) to 28,315 (23.60%). Smith, from Sioux Falls, decided to run because he wanted a challenger to Noem who would run to win. He announced his candidacy on Feb. 1, 2022 (>), and was unopposed for the nomination. Smith was elected to the House in 2016 and has served as Minority Leader since Jan. 2019. He is a realtor and former educator. Smith announced state Rep. Jennifer Keintz, a first term legislator and realtor from Eden (Aberdeen area in northeast South Dakota), as his running mate on July 7, 2022. With three paid staff and limited resources, Smith said he sought to run "a campaign of honesty and integrity." Rounding out the field was libertarian Tracey Quint from Sioux Falls, running with Ashley Strand from Rapid City. Noem, Smith and Quint participated in a Dakota News Now/KOTA debate from KOTA/KEVN studios in Rapid City on Sept. 30 (>). Smith and Quint debated on Oct. 24 hosted by South Dakota Public Broadcasting in Sioux Falls; Noem declined to participate (>). Campaign Managers: Kristi Noem: Joe Desilets (Nov. 2021) Campaign manager on Carla Sands for U.S. Senate (PA), July-Oct. 2021. Campaign manager on Nick Freitas for Congress (VA), Aug. 2019-Dec. 2020. Political and digital strategist at Convergence Media, Aug. 2018-Aug. 2019. Campaign manager on Carla Nelson for Congress, Mar.-Aug. 2018. Campaign manager on Andrew Lewis for Congress (PA), Oct. 2017-Mar. 2018. Political director on Kevin Nicholson for U.S. Senate (WI), June-Oct. 2017. Pennsylvania coalitions director and Central regional political on Donald Trump for President, Aug.-Nov. 2016. Campaign manager on Pat Mooney for Congress (FL), May-July 2016. Campaign manager on Andrew Lewis for State Senate (Harrisburg, PA), Feb.-April 2016. Virginia political director on CARLY for America, Nov. 2015-Feb. 2016. Managing partner at 21st & Main (political design firm), Jan. 2014-Nov. 2015. Political director to U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman, Jun.-Nov. 2014. Deputy political director on Scott Gessler for Governor (CO), Feb.-June 2014. Victory strategy partner in Alexandria, VA, 2013-14. Senior project director at Harden Global, 2012-Nov. 2013. Field director on Perkins for Congress (No. VA), Dec. 2011-Nov. 2012. Jamie Smith: Jesse Nelson Degree in government and international affairs from Augustana University, 2016. From Milbank, SD. See also: Bob Mercer. "Noem won more votes than any previous SD governor." KELO, Nov. 10, 2022. Stephen Groves and Jonathan J. Cooper. "Noem's balancing act: Big ambitions, South Dakota reelection." AP, Oct. 9, 2022. Salena Zito. "After storming her state, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem could be our next president." New York Post, Sept. 6, 2022. Joe Sneve. "Top staffers for Gov. Kristi Noem moving to new roles on her re-election campaign." Sioux Falls Argus Leader, June 17, 2022. Christopher Vondracek. "As Kristi Noem touts South Dakota values across the US, out-of-staters run her political team." Mitchell Republic, Feb. 25, 2022. Stephen Rodrick. "The Covid Queen of South Dakota." Rolling Stone, Mar. 16, 2021. |
  |
ADVERTISEMENT
Copyright © 2022 Eric M. Appleman/Democracy in
Action. All rights reserved.