Kristi Noem (R) defeated Billie Sutton (D) and Kurt Evans (L) in the 2018 general election for governor of South Dakota.

Incumbent Dennis Daugaard (R) was prevented from running for election to a third term in 2018 due to term limits, leaving the seat open. He was last elected in 2014 by a margin of 45 percentage points. The Republican candidate had won each of the ten preceding gubernatorial elections. In the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump (R) carried the state by a margin of 30 percentage points. Election forecasters predicted a close race; as of November 2018, two ratings agencies rated the race a toss-up and a third rated it Leans Republican.

Noem's victory preserved the state's Republican trifecta. At the time of the election, South Dakota had been a Republican trifecta since Republicans gained a majority in the state senate in 1995. The winner of this election stood to influence the state's redistricting process following the 2020 census. Under state law, the governor may veto state legislative district maps proposed by the state legislature.

South Dakota was one of 36 states that held an election for governor in 2018. Democrats gained seven previously Republican-held seats, and Republicans gained one previously independent-held seat. Heading into the 2018 elections, there were 16 Democratic governors, 33 Republican governors, and one independent governor. In 2018, 26 of the 33 states with a Republican governor held a gubernatorial election, while nine out of the 16 states with a Democratic governor held a gubernatorial election. Seventeen of the 36 seats up for election were open seats (four Democratic, 12 Republican, and one independent), meaning that the sitting governor was not seeking re-election. Click here for more information on other 2018 gubernatorial elections.

For more information about the Democratic primary, click here.
For more information about the Republican primary, click here.

Candidates and election results

See also: Statistics on gubernatorial candidates, 2018

General election

General election for Governor of South Dakota

Kristi L. Noem defeated Billie Sutton and Kurt Evans in the general election for Governor of South Dakota on November 6, 2018.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Kristi L. Noem (R)	51.0	172,912
	Billie Sutton (D)	47.6	161,454
	Kurt Evans (L)	1.4	4,848

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 339,214 (100.00% precincts reporting)
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

CJ Abernathey (L)

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Governor of South Dakota

Billie Sutton advanced from the Democratic primary for Governor of South Dakota on June 5, 2018.

		Candidate
✔		Billie Sutton

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Governor of South Dakota

Kristi L. Noem defeated Marty J. Jackley in the Republican primary for Governor of South Dakota on June 5, 2018.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Kristi L. Noem	56.0	57,598
	Marty J. Jackley	44.0	45,174

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 102,772
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Terry Lee Lafleur (R)

Lieutenant gubernatorial election

General election candidates

Michelle Lavallee (Democratic Party)
Larry Rhoden (Republican Party) ✔
Richard Shelatz (Libertarian Party)

Candidate profiles

See also: Editorial approach to writing about key campaign messages

Kristi Noem, U.S. representative

Party: Republican

Incumbent: No

Political office: U.S. House of Representatives (Assumed office: 2011), South Dakota House of Representatives (2007-2010)

Biography: Noem attended Northern State University, withdrawing before graduation to take over the family farm and ranch after the death of her father. She graduated from South Dakota State University with a degree in political science in 2011. As of the 2018 election, Noem served on the Ways and Means Committee in the U.S. House, responsible for overseeing revenue and economic policy.

Key messages

Noem said that her priority was her four pillars plan, which called for "keeping taxes low, controlling spending, limiting government intrusion, and making the government open and honest."^[1]^[2]

Noem said that she was an experienced leader, pointing to her experience as a mother as well as her time running the family business after her father's death, which she said "motivated her to get involved in reforming government and fixing our broken tax code."^[3]

Noem said that she had a long record of leadership in the U.S. House, pointing to her accomplishments on budgeting, veterans' care, and allocation of federal funds to the state.^[4]

Billie Sutton, state senator

Party: Democratic

Incumbent: No

Political office: South Dakota State Senate (Assumed office: 2011)

Biography: Sutton graduated from the University of Wyoming with a finance degree in 2008. While on the professional rodeo circuit, Sutton was injured in an accident while competing and was paralyzed from the waist down. As of the 2018 election, Sutton worked as an investment advisor.

Key messages

Sutton said that he was running "to put my South Dakota values of hard work, honesty, and integrity to work for the people of South Dakota," citing growing the economy, improving the state's education system, and combating corruption as policy priorities.^[5]

Sutton said that 2018 represented a turning point for the state, saying that "people are working harder and harder and feeling like they're not getting ahead. We have to create more opportunities for people to provide for their families and live up to their God-given potential as South Dakotans."^[6]

Kurt Evans, high school teacher

Party: Libertarian

Incumbent: No

Political office: None

Biography: Evans graduated from South Dakota State University with a degree in mathematics and science education in 1993. At the time of the election, he worked as a high school teacher and basketball coach.

Key messages

Evans said that his candidacy represented an alternative choice for the people of South Dakota.^[7]

Evans said that he would reduce state spending on urban areas.^[8]

Evans described his political positions as "very similar to those of Ron Paul, but with slightly more 'America first' nationalism on trade and immigration."^[9]

Polls

See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls

Governor of South Dakota, 2018
Poll	Poll sponsor	Kristi Noem (R)	Billie Sutton (D)	Kurt Evans (L)	Undecided/Other	Margin of Error	Sample Size

Mason-Dixon Polling and Strategy (October 29-31, 2018)	The Argus Leader KELO TV	47%	44%	1%	8%	+/-4.5	500
Mason-Dixon Polling and Strategy (October 18-22, 2018)	The Argus Leader KELO TV	45%	45%	1%	9%	+/-4.5	500
Anzalone Lizst Grove Research (September 20-24, 2018)	The Sutton campaign	42%	45%	3%	10%	+/-4.4	500
Anzalone Lizst Grove Research (July 19-25, 2018)	The Sutton campaign	46%	42%	0%	13%	+/-4.4	500
Note: A "0%" finding means the question was not a part of the poll. The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org

Campaign finance

The chart below contains data from financial reports submitted to the South Dakota Secretary of State. Campaign finance information was not available for the Evans campaign.

Race ratings

See also: Race rating definitions and methods

Race ratings: South Dakota gubernatorial election, 2018
Race tracker	Race ratings
	November 5, 2018	October 30, 2018	October 23, 2018	October 16, 2018
The Cook Political Report	Toss-up	Toss-up	Toss-up	Toss-up
Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales	Tilt Republican	Lean Republican	Lean Republican	Lean Republican
Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball	Toss-up	Toss-up	Lean Republican	Lean Republican
Note: Ballotpedia updates external race ratings every two weeks throughout the election season.

Noteworthy endorsements

See also: Ballotpedia: Our approach to covering endorsements

This section lists noteworthy endorsements issued in this election, including those made by high-profile individuals and organizations, cross-party endorsements, and endorsements made by newspaper editorial boards. It also includes a bulleted list of links to official lists of endorsements for any candidates who published that information on their campaign websites. Please note that this list is not exhaustive. If you are aware of endorsements that should be included, please click here.

Noteworthy general election endorsements
Endorsement	Sutton (D)	Noem (R)
Newspapers and editorials
The Argus Leader^[10]	✔
Elected officials
Former Sen. Larry Pressler (R)^[11]	✔
Gov. Dennis Daugaard (R)^[12]		✔

Timeline

November 1, 2018: A Mason-Dixon Polling and Strategy poll commissioned by The Argus Leader and KELO TV found Noem about even with Sutton, with 47 percent support to Sutton's 44 percent. The poll reported a margin of error of 4.5 percentage points.
October 29, 2018: Noem and Sutton met for a debate in Sioux Falls.
October 25, 2018: Former Sen. Larry Pressler (R) endorsed Sutton.
October 25, 2018: Noem, Sutton, and Evans met for a debate in Sioux Falls.
October 24, 2018: A Mason-Dixon Polling and Strategy poll commissioned by The Argus Leader and KELO TV found Sutton and Noem with 45 percent support each. The poll reported a margin of error of 4.5 percentage points.
October 23, 2018: Gov. Dennis Daugaard (R) endorsed Noem.
October 23, 2018: Noem and Sutton met for a debate in Sioux Falls.
October 22, 2018: The candidates filed campaign finance reports covering all fundraising and spending between May 17 and October 17.
October 18, 2018: The Argus Leader endorsed Sutton.
October 5, 2018: The Cook Political Report shifted its rating from Likely Republican to toss-up.

Campaign advertisements

Kristi Noem

Support

"Values" - Noem campaign ad, released September 12, 2018

Oppose

"Money" - Sutton campaign ad, released October 17, 2018

"Last Thing" - Sutton campaign ad, released October 4, 2018

Billie Sutton

Support

"Plan" - Sutton campaign ad, released October 2, 2018

"Our Governor" - Sutton campaign ad, released September 26, 2018

"Your Town" - Sutton campaign ad, released September 18, 2018

"West River" - Sutton campaign ad, released September 4, 2018

Oppose

"Independent" - Noem campaign ad, released September 16, 2018

Debates and forums

Noem and Sutton met for a debate in Sioux Falls on October 29, 2018. Click here for coverage of the debate.
Noem, Sutton, and Evans met for a debate in Sioux Falls on October 25, 2018. Click here for footage of the debate.
Noem and Sutton met for a debate in Sioux Falls on October 23, 2018. Click here for coverage of the debate.

Campaign themes

Kristi Noem

Noem's campaign website stated the following:

“

4 Pillars of Protection
Protection from Tax Increases. South Dakota is one of just seven states without an income tax – and we need to keep it that way. As governor, I pledge to veto efforts to increase taxes, and I’ve put that commitment in writing when I signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge.

Protection from Government Growth. Under my administration, there would be no new boards, no new commissions, and no new blue ribbon task forces. Instead, we would look to scrub each agency, refocusing and streamlining existing departments while cutting red tape.

Protection from Federal Intrusion. When the Army Corps attempted to charge South Dakota for use of our own water from the Missouri River, I successfully fought back as the state’s lone member of the House. When the federal government came after the Hot Springs VA, I advocated for South Dakota veterans. And when the Second Amendment was attacked, I stood up for our constitutional rights. As governor, I would do the same, working with the congressional delegation and leveraging my own relationships with federal leadership to protect our rights and way of life as South Dakotans.

Protection from Government Secrecy. Voters have repeatedly supported government integrity measures at the ballot box. I hear you. As governor, I will build on the recent momentum, working to throw open the doors, not only of the state capital, but also encouraging county commission offices and school boards to give you unprecedented access to the government decision-making process at all levels.

Kickstarting the Economy
South Dakota does a lot of things right, but our economy is falling behind. In fact, the latest Bureau of Economic Analysis report ranks South Dakota last for both GDP and personal income growth. We can do better. As governor, my goal will be to kickstart our economy – and not through more boards, commissions, or blue ribbon committees. Instead, I will lift the government burden from entrepreneurs, make it easier to work, and create new opportunities for South Dakotans to prosper.

Agenda: Freedom to Build
Maintain South Dakota’s low-tax legacy. The average South Dakota family of four will receive a $2,400 tax cut because of my work with President Trump last year. As one of 5 representatives from the 435-member House to negotiate the final tax reform deal, I fought for lower rates, a doubling of the Child Tax Credit, and reforms that have made America’s economy boom. Millions have received pay raises, bonuses, or increased benefits. Job creation is up. And despite leaving more money in people’s pockets, the resulting economic growth is expected to increase federal revenues $1 trillion over the long term, helping stabilize the budget. I will apply these same low-tax, pro-growth principles as governor and veto efforts to increase taxes. You’ve worked hard for your money; our state government must respect that.

Cut unnecessary regulations; Simplify those that remain. South Dakota’s limited regulatory environment is often why we rank as one of the nation’s best places to do business. It’s imperative we keep it that way. I’ve run a farm and ranch, a hunting lodge, and an insurance agency. If elected, I will use those experiences to instill a culture in which agencies think less like bureaucracies and more like the businesses they serve. As I have done every year in public office, I will fight to eliminate nonessential regulations and streamline the necessary administrative rules and statutes that remain – all with the goal of maintaining a level playing field and strengthening South Dakota job creators.

Make it easier to start and grow a business. While South Dakota’s regulatory environment is favorable in many instances, it can still be difficult to know exactly what’s required of a new business and what opportunities are out there to support a company’s growth. With efficiency and convenience in mind, my administration will:

Employ pro-active people within the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, providing them with sufficient training and instilling a culture of customer service;
Modernize SDReadyToWork.com to significantly simplify the user experience;
Search for opportunities to optimize convenience within the filing fee system; and
Review the permitting structure to ensure it promotes economic development and respects local control.

Workforce 2025
Prioritize education programs that produce job-holders, not degree-holders. For decades, the priorities of employers and educators have failed to fully align. This leaves some young people with limited job prospects in their chosen career fields while many industries face difficulties recruiting skilled labor. If elected, I will work to bring area employers, the South Dakota Department of Education, the Board of Regents, and the Governor’s Office of Economic Development to the same table, strengthening relationships and focusing discussion around the workforce needs of today and tomorrow. Through this alliance, my administration will:

Provide career counseling and information for students regarding in-demand jobs beginning at the middle-school level;
Expand access to experience-driven technical training in high schools to inspire younger workers; and
Dramatically increase shared-learning opportunities among high schools, technical schools, universities, and employers to better manage the transition from home to college to the South Dakota workforce.

Review state licensing requirements. Whether you’re an accountant, cosmetologist, landscape architect, or plumber, the state requires certain licenses before you can professionally practice your craft. While important in many respects, we must avoid any licensing process that prioritizes a person’s ability to properly fill out paperwork rather than do the job. As governor, I will direct the Department of Labor and Regulation, working with state professional organizations, to conduct a full review of licensing requirements. The review must explore: (1) the potential elimination of unnecessary professional licenses, (2) opportunities to streamline existing processes, including strategies to increase web-based tools, and (3) options to fast-track apprentices, technical school graduates, veterans, and military families, letting experience count so it’s easier to work in South Dakota.

Respect and reward work. Too often, government programs fail to reward work and instead increase dependency. Work requirements, which have been central to the reforms I’ve championed for Medicaid and food stamps, can help reverse that. If elected, I will continue, and look to expand where possible, the work requirements sought by Governor Daugaard. Additionally, I will direct the South Dakota departments of Social Services and Labor and Regulation to develop a pilot program linking able-bodied, non-elderly welfare recipients with the skills training necessary to qualify for good-paying, in-demand jobs.

The Prosper Initiative
Invest in what’s made South Dakota great: the businesses already here. Many of South Dakota’s economic development efforts have focused on recruiting new businesses, leaving existing job creators behind. It’s a concern raised in nearly every listening session I’ve held on the topic. If elected, I will direct the Governor’s Office of Economic Development to expand its mission. While attracting the next growth industry should remain a priority, we must also invest in the businesses putting South Dakotans to work today, helping them grow from 5 employees to 10, 50, or more.

Let the country know South Dakota is Open for Business! We are home to an advantageous tax structure, an independent streak that helps keep regulations at a minimum, and a legendary work ethic backed by top-performing universities and technical schools. Through the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, I will prioritize the identification and recruitment of America’s next growth industries, launching a new advertising campaign that promotes South Dakota’s winning formula to attract job creators.

Maintain South Dakota’s AAA Bond Rating. A well-functioning state government serves as a strong foundation for economic growth. The current administration was able to upgrade and maintain a AAA Bond Rating across the board. Rooted in fiscal conservatism, my administration will build on this success, making it a priority to retain the AAA rating. While saving taxpayers money, the rating can also be used as a recruiting tool to attract businesses looking for a stable state in which to grow jobs.

Improving Education's Impact
We cannot underestimate the influence of a good education. Students gain confidence and upward mobility, communities often experience decreased crime rates, and employers get access to a skilled workforce, bringing good jobs and higher wages to the area. In many ways, South Dakota excels in the learning opportunities we provide, but as the parent of a high school sophomore, college student, and recent graduate, I can tell you our education system faces challenges too.

While recognizing many aspects of a child’s life influence educational success – from family dynamics to school lunches – my administration will work to improve K-12 outcomes and make post-secondary education more affordable and applicable to the modern workforce.

Strengthen K-12 Education
South Dakota students consistently produce good test scores, graduate on time, and meet college readiness benchmarks. But many schools struggle to make ends meet, jeopardizing the long-term success of South Dakota’s K-12 education system. As governor, I will be committed to balancing the needs of families, teachers and administrators, and taxpayers as we prepare students for college, the workforce, and citizenship.

Empower families. When it comes to raising kids, family is better than government. As a conservative, I will protect the rights of parents to choose the educational path that’s best for their child, whether it’s homeschooling, public schooling, or a private education. Regardless of a family’s decision, I will work to ensure all students have equal opportunity within the education system.

Do more with every taxpayer dollar. Public education policy is too often evaluated by expenditures, rather than student success. That’s a mistake. We need to focus on creating a better system, not a more expensive one – a goal that can and should be accomplished without taking necessary resources out of classrooms. As governor, I would:

Work to centralize and standardize purchasing, giving local schools more options to cut costs by taking advantage of the state’s massive buying power;
Encourage schools to share resources and expand long-distance learning opportunities;
Assist local school districts in pursuing private funds to mitigate the cost of capital projects;
Continue leveraging the state’s AAA bond rating to help schools borrow at a lower cost;
Reform the Department of Education, adopting a model that promotes much closer collaboration with locally elected school boards; and
Improve transparency in school district budgeting, as proposed in my Sunshine Initiative.

Create a culture of performance. From teachers and administrators to school board members, South Dakota is fortunate to have many talented people dedicated to student success. I want to elevate high-performers while expanding continued learning opportunities for those running our classrooms and school districts. As governor, I will pursue public-private partnerships to financially reward rockstar teachers. For instance, I’d like to collaborate with local businesses to sponsor a robust “Teacher of the Month” program. Additionally, my administration will explore opportunities to improve overall performance through evidence-based school board training and teacher mentorship programs.

Reject Common Core and federal overreach. In the U.S. House, I helped get legislation signed into law limiting the federal government’s role in our education system. As governor, I will take advantage of those flexibilities, continuing to reject Common Core and seeking appropriate waivers and grants to customize South Dakota’s education system.

Promote civic education. Our republic only works if citizens are active and informed. The next generation of South Dakotans must understand the foundations of our nation, the tremendous sacrifices made to protect our constitutional rights, and the freedoms, liberties, and responsibilities we have as citizens. In collaboration with school districts, I will work to expand civics and U.S. history programs and encourage schools to include the citizenship test as part of their graduation criteria.

Encourage kids to explore in-demand jobs early. South Dakota already faces severe labor shortages, and even greater demands for a skilled workforce are on the horizon. As governor, I would work to:

Provide career counseling and information regarding in-demand jobs beginning at the middle-school level;
Inspire students by expanding experience-driven learning opportunities before college;
Coordinate resources to identify and help at-risk children plan for their futures; and
Dramatically increase shared-learning opportunities among high schools, technical schools, universities, and employers to better manage the transition from home to post-secondary education to the South Dakota workforce.

Equip Post-Secondary Students with Job-Ready Skills
My path to a college degree wasn’t typical. After my dad died, I left school and came home to manage our family’s farming operation full-time. Years later, I began taking classes again – this time, online – finally completing my degree while serving in Congress. Given this experience, I understand a four-year degree isn’t right for every high school graduate, and the truth is, it isn’t always right for our labor market either. Still, college graduates, on average, earn 56 percent more than high school graduates. As such, my administration will work to drive down the cost of a university or technical school degree, while focusing on producing job-holders, not simply degree-holders.

Increase affordability. South Dakota ranks near the top when it comes to student debt. That needs to change. As governor, I will:

Simplify the scholarship application process. South Dakota has a robust scholarship network, but it can be confusing for students and families to navigate. Working with financial aid offices, my administration will help create a single, online repository for all scholarships. Additionally, I will take on the task of bringing state-allocated scholarships under a single umbrella, simplifying the process and building in cost-saving efficiencies.
Challenge schools to prioritize affordability. Tuition costs have steadily increased in recent years. Working with the state legislature, my administration will challenge universities and technical schools to identify efficiencies and reinvest savings toward affordability.
Increase on-time graduation. Just under 25 percent of South Dakota’s college students will graduate in four years; about 50 percent will do so in under six years. At the same time, about one in three are spending credit hours and hard-earned dollars on remedial courses. If we better prepare students in high school, we can reduce the likelihood of a fifth year in college, potentially shrinking their cost for higher education by 20 percent.

Arm students with job-ready skills and training. South Dakota has a legendary work ethic – one that my Kickstarting the Economy initiative seeks to harness. For decades, however, the priorities of employers and educators have failed to fully align. This leaves some young people with limited job prospects in their chosen career fields while many industries face difficulties recruiting skilled labor. To better fill good-paying jobs with South Dakota workers, I am committed to:

Strengthening the relationship between area employers, state agencies, universities, and technical schools;
Focusing state resources on high-need areas of the labor market;
Expanding apprenticeship programs; and
Working to ensure South Dakota technical schools and universities continue to lead the nation as one post-secondary system that is able to satisfy academic curiosities and meet tomorrow’s workforce needs.

Growing Agriculture
Raised on the values of hard work and self-reliance, I grew up on a farm and ranch in rural Hamlin County. Just a few years after graduating high school, my dad died in a grain bin accident. I put my pursuit of a college degree on hold, returned to the family farm and ranch full-time, and helped stabilize the operation.

We survived bad droughts, bad floods, and bad policies, including the Death Tax. And while you can’t change the weather, you can change policy, which is exactly what I fought to do as South Dakota’s lone representative in the U.S. House.

In 2014, I helped successfully negotiate a strong Farm Bill that included livestock disaster assistance and critical safety nets for producers. When federal agencies considered proposals to regulate dust or limit the work some kids did on farms, I fought back – and won. During tax reform negotiations, I was one of the only farmers at the table, yet secured interest deductibility, immediate expensing, and lower rates for farmers and ranchers as part of the historic tax cut.

If elected, I will again leverage my experience as a lifelong producer to advance agriculture. From protecting property rights to expanding markets, my administration would be built to develop the state’s agricultural economy and give more young people the opportunity to thrive as farmers and ranchers in South Dakota.

Agricultural Growth Initiative
Create a Blueprint for Agricultural Economic Development. With an annual economic impact of $25.6 billion, agriculture is South Dakota’s number one industry. In recent years, however, deflated prices and lower-than-average yields have delivered a serious blow to the state’s economy. To build and diversify the sector, I will direct the Department of Agriculture and the Governor’s Office of Economic Development to construct a Blueprint that broadens opportunities for existing farms and ranches and helps identify and recruit our next ag-related growth industries.

Equip South Dakotans with the skills needed to succeed in agriculture. The average South Dakota farmer is 57 years old, meaning many will be at or near retirement in the next decade. To meet our long-term needs, it’s time we ready the next generation to fulfill global food demands. As governor, I will work to expand education and increase investments in production-boosting research, such as biotechnology and precision ag. More specifically, I am committed to:

Encouraging strong support of 4-H and FFA programs;
Dramatically increasing shared-learning opportunities among universities, technical programs, and high schools for ag education and skills training;
Continuing investments into SDSU’s first-in-the-nation precision agriculture degree program;
Completing SDSU’s precision ag building, which the state legislature recently approved;
Promoting cross-training between students at SDSU and technical schools, like Lake Area Tech;
Ensuring South Dakota continues to host a vibrant State Fair; and
Enhancing the Governor’s Ag Summit to increase access and educational offerings.

Review permitting structure to ensure it promotes economic development and respects local control. When new businesses are recruited to South Dakota, they must go through a series of permitting approvals at the state, county, and local levels. To increase certainty for those looking to invest and expand in South Dakota, my administration would undergo a thorough review of the current permitting system, working hand-in-hand with counties to improve the process.

Add value to South Dakota-grown commodities and livestock. There is no work ethic like a South Dakota work ethic. With agriculture as the foundation, we can leverage that homegrown ambition and add value to every bushel produced. If elected, I will direct the Governor’s Office of Economic Development to prioritize value-added agriculture, thoroughly vetting new processing, agricultural biotechnology, and manufacturing opportunities and offering upward mobility to more South Dakotans than ever before.

Bolster Livestock Disease Preparedness. With increasing trade, both foreign and domestic, risk of foot-and-mouth, avian influenza, and many other diseases has greatly increased in recent years. But South Dakota – backed by SDSU’s world-class animal disease research program, including the new laboratory that is currently under construction – is uniquely positioned to improve livestock disease management practices. Working with the university, the Animal Industry Board, the State Veterinarian, and our growing biotech industry, we can mitigate economic and environmental impacts while improving overall herd and flock health.

Enhance infrastructure to support farmers and grow the economy. With falling prices and a rising basis, many producers are feeling the pinch. As governor, I will work to improve the state’s infrastructure to lower the basis for grain products, putting more money in the hands of hardworking farmers and growing our economy.

Transition the state vehicle fleet to higher ethanol blends. For years, I’ve strongly defended policies like the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), which sets annual goals for the amount of ethanol and biodiesel that must be incorporated into America’s fuel supply. Additionally, I led efforts to extend the $1-per-gallon biodiesel tax credit. With volatility growing in oil-rich areas of the world, we must maximize the use of homegrown fuels. As governor, I will lead by example and work to transition the state fleet to higher ethanol blends, such as E-30.

Expand working lands conservation. As a lifelong producer and avid hunter, I deeply understand the careful balance between production and conservation. In the U.S. House, I fought to expand the sodsaver program, incentivizing the protection of native grasslands while ensuring the choice was ultimately left to producers. As governor, I will expand voluntary conservation programs by improving landowner relationships. Working together, we can boost soil health and increase productivity on every acre, using precision agriculture to help farmers determine which areas may be best for cultivation while conserving the rest.

Enhancing Tribal Relations
Over the past eight years, I’ve had an opportunity to forge meaningful relationships with tribal leadership and members. We worked collaboratively on ways to improve the Indian Health Service, combat human trafficking, and expand economic development efforts in Indian Country. I’m hopeful that through this work, we’ve built a foundation of trust and mutual understanding, because as governor, I want to have a different kind of relationship with South Dakota’s nine tribes, one that truly embraces the meaning of Dakota, or ally.

Enhance the Department of Tribal Relations. The Department of Tribal Relations is an important tool state and tribal governments can use to build dialogue around areas of common ground. The Secretary of Tribal Relations will be an integral member of my cabinet, serving as an ambassador to tribal communities. Additionally, I would seek to further enhance the Department’s relationship with tribal members, employing pro-active Tribal Constituent Service Representatives, providing them with sufficient training, and instilling a culture of customer service.

Empower Tribal Communities through Economic Development. The Lakota Instructions for Living teaches: “The hurt of one is the hurt of all. And the honor of one is the honor of all.” To put that in an economic context, if the tribal economy suffers, as it does today, South Dakota suffers too. I believe the best poverty reduction tool we can offer is a good job, and there are a number of opportunities within Indian Country to expand employment opportunities. The agriculture, tourism, and even data center industries, for instance, have tremendous growth potential. Ongoing rural broadband expansion efforts offer an infinite number of possibilities as well. As a member of the U.S. House, I worked to champion the NATIVE Act, a new law that’s aimed at creating more tourism opportunities in tribal areas. I also inserted language in the 2014 Farm Bill, which established a permanent Office of Tribal Relations within USDA to expand agricultural opportunities in Indian Country. As governor, I will work to:

Build intentional partnerships with tribal governments and tribal economic development entities to share best practices as we work to help existing businesses flourish while pursuing new growth industries in Indian Country that would create jobs on and off reservations.
Support workforce development and recruitment, encouraging innovative programs, such as SDSU’s Wokini Initiative.
Encourage communities on and off reservations to expand affordable housing opportunities.

Maintain Pressure on IHS to Address the Ongoing Tribal Healthcare Crisis. The care being delivered at Indian Health Service facilities in South Dakota is unacceptable. In Congress, I’ve worked collaboratively with tribes to offer better recruitment tools for medical and administrative staff, improve accountability requirements, cut red tape, and allow administrators to more easily fire bad employees. Ultimately, the federal government must be responsible for fulfilling its treaty obligations when it comes to healthcare. But as a state, we cannot sit back while tribal members lose their lives as a result of bureaucratic failings. As governor, I will:

Aggressively pursue additional Care Coordination Agreements to increase access and expand the kinds of services funded at 100% by the federal government;
Get proactive on mental health by working to ensure there are an array of mental-health options throughout the state and supporting ongoing pilot programs that divert non-violent offenders with mental illness through treatment programs, rather than the criminal justice system;
Work to identify opportunities where South Dakota hospitals and healthcare providers can offer more guidance to IHS;
Continue supporting local healthcare providers in their expansion of telemedicine, fostering collaboration with IHS where possible; and
Support self-governance of IHS facilities by helping facilitate collaboration between tribes and healthcare providers.

Partner with Tribes to Enhance Public Safety and Reduce Substance Abuse. Because federal and tribal authorities have jurisdiction over many crimes that occur on sovereign reservations, I’ve worked to secure critical public safety resources for tribal law enforcement as a member of the House. This includes COPS grants to help address workforce challenges and support for the Sisseton Wahpeton Regional Justice Center’s construction. It’s imperative federal and tribal law enforcement entities have a strong relationship with the state. As governor, I would work to better collaborate with area tribes by opening dialogues on jurisdictional challenges, re-engaging on memorandums of understanding, and helping coordinate responses. Additionally, I hope to work together in addressing substance abuse. As proposed in my Safer Communities initiative, my administration will work to implement research-based meth prevention programs and expand residential and family-based treatment options.

Embrace Tribal Heritage and Culture. The Native American people enrich South Dakota’s culture and play an important role in the American story. As governor, I’m committed to fostering community between non-Native and Native peoples by building relationships around cultural events, such as powwows and the Lakota Nation Invitational. While we must acknowledge the past, I believe we must actively celebrate the ways in which Native American heritage continues to be woven into South Dakota’s story.

Transparency
Voters have repeatedly supported government integrity measures at the ballot box. I hear you. As governor, I will build on the recent momentum, working to throw open the doors, not only of the state capital, but also encouraging county commission offices and school boards to give you unprecedented access to the government decision-making process at all levels.

For nearly a century, South Dakota was known as “The Sunshine State”, a name sewn into our flag until 1992. I want to embrace the spirit of that motto once again, shedding new light on the inner-workings of state and local government through my Sunshine Initiative.

Sunshine Initiative

Bring Debates from the Boardroom to the Living Room. Too many important decisions are made in small meeting rooms with limited public access. Using free technologies like YouTube and Facebook Live, I will work to bring these meetings into every home, moving toward an aggressive goal of having state board, county commission, and school board meetings live streamed.
Modernize and Expand Open.SD.gov. Knowledge is power. As governor, I would work with the state legislature to encourage the universal posting of all agendas, minutes, and livestreams to a modernized and easily searchable Open.SD.gov.
Develop an Online Property Tax Toolkit. Where do your property tax dollars go? To the state? The county? The school district ? Working in collaboration with the Department of Revenue and using Geographical Information System data, my administration would build out a Property Tax Toolkit that would operate as a digital disclosure database. Here, South Dakotans could easily see how many dollars go to the school district, the county, the state, and elsewhere – at anytime. It would be paired with links to available programmatic information as well as updates on how to participate in any public debates.
Enable Independent Reporting to Hold State and Local Government Genuinely Accountable. Fact-based reporting can be a valuable tool in upholding the integrity of government entities. On the federal level, it helped shine a light on VA abuses against our veterans. In the state, it’s essential in getting to the bottom of the recent EB-5 and GEAR UP scandals. Even so, South Dakota reporters can be forced to testify for investigating important stories. If elected, I would support a commonsense Reporter Shield law, protecting the constitutional right to a free and independent press.
Limit Confidential Settlement Agreements. You deserve to know how your money is being spent, but current law allows the state to negotiate confidentiality agreements so as to protect wrongdoers – even when your tax dollars are used to pay out a settlement. As governor, I would work to limit the state’s ability to engage in secret transactions like this, allowing it only when necessary to protect a victim’s privacy.
Review Open Meetings Laws. Executive sessions allow state and local governments to conduct certain business behind closed doors. While necessary in some instances (such as when a school board is discussing hiring or firing personnel ), these sessions should not be used to hide budget discussions and other important debates from public view. As governor, I would conduct a full review of existing open meetings laws and work to move as much official debate as possible into the public domain.

Improving Public Safety
South Dakota’s crime rate nearly doubled between 2005 and 2015. Violent crimes and drug-related offenses, in particular, have seen significant increases, which earlier this year forced the Argus Leader to ask: “Is South Dakota more violent than it’s ever been?”

I stand firmly behind the dedicated work of our law enforcement officers. To better enable their success in the field, improvements in the way the state approaches mental health and criminal justice are warranted. As governor, I am committed to being a partner to law enforcement, providing leadership and working collaboratively to create an environment in which both families and growing businesses can feel safe to call South Dakota home.

Prevent When Possible
Close the gateways. Whether the gateway drug is marijuana or a legal prescription painkiller, the slope toward addiction can often be a slippery one. As governor, I will oppose all attempts to legalize marijuana. At the same time, I will work with medical professionals and the state legislature to enact reasonable limits on opioid prescriptions and support provider education and training.

Implement research-based meth prevention programs. Drug overdoses are the leading cause of death among Americans under age 50. In South Dakota, drug use, including methamphetamine use, is rising dramatically. In fact, drug arrests hit their highest point in a decade last year. We must change course. My administration will work to expand evidence-based education and prevention programs. Every South Dakotan should know and understand the signs of addiction as well as the dangers of meth use to aid in early intervention.

Get proactive on mental health. The criminal justice system is the state’s largest provider for the mentally ill, a costly responsibility it’s not fully equipped to handle. As governor, I would:

Work to ensure there are an array of mental-health options throughout the state by leveraging tele-psychiatry, expanding resources in schools, and supporting a mental health facility West River;
Promote crisis intervention training and help assemble local crisis response teams to support law enforcement;
Partner with Employee Assistance Programs to expand options for South Dakotans, helping individuals with mental health needs before they commit offenses; and
Support ongoing pilot programs that divert non-violent offenders with mental illness through treatment programs, rather than the criminal justice system, expanding those programs which produce positive outcomes.

Support local control of school safety. I believe local communities must have the ability to decide how to best protect their students. In the U.S. House, I helped pass legislation that gives schools more financial flexibility and resources to make those important decisions, while also creating more options for schools to engage mental health professionals. As governor, I will take the same approach, ensuring schools and communities have the flexibilities needed to assert local control and protect our kids.

Improve collaboration with Tribal Governments. Because federal and tribal authorities have jurisdiction over many crimes that occur on sovereign reservations, it’s imperative these entities have a strong relationship with the state. As governor, I would work to better collaborate with area tribes by opening dialogues on jurisdictional challenges, re-engaging on memorandums of understanding, and helping coordinate responses.

Intervene When Needed
Equip law enforcement to fully enforce the law. As a conservative, I believe leaders have a responsibility to minimize government intrusion but maximize its impact. This is as true in criminal justice as it is anywhere else. South Dakota has always been a law-and-order, tough-on-crime state. I support that. But no matter how tough our laws are, they aren’t effective if law enforcement doesn’t have the technological, financial, or investigative resources necessary to enforce those laws. While working to maintain strong relationships between officers and the neighborhoods they serve, I am committed to ensuring law enforcement have technologies, such as body cameras, and the enforcement tools necessary to keep us and themselves safe – both in our communities and online.

Support specialty courts and evidence-driven programming. Because the swift and certain sanctions hold offenders more accountable, specialty courts help solve underlying problems to reduce recidivism long-term. Moreover, with uniquely trained judges, specialty courts are often more efficient than traditional criminal justice models. In consultation with Police Departments, Sheriff’s Offices, and States Attorneys, I would partner with the judicial system to incentivize the use of specialty courts as well as expand evidence-driven programming for non-violent offenders.

Leverage federal resources. I’ve fought alongside President Trump to strengthen support for law enforcement, including the expansion of the Community Oriented Policing Services grant. Having served as South Dakota’s lone member of the U.S. House, I understand how these dollars flow to states. I will leverage that knowledge to ensure South Dakota law enforcement have access to every available resource.

Rehabilitate When Effective
Expand residential and family-based treatment options. Drug treatment programs that keep people out of jails, families together, and children out of foster care have proven to produce more effective outcomes in many cases. As governor, my administration will work to expand residential and family-based treatment options in South Dakota.

Prioritize victim-centered responses. We must keep the needs of victims at the center of our criminal justice system. Today, victim-service providers are active throughout South Dakota, assisting crime victims and ensuring their rights are protected. As governor, I will work to strengthen coordination between providers to further a trauma-informed, victim-centered response.

End the cycle of crime. If South Dakota taxpayers are asked to spend money to incarcerate an offender, our criminal justice system must work to reduce the likelihood that individual will reoffend. Recognizing that at least 95 percent of prisoners will be released at some point, we must strengthen our parole, re-entry, and rehabilitation programs. Workforce training is a critical component of this, and I’m committed to expanding successful ventures, such as the Housing Development Authority’s Governor’s House program. In this way, our criminal justice system will adhere to the same degree of accountability we expect from every area of government.

Transportation and Infrastructure
South Dakota has around 82,000 miles of public roadway. That, on top of 5,000+ bridges and 1,800+ freight railroad miles, creates an intricate surface transportation network with more miles of infrastructure per capita than almost any state in the nation. Much of this is maintained through a carefully balanced alliance of federal, state and local governments.

As a member of the U.S. House, I helped move the decade’s first long-term transportation bill to passage. Signed into law in 2015, the legislation cut red tape, increased support for South Dakota projects by 10 percent, and gave state and local governments more flexibility to address their unique infrastructure needs. As governor, I will maximize resources to fuel economic opportunity, increase safety for our families and communities, and encourage greater collaboration between state, county and local governments.

Agenda: Build South Dakota
Prioritize road repairs. While recent investments have helped improve overall conditions, many South Dakota roads are still in need of repair. We can meet these needs without raising taxes. As governor, I will direct the South Dakota Department of Transportation to collaborate with local and county governments in prioritizing road repairs. It’s critical the state respect local input during this process, working hand-in-hand to achieve even greater efficiency and always moving toward improved safety and the freer flow of commerce.

Maximize Bridge Improvement Grant resources. Nearly one in five South Dakota bridges were rated “Structurally Deficient” by the U.S. Transportation Department in 2017. While maintaining full funding of the Bridge Improvement Grant program, my administration will work directly with counties and local governments to build greater efficiency, where possible, into their project plans and remove roadblocks. In this way, we will stretch existing resources as far as possible.

Enhance railways to support farmers and grow the economy. While serving in the U.S. House, I strongly and successfully advocated for federal TIGER Grants that supported South Dakota projects. These grants enabled the rail upgrades necessary to move commodities to market more quickly. Under a Noem administration, we will make it a top priority to compete for and win these grants to further enhance rail service and lower the basis for grain products, putting more money in the hands of hardworking farmers and growing the South Dakota economy.

Protect South Dakota’s small and regional airports. Like our highways and roads, air service is a network. Ensuring South Dakota remains connected through our smaller and regional airports must be a priority. As governor, I will protect infrastructure investments for our aviation network, as I’ve done while serving in the U.S. House. Additionally, I will work to ensure the South Dakota Civil Air Patrol, which often provides essential services during state emergencies, and the general aviation community continue to have access to the airports they need to operate.

Equip South Dakotans to fill good-paying infrastructure jobs. We already face a labor shortage, and still, even greater workforce demands are on the horizon. In South Dakota, the average tradesman is 41 years old, meaning many will be at or near retirement by the end of the next decade. To meet our long-term needs, I’m committed to:

Bolstering Governor’s Office of Economic Development investments in programs that build awareness of the industry’s career potential and aid in recruiting new talent;
Expanding access to experience-driven technical training at the high-school level; and
Strengthening partnerships between state technical schools and employers to graduate 25% more apprentices by 2022. This will enable us to grow our skilled workforce and better fill good-paying infrastructure jobs with South Dakota workers.

Keep the regulatory burden low. President Trump has made the streamlining of infrastructure regulations a goal of his administration, and what an incredible story South Dakota has to share on this front! As governor, I will lead by example and partner with President Trump to streamline federal permitting processes that weigh down South Dakota developers. In doing so, I will always keep five goals in mind: (1) provide clarity to project managers regarding the process, (2) improve the timeliness of project completion, (3) offer flexibility on implementation while upholding strict outcome standards, (4) reduce costs, and (5) maintain safety.

Leverage experience to maximize federal resources. More than half of South Dakota Department of Transportation funding is federal. Simply put, it is in the country’s interest to have a well-maintained national transportation network. My work on highway legislation gave me firsthand insight into how federal highway dollars flow to South Dakota. The unmatched experience I bring to the table, along with the deep relationships I’ve built with national leaders and the Trump administration, will serve South Dakota well. I will work to maximize these federal resources, defend the formula going forward, and fully justify why it is essential to continue investing in America’s Heartland.

Operation Rally Point
Before any patrol or battle, service members will often establish a Rally Point, a safe place to reassemble if they have a problem, need to refit, or just need rest. Similarly, I believe the South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs (SDDVA) should operate as a Rally Point, providing resources, support, and guidance to the state’s 72,000 veterans. Like many aspects of state government, South Dakota does a lot right in this area, but there is room for improvement too.

Operation: Rally Point
Prioritize customer service within SDDVA. While our nation has promised veterans certain benefits, such as healthcare, retirement and education, the systems created to deliver this assistance are often complex, counterintuitive, and slow. Most of these programs are under federal jurisdiction, but states can play a powerful role in representing veterans and ensuring each receives the benefits to which they’re entitled. That’s why it’s critical we continue to have a stand-alone SDDVA. Additionally, with efficiency and service in mind, my administration will:

Employ pro-active Veteran Service Officers (VSOs), providing them with sufficient training and instilling a culture of customer service;
Better educate County Commissioners and Tribal Councils of the resources offered by VSOs and the responsibilities County Commissioners and Tribal Councils have in supporting VSOs;
Work to ensure the SDDVA is connecting veterans with the mental health resources they are eligible for; and
Foster greater collaboration between VSOs and the congressional delegation, each of whom employ caseworkers that specialize in navigating the VA and other federal bureaucracies.

Expand employment opportunities for veterans. Most service members take up second careers after their military service. As we grow the state’s economy, we must work to help veterans find their place in the private sector. As governor, I will:

Lead by example. The state of South Dakota already employs more than 1,000 veterans. I will continue to seek out qualified veterans, as well as members of the National Guard and Reserves, to serve within the state government.
Actively support veteran hiring programs. In part because of legislation I fought for, employers can receive benefits for hiring veterans or supporting those serving in the National Guard and Reserves. The South Dakota Department of Labor must continue to help employers and veterans better understand and utilize these programs.
Give credit where credit is due. The South Dakota Board of Regents has been active in giving graduation credit to veterans for the training they received during their time in the military – something I will continue to support and encourage.
Recruit veterans to fill South Dakota employment needs. Many industries face tremendous difficulties recruiting skilled labor. In many cases, veterans can fill those gaps.
Review licensing requirements. As outlined in my Kickstarting the Economy proposal, my administration’s review of state licensing requirements must explore, among other things, options to fast-track veterans and military families, letting their experience count so it’s easier to work in South Dakota.

Support public-private collaboration to address transportation shortfalls. Especially in rural communities, transportation to and from appointments is a challenge for veterans. While most areas cannot support a robust public transportation network, we’ve seen multiple partners successfully band together in some areas of the state to offer more reliable options. More specifically, the same system that gets veterans to appointments at the VA, takes kids to after-school programs at the Boys and Girls Club; it also assists disabled and low-income individuals in getting to and from work. We must encourage alliances like this. Additionally, my administration will work to continue leveraging South Dakota’s tremendous volunteerism rate, actively encouraging folks to fill remaining transportation gaps.

Expand digital literacy among veterans. The average age of an American veteran is 61 years old. While many are tech savvy, some struggle with computer skills that could make accessing benefits and resources easier, particularly in rural areas where it’s difficult to get to Pierre or Sioux Falls. As governor, I will work to build partnerships between local libraries, schools, and veterans groups to improve digital literacy among veterans.

Maintain Hot Springs as The Veterans Town. There is no community in America so dedicated to delivering what our veterans have earned than Hot Springs. Tucked in the Black Hills, the Hot Springs VA Hospital provides a level of serenity that aids in the healing process – especially for those facing post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, and similar illnesses. Despite all this, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) was incrementally depleting the services offered in Hot Springs and pushing forward a plan to close the facility altogether. Alongside many South Dakota veterans, I’ve battled the VA to keep the facility open. While we’ve made significant progress, this fight is far from over. As governor, I’ll be just as committed to saving the Hot Springs VA Hospital. Additionally, I will continue to ensure the State Veterans Home in Hot Springs is a world-class facility for South Dakota veterans and their families, making certain The Veterans Town can continue delivering the services veterans have earned.

Preserve a final resting place for South Dakota veterans. In May 2018, President Trump signed legislation I helped write to triple the Black Hills National Cemetery’s size. The mere fact that the cemetery needs expansion is a testament to the astounding number of South Dakota patriots who have answered the call to serve. But more can be done. More than two-thirds of South Dakota veterans live on the eastern side of the state, yet the closest cemetery to the area is more than 200 miles away in Minnesota. I am deeply supportive of the state legislature’s efforts to establish an East River Veterans Cemetery and will work as governor to bring the project to completion.

Family-First Initiative
My husband, Bryon, and I are blessed with three incredible kids, who are surrounded by aunts and uncles, cousins and grandparents that love them and continually invest in their education and upbringing. Our faith and that strong family unit has helped us get through the tough times, and in many respects, compelled me to leave college after my dad’s death, return to the farm and ranch full-time, and dedicate my life to building on the dreams my parents had for their children.

We share this family-focused mentality with many in the state, which is one of the things that makes South Dakota so special. It’s a value we must fight to preserve, however, as recent cultural shifts are weakening households and often inserting government where family should be. But I’m committed to being a family-first governor, fighting to strengthen the family unit and preserve the values South Dakota has long embraced.

Family-First Initiative
Defend family values from the very beginning. I am pro-life, something my record will always reflect. In Congress, where I earned a 100 percent rating from National Right to Life, I’ve worked to systematically toughen abortion laws, supporting a full abortion ban as well as the Heartbeat Protection Act while getting the House to pass a prohibition on abortions after 20 weeks. I continue to work toward fully defunding Planned Parenthood but was thrilled President Trump signed legislation I helped champion so states aren’t forced to give family-planning dollars to abortion providers. With a newly appointed pro-life justice on the Supreme Court, I’m optimistic we are on the cusp of securing permanent protections for the unborn. As governor, I want to make sure South Dakota can play a leading role in that effort, a commitment that’s earned the endorsement of the conservative Susan B. Anthony List. If elected, I will:

Assign an Unborn Person Advocate within the governor’s office to monitor, report, and recommend legislative and policy changes;
Actively pursue all available legislative options to stop abortion and protect the lives of unborn babies;
Oppose any efforts to legalize physician-assisted suicide; and
Work to proactively defend South Dakota’s pro-life policies, engaging the top legal minds to litigate on behalf of our values, if necessary.

Protect religious liberty and traditional marriage. Marriage is a special, God-given union between one man and one woman. With the drop of a gavel, however, the Supreme Court attempted to silence those of us who believe in traditional marriage. As governor, I will defend our culture and values, fighting federal intrusion on our deeply held beliefs and working to protect the religious liberties of individuals and businesses.

Decrease dependency by making it easier for parents to work. It can be incredibly powerful for kids to see their parents provide for their family. Unfortunately, many of today’s programs perpetuate dependency instead of incentivizing work. To put that another way, we make it easy to sign up for programs, but difficult to qualify for a good-paying job. I want to change that as governor. More specifically, I will:

Encourage flexibility for parents pursuing new skills at South Dakota tech schools and universities. I wasn’t able to finish my college degree until after our kids were born, so I understand how hard it can be to parent, work, and go to school at the same time. To ensure parents can get the qualifications needed for a good-paying job, I will work with South Dakota universities and tech schools to offer options for more flexible course loads.
Help give parents the support needed to choose the child care that fits their family structure. For many families, child care is not an option, but a necessity – and an expensive one at that. In fact, about one of every four dollars a South Dakota family earns goes to child care. When negotiating tax reform, I ensured a portion of these costs could be deducted from your federal income taxes. As governor, I will take a comprehensive approach to reducing the financial strain of childcare, exploring options to alleviate certain licensing and regulatory costs, increase the number of childcare providers, and better support evidence-driven early education programs.
Strengthen work requirements. A good job is the best poverty-reduction tool. Work requirements, which have been central to the reforms I’ve championed for Medicaid and food stamps, are an essential tool in encouraging work. If elected, I will continue, and look to expand where possible, the work requirements sought by Governor Daugaard.
Increase child support accountability. There are far too many cases of noncustodial parents avoiding child support requirements. As governor, I will encourage the legislature to strengthen accountability measures. We cannot allow parents to shirk their parental responsibilities.

Recognize good parenting is a learned skill. Too often, public policies attempt to fill parenting gaps with government. Conservatives, however, understand these gaps are best filled by the parents themselves. With that in mind, I am focused on strategies that simply help parents be parents again. I’d like to expand family education programs to better prevent domestic violence and intervene before it occurs in the home. My administration would also encourage high schools to invest in family and consumer science programs, sharing the value of strong family units and building an understanding of the responsibilities that come with a household.

Respect parental rights. When it comes to raising kids, family is better than government. As a conservative, I will protect the rights of parents to choose the educational path that’s best for their child, whether it’s public schooling, homeschooling, or a private education. Regardless of a family’s decision, I will work to ensure all students have equal opportunity within the education system.

Support military family readiness programs. The South Dakota National Guard is renowned for its outstanding family readiness programs, earning top honors nationally in five of the last six years. As governor, I will continue to support the South Dakota National Guard and work through state agencies, local communities, and military families to expand these critical programs and help ensure the family unit doesn’t suffer during a parent’s deployment.

Expand residential and family-based drug treatment options. Prevention is critical, but when drug treatment programs are necessary, those that keep families together and children out of foster care have proven to produce more effective outcomes in some cases. As governor, my administration will work to expand residential and family-based treatment options in South Dakota.

Connect incarcerated moms and dads with parenting education and employment resources. Nearly one in 10 South Dakota kids have had a parent incarcerated at some point during their childhood. As governor, I will work to partner with faith-based groups in order to expand pro-family education opportunities and bonding experiences in our prisons and jails, while offering skills training to help ensure released offenders can support their families upon exiting the criminal justice system.

Make strong families a priority in all government activities. Strong families create strong communities, “nurturing, preserving, and passing on to each succeeding generation the values … that are the foundation of our freedoms,” as President Reagan once said. Because of this understanding, I will not raise taxes on families, grow government, or allow federal bureaucrats to tell us how to live. Family must remain the central figure in our public policy.

Fighting Human Trafficking
Prevent. Intervene. Recover. By some estimates, 100,000 individuals are trafficked in the U.S. each year, most of them women and many of them children. Sadly, South Dakota is not immune. Month after month, we read stomach-churning reports of sex trafficking from across the state. There is a role each of us can play in fighting trafficking by simply understanding what to look out for, but a broader policy shift needs to occur as well to better prevent trafficking, intervene when it does occur, and help survivors rebuild.

This is a crime I’ve battled for years. In the U.S. House, I championed the decade’s most comprehensive anti-trafficking initiative in 2015. The legislation enhanced law enforcement tools, better supported intervention programs, and provided additional resources to survivors. Still, my work continues. Since the 2015 bill became law, I’ve pushed legislation to expand trafficking demand reduction programs, go after online actors who knowingly facilitate trafficking, and help survivors with housing and other needs.

But not every solution to human trafficking is a federal solution. As governor, I would…

Get tough on those who sell, buy, or market trafficking victims for sex. Whether you’re a trafficker, a website that facilitates trafficking, or someone who purchases trafficking victims for sex, your activity will have no place in South Dakota. As Governor, I will ensure South Dakota does not go easy on perpetrators – the punishment will fit the heinousness of these crimes.
Make sure traffickers pay. Traffickers make an estimated $150 billion annually, according to the International Labor Organization. If elected governor, I will fight to strengthen the state’s restitution laws in trafficking cases, bringing justice and offering victims more financial support for medical and mental health services, housing, childcare and other related expenses.
Expand intervention training to first responders and medical professionals. Research indicates more than 85% of survivors received medical treatment while being trafficked, but the vast majority of healthcare professionals have never received training on how to identify a victim or intervene should they suspect something is going on. We must leverage federal and state training resources, in partnership with nonprofits and professional organizations, to ensure South Dakota’s healthcare professionals are equipped to identify and intervene when a victim enters the exam room.
Secure access to emergency and transitional housing. A home is so often where recovery begins, and yet, transitional housing for sex trafficking survivors is scarce. In many cases, sex trafficking survivors require stronger security protocols and different support services than other victims of violence. If elected, I would expand existing grant programs in order to offer transitional housing, healing, and hope to many more trafficking survivors.

Rural Revitalization Project
I am proud to be from rural South Dakota. It’s where I learned the values of hardwork and self-reliance, where Bryon and I chose to raise our kids, where we started an insurance business and hunting lodge, and where my family has farmed and ranched for acentury. But many small towns like ours are struggling today. Class sizes are dropping. Businesses can’t afford to stay open. And fewer kids are coming home to farm or ranch.

In fact, while South Dakota has grown by more than 100,000 people since 2000, rural populations have diminished. Seeing our larger communities flourish is exciting, but I want to make sure we don’t lose South Dakota’s rural culture either. As governor, I will work to bring more resources in to rural areas, expanding broadband, promoting economic development, enhancing healthcare, and focusing on K-12 schools.

Rural Broadband
A good internet connection can allow any entrepreneur to sell globally, while hiring locally. By expanding rural broadband and enhancing cell service, area businesses can grow their customer base without leaving town; families can better connect with their doctors; and students can learn from teachers a world away. In many rural areas, however, broadband deployment lags behind, largely because of the disproportionate expense of installation and maintenance.

In the U.S. House, I have pushed the Federal Communications Commission on creating a fairer and more rural-friendly Universal Service Fund formula to accelerate broadband’s deployment in remote areas. This work will continue if elected governor. Additionally, I will look to expand resources in this area, while ensuring state agencies continue to embrace broadband-friendly policies.

Rural Development
To grow families in rural South Dakota, we need jobs in rural South Dakota. As I’ve laid out in my Agricultural Growth Initiative and Build South Dakota Agenda, I will (1) equip students with the skills needed to succeed in ag-related industries, (2) review permitting structures to be sure they promote economic development and respect local control, (3) expand opportunities for value-added agriculture, and (4) improve rural infrastructure.

Rural Healthcare
Local healthcare providers have been relentless in expanding access through a robust network of rural clinics and innovative telehealth technologies, dramatically shrinking the distance between residents and state-of-the-art care. To build on these successes, we must grow the healthcare workforce in rural South Dakota. As governor, I will work directly with state professional organizations to develop forward-thinking recruitment and retention strategies, while also reviewing licensing requirements. Additionally, I will pursue federal waivers and grants, as appropriate, to better customize healthcare programs to South Dakota’s needs.

Rural Schools
The school is the life blood of many rural communities, but most struggle to make ends meet, recruit qualified teachers, or maintain enrollment numbers. Under my administration, the Department of Education will work to develop a pilot program to fill teacher shortages in high-need areas, exploring options such as new incentive programs for local working professionals and enhanced mentoring of teachers. While I will also work to improve efficiencies, increase local decision making, and empower schools to share resources, I believe the most sustainable way to strengthen rural schools is to expand economic opportunity. If a family can’t make a living in a rural community, they will pull their kids from the school district and move. I am fully committed to revitalizing South Dakota’s rural culture, so small-town schools and businesses can thrive for generations to come.

Preserving Pheasant Hunting
The Second Century Initiative
As much as pheasant season is a family tradition for us, we made it our family business for years as well, running a hunting lodge in northeastern South Dakota. Small businesses like that come alive during Pheasant Season, as resident and non-resident bird hunters spend nearly a quarter-billion dollars in South Dakota.

As we celebrate 100 years of pheasant hunting, I give you a commitment that if elected governor, I would fight to ensure this family tradition and driver of our economy lasts a century more.

It's About Habitat...
I am proud our family has prime pheasant habitat on some of our land. We’ve fought to preserve those grounds over the years and have long participated in the CRP program. But as land values have increased, areas like this have begun to disappear, gravely impacting pheasant populations. In fact, statewide pheasant populations have fallen 65 percent in the last decade.

For this reason, I fought for and won sodsaver protections in the 2014 Farm Bill, which help preserve our region’s native grasslands. Additionally, I continue to push federal policymakers to enhance CRP through the Farm Bill. As governor, I will expand habitat and pheasant hunting opportunities in South Dakota through my Second Century Initiative.

Increase resources for habitat management – without raising taxes. Maintaining and improving habitat is essential to the future of pheasant hunting in South Dakota. We can invest in habitat management, and we can do so without raising taxes by broadening the base of support in a multitude of ways, including:
- Working with the Division of Motor Vehicles and Game, Fish and Parks to develop a specialty pheasant license plate program in which all proceeds would go directly toward habitat management.
- Directing Game, Fish and Parks to explore outside-the-box, voluntary funding solutions, such as an expanded Premium Guest Tag program, in which a limited number of non-resident tags would be reserved at premium pricing. Programs like this have proven exceptionally lucrative in neighboring states. All proceeds would again go directly to habitat.
Crowd source habitat solutions. Pheasant hunting is a statewide tradition with statewide economic impact, so maintaining and growing the industry requires statewide involvement. Taking advantage of online capabilities, my administration will expand the capabilities at habitat.sd.gov to ensure every South Dakotan, not just those on assigned advisory boards or in Pierre, can directly contribute to the policymaking process. Should your ideas be implemented, your hunting license fees for that year ought to be waived as well.
Target predators, while inspiring the next generation of South Dakota hunters. While habitat has the most significant impact on pheasant populations, predators (such as foxes, skunks, and raccoons ) play a role as well. My administration will collaborate with counties to explore a bounty on pheasant predators in prime hunting areas, using the program to reduce threatening varmint populations and to help inspire the next generation of hunters to be part of this South Dakota legacy.
Maintain habitat management as a national priority. As a top negotiator of the 2014 Farm Bill, I fought to enhance CRP, and when the Obama administration accepted just 101 acres into CRP in South Dakota in 2016, I fought back. I will take up that same cause as South Dakota’s governor. Working in partnership with groups like Pheasants Forever, I will leverage the relationships I have around the country to win over CRP and habitat advocates in Congress, the administration, the Republican Governors Association, and the National Governors Association. This broad base of support is essential in maintaining federal programs like CRP.
Serve as Sportsman in Chief for South Dakota Pheasant Hunting. In 2016, 81,000 non-resident pheasant hunters spent more than $156 million in the state. As someone who ran her own hunting lodge, I know what those dollars mean to local businesses. As governor, I am committed to being South Dakota’s Sportsman in Chief, doing my part in bringing new business to hunting lodges, preserves, restaurants and others across the state

Campaign Finance Reform
Restoring Transparency & Integrity in South Dakota Campaign Financing
Current campaign finance laws in South Dakota contain loopholes that could allow corporations and individuals to shatter campaign contribution limitations.

While reforms are needed to address these problems, I will not wait to act until the campaign finance laws catch up to what’s right. I will lead by example. I have not and will not take corporate contributions, nor will my campaign take funds from Political Action Committees that were established with the intent to circumvent individual contribution limits. And if elected as your governor, I will work with the legislature to close these loopholes.

If we are going to change the culture of South Dakota politics, we need to set a standard of genuine accountability from the very beginning.

Kristi Noem's Campaign Finance Agenda

Ban corporate contributions. Big money in politics often leads to bigger government, conflicts of interest and potentially scandal. I will lead from the front on this issue. While corporate contributions became legal in South Dakota in 2017, I have not and will not accept them. If elected Governor, I will push to once again prohibit corporate campaign contributions.
Limit Political Action Committee (PAC) contributions to a candidate committee. Individuals are under strict limitations as to the amount they can legally contribute to a political candidate in South Dakota. PAC contributions are currently unlimited. Moreover, there is potential for PACs to be created with the sole purpose of evading the individual contribution limits and attempting to obscure the source of campaign funds from public scrutiny. Like both individual contributions and PAC contributions to federal candidates are, PAC contributions to state candidates should be limited.
Close the loophole that allows donors to shatter individual contribution limits. Under current law,an individual can contribute $4,000 to a candidate committee each calendar year. At the same time, they can write a $10,000 check to a PAC each calendar year. There are currently no safeguards in place to ensure individuals don’t contribute $4,000 directly and then another $10,000 through a PAC that was established with the intention of circumventing South Dakota’s contribution limits.^[13]

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—Kristi for Governor^[14]

Billie Sutton

Sutton's campaign website stated the following:

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Improving Care for Families: A Plan for a Strong and Healthy South Dakota
Everyone needs health care: Old, young, wealthy, poor, sick, and healthy. That’s why no matter what group of voters I meet with, from teachers to veterans to farmers, health care always comes up as a top concern. From birth to our golden years, our health care needs are constantly changing and demanding new experts, facilities, and technologies to keep us healthy.

We have work to do to make sure our aging population has access to care in their communities, to ensure access to care regardless of the size of your hometown, to end stigma surrounding mental health care, and to ensure accessible treatment options for our neighbors struggling with addiction. As Governor, I am ready to work toward common sense solutions to build a stronger health care system in South Dakota.

Improving healthcare access in our healthcare hubs and rural communities
South Dakota has strong healthcare networks with thriving regional healthcare hubs. While expanding care options in our larger cities, more can be done to ensure access to care in every corner of the state. Telehealth is a great option to ensure South Dakotans in small communities have access to the skilled doctors and specialists in our larger communities. Further technological research and innovation in healthcare can also help to make care accessible in all corners of the state.

As Governor, Sutton will use existing federal funds to invest in rural hospitals that will improve the state economy. He will fund programs that provide incentives to doctors and nurses who stay in state or move to South Dakota to help provide more healthcare options. Keeping healthcare professionals in South Dakota will help ensure access to care, and tuition reimbursement programs for healthcare providers that move to high need areas in rural South Dakota can have a tremendous economic impact in our small towns.

Support elderly and disabled South Dakotans in need of care
As Sutton has talked to aging South Dakotans, disabled South Dakotans, and families of kids with disabilities, he hears over and over that people just want the same opportunities we all desire -- to be contributing members of their families and local communities. These issues hit home for Sutton because he understands what it means to face a disability, and to have the freedom and independence that can result from access to good health care. These concerns are also important because South Dakota has a high and growing percentage of elderly residents. As of 2016, 16 percent of our population was over age 65, as compared to 14.9 percent nationally. In some of our rural counties, the over-65 populations exceeds 25 percent. In the years to come, the number of South Dakotans aged 65 and older is expected to grow at an unprecedented rate. As South Dakotans age, they will require higher levels of care. To ensure our elders receive quality care, we’ll need to think creatively about ways to offer services and find ways to prioritize care for our elders in our budget.

Unfortunately, politicians in Pierre have underfunded payments for health care providers for decades, creating a situation that is inching ever closer to crisis. In just the last two years, nursing homes in Rosholt, Bryant and Tripp have closed. Many other rural nursing centers barely make ends meet.

We need to expand our investment in services that can help South Dakotans stay in their homes longer, including better reimbursement for providers of home care services and community-based elder care options. We need to figure out how to make specialty services available to rural residents, through the use of provider networks and technology. We also need to ensure our existing elder care infrastructure is preserved through adequate reimbursement for nursing homes and assisted living providers, allowing them to modernize their buildings, train and pay their staffs, and give our loved ones the care they deserve in their golden years.

Make healthcare affordable for hard-working South Dakotans
There are more than 50,000 South Dakotans who could be eligible for health insurance if we just submit the paperwork. Unfortunately, discussions about making health insurance available to these hard working, yet low paid people have been bogged down in years of political bickering, and in the meantime, 50,000 of our neighbors are unable to get check-ups or see a doctor when they’re sick.

Instead of preventative treatment, or catching a potential health problem early, they end up waiting until they can’t put off an ER visit any longer. This inefficiency is forcing South Dakotans to seek health care at the wrong time, in the wrong place, at the wrong cost. The treatment they receive tends to be more costly, and in the end, health care providers, including struggling rural providers, end up paying the lion’s share. Ultimately, much of this cost ends up being put back on South Dakotans who pay higher premiums and out-of-pocket healthcare costs. If these folks could afford healthcare, they could see their doctor earlier and, in many cases, be treated before a condition becomes a full health crisis. The federal government picks up 90% of the tab for these enrollees, and currently South Dakota’s tax dollars are going to other states to pay for other folks’ healthcare.

People on all sides of the aisle have seen the value of this common-sense solution. Governor Daugaard has supported it for years, as have Democrats, Republicans, and Independents in our state. This reform will improve the lives of tens of thousands of our neighbors, is fiscally responsible, and is the right thing to do.

Improve access to mental and behavioral health services in our state
It is a sad fact that suicide is among the leading causes of death in the state of South Dakota. In 2017, the state saw a 36% increase in the rates of death by suicide with 192 deaths. In addition, the state leads the nation in child mortality with death by suicide as the 2nd leading cause of death for children ages 15-24. The most common reason for death by suicide is a treatable mental illness.

The mental health needs in South Dakota are vast and the resources to address these needs are sparse. In SD, we have 11 community mental health centers to serve over 66 counties. In addition, we have professional shortages for psychiatrists, school counselors, and social workers. There is a significant gap between those with significant mental health needs and the professionals that can serve them.

Our approach to this issue must be threefold: prevention, awareness, and access. In order to begin making progress, we must address professional shortages, creating systems of care between community mental health providers and other public entities (such as schools, clinics, and community centers,) recognize the importance of prevention and awareness around mental illness, and develop measures that reduce the stigma of mental health care in SD to address this significant public health crisis.

Provide more comprehensive addiction treatment for opioids, meth, and alcohol
Addiction affects more than just the person who is addicted. The impacts of addiction ripple out to families, communities, first responders, our judicial system, employers, and others. Improving our treatment options for people with addictions would have broad benefits for all South Dakotans.

As Governor, Sutton will convene a work group to formulate a comprehensive plan to improve prevention and access to treatment for addicted individuals, including studying prescription limits, improved first responder training and access to naloxone or other overdose treatment strategies, take-back efforts for prescription medications, prevention among young people, more widely accessible treatment options for rural South Dakotans, and offering support to children and families of those receiving treatment.

Planting Seeds for Growth
Year after year, farmers, ranchers, and rural South Dakotans have had to work harder and harder just to keep from going backwards. As a member of one of those rural communities and a rancher myself, I have seen the challenges firsthand. In my role as a financial professional at a rural bank, I’ve sat at the table with these folks as they’ve made hard financial decisions in the toughest of years.

Agriculture remains the economic backbone of our state. Yet, our ag producers and the rural communities dependent on ag continue to deal with the difficulty for young farmers and ranchers to get into the business, ever-increasing consolidation of farms and ranches, and recently by unnecessary barriers to selling agricultural goods to major markets around the world.

We can and should do more. When agriculture is strong, South Dakota is strong.

Building Markets
South Dakota producers need access to markets. In order to do that, we need to be continually pursuing new market opportunities, not cutting off market access for producers through unnecessary trade barriers like tariffs, which cause farmers and ranchers to bear the brunt of the inevitable retaliation. While we must always be open to negotiating better trade deals with our partners, the current trade war, caused by new tariffs, is doing substantial damage to rural South Dakota.

The imposition of retaliatory tariffs in foreign markets is dramatically driving down the prices of commodities like soybeans, corn, pork, and others. The Department of Ag estimates farm profits will be at a 12-year low this year. Adding insult to injury, for farmers that want to store crops in hopes that prices rebound in the future, steel tariffs are quickly pushing up the cost of building grain bins, along with other pieces of equipment made with steel. We need leaders who will stand up for South Dakota producers and rural communities.

Next Generation Farmers & Ranchers
Sutton is excited about the future of agriculture in South Dakota, and knows many men and women of his generation want to be part of that future. Those he knows are savvy, business-minded folks who want to preserve our natural resources for the next generation, be active in their rural communities and raise their families on the land. State government — with SDSU Extension, our tech schools and other universities—must work harder than ever to provide the skills and expertise needed to survive in agriculture today. That includes innovating within state programs designed to help get young farmers and ranchers onto the land, building apprenticeship programs, as well as doing more to connect young farmers and ranchers to federal resources. Farmers young and old also deserve a governor who sees the importance of rural economic development, so our small towns have opportunities for the whole family. I will work to create opportunities on and off the farm in all 66 counties.

Promoting South Dakota's Product
South Dakotans should have information to make informed decisions about the origin of their food. Country-of-Origin-Labeling (COOL) allows customers to support local farm and ranch families, and ensure they are purchasing wholesome, safe food raised in the United States. South Dakota’s rural economy is determined by the success of our farms and ranches and marketing our beef is key to that success. Labeling our products, whether through country of origin labeling or a South Dakota certified label are all exciting opportunities to support our local beef producers. We all know South Dakota beef is as healthy and tasty as anything in the world, and Sutton will work to find more ways to promote our home-grown product. Sutton believes Country of Origin Labeling is one option to help customers know where their beef comes from. Similarly, a South Dakota Certified label for marketing purposes has real potential to highlight our beef.

Value-Added Ag for a Stronger Economy
Whether involving specialty crops, biotechnology, food processing, or other innovations, expanding value-added ag will be an important part of growing South Dakota’s rural economy and helping producers diversify and remain viable. We must be intentional in pursuing new opportunities, much like recent efforts to grow small meat processing facilities and dairy production.There are endless opportunities to build new businesses, create quality jobs, and keep our rural communities thriving if we listen and support the great ideas from the entrepreneurs in our state. We can expand our recruitment and incentive efforts to attract even more value-added ag, and diversify our agricultural businesses.

Preserving Habitat for Future Generations
Our long tradition of hunting and fishing in South Dakota has been an important part of life for generations. It’s also a big draw for visitors to our state, helping support business in many rural areas. South Dakota is nationally famous for our hunting and fishing, but there’s more to our reputation than just the game and fish population. Ours is a state where sportsmen can still find access to wild game in wild places without paying a fortune. To keep our heritage alive, we must work to preserve habitat for waterfowl, pheasants, and other wild game. Billie was born, raised, and lives in the heart of South Dakota pheasant country. His family has had a hunting operation for generations, and he has represented folks operating dozens of hunting enterprises in his legislative district that spans much of the area that makes South Dakota the "Pheasant Capital of the World." Sutton has an open and ongoing dialogue with hunting operators, landowners, and sportsmen and women about how to improve the pheasant population and protect the strong tradition of hunting in South Dakota. As governor, Sutton will address the challenges presented by Mother Nature, proper habitat, and predator control, and he will continue to listen to the folks most knowledgeable about the issue in pursuing the best approach to ensure this South Dakota tradition remains strong for generations to come.

Fueling South Dakota
Ethanol is a good example of how a South Dakota governor and a farm-friendly legislature can impact economic development. As a state senator, Sutton has always supported efforts to encourage more ethanol use. In these difficult days on the farm, it’s more important than ever that we look for ways to add value to our farm commodities. Ethanol does that several times over. It has had a major impact on corn prices. Hundreds of South Dakotans work in our 15 plants and some analysts suggest ethanol accounts for $2 billion in our economy. As your governor, Sutton will fuel the state fleet with E30 and work to install blender pumps across South Dakota. He’ll work with federal agencies to advance the use of E-30 across the nation and continue to collaborate with our farm and ranch leaders to look for ways to improve commodity prices.

Property Tax Relief
Tax policy shouldn’t dictate farmers' and ranchers' plans for their land. The current system of taxation on ag land is driving landowners to break up native grasslands and part with their vision for their own property because it’s being taxed based on “highest and best use” and rather than the “actual use.” The Legislature has studied the issue for years and has failed to enact meaningful changes to give landowners relief from annual, steep increases. Sutton believes it’s time to act. It falls upon all of us to promote a fair and equitable tax system; taxation based on actual use would do a lot to achieve that goal and would help alleviate some of the costs of doing business for our state’s landowners.

Education for the Next Generation: A Plan for a Brighter South Dakota Future
It didn’t take long after my accident in 2007 for me to take a mental inventory of what I still had after I was paralyzed: I still had my strong support system of family and friends, I still had my faith, and I still had my education and ability to solve problems. In that moment, I realized just how important of an investment education really is. When my Plan A was taken from me, I still had a bright path forward. I believe every student in our great state deserves that positive outlook on their future. When I look into the eyes of my two-year-old son, Liam, I recognize exactly the kind of bright tomorrows we must build for the next generations. Starting in early childhood and throughout their adult lives, South Dakotans deserve world-class educational opportunities to ensure bright futures for our state and its families.

Early Childhood
Education, at every level, is an investment in our future. Yet, South Dakota is one of a handful of states that doesn’t provide any state support for preschool, creating a gap in our student success rate. The economic gain is nearly unmatchable, as every dollar invested in early childhood education realizes a $7-$13 gain. The return on public investment goes beyond just economic gains: creating better students; more efficient public schools; and reduced expenses associated with grade retention, special education, and incarceration. We have the opportunity to take the best practices from other states around us to build a program that propels us to a higher caliber of education in South Dakota, for all our future. One of Billie’s top priorities as governor will be to conduct a study of the needs for early childhood education in our state. Once we have a better understanding of the need in South Dakota, Billie will look for ways to re-prioritize state spending so that funding is available for programs like early childhood education that will pay off well into the future.

K-12
As parents, we aim to create a better life for our children, giving them every advantage possible. In our K-12 education system, those advantages start with good schools and good teachers. In 2016, Billie served on the Blue Ribbon Task Force to work to raise teacher pay in South Dakota. The Task Force resulted in the state raising South Dakota teachers’ salaries up from last in the nation, which is a small victory. Unfortunately, South Dakota still remains last in our region in teacher pay, and we have more work to do in order to be competitive with neighboring states in retaining and recruiting the best teachers for our youngest South Dakotans. We also have more work to do in improving the new funding formula to ensure that we use research and data to treat schools of all sizes fairly.

Competitive teacher pay is just one way Billie will look to address the teacher shortage in South Dakota; he’ll also work to create a tuition reimbursement program for teachers who work in underserved communities after earning their degree. Billie will also support educators by increasing flexibility for school districts so that teachers and administrators can best serve the needs of their students and communities.

As governor, Billie will also work with high schools, both urban and rural, to make sure our students are prepared for their next steps after graduation. Finding innovative and collaborative ways to give our schools the resources to offer opportunities to college-bound students as well as students more interested in technical and career training options, will be one of Billie’s top priorities. Billie will work with educators to develop tech experiences for our students and explore more ways students can earn high school and college dual credit while gaining work experience in the community.

Higher Education
An overwhelming majority of good-paying jobs in our state require some sort of post-secondary education, but that achievement is becoming increasingly difficult to afford, especially for working families struggling to make ends meet. In all of the US, only two states give less to their students in need than we do. We struggle to even begin to compete with our neighbors: South Dakota provides a dismal $11.85 per Pell grant eligible student. Iowa provides almost $700 to each undergraduate receiving a Pell Grant, Minnesota provides $1,600, and Wyoming provides over $2,200. At the same time, tuition costs continue to rise at our universities and tech schools alike. South Dakota is now home to the most expensive tech schools in the region and has the second highest price tag for 4-year universities among surrounding states.

Before we fall even further behind and lose our students to other states, we need to make efforts to ensure our students can afford an education in South Dakota. Billie will work to increase funding for needs-based scholarships and mitigate costs of education at state schools. An educated workforce benefits the entire state’s economy in addition to individual student’s earning potential, and Billie’s work to make higher education less expensive will ensure every student who wants to work toward a brighter future for South Dakota can afford the opportunity.

Lifelong Learners
As an integral piece of workforce development, education is important to more than just our young people. To continue toward a brighter future, South Dakota must be a place where anyone looking to sharpen their skills and knowledge can afford the opportunity to do so. It’s more and more common that a person will change careers several times throughout their lives, and our state wins as South Dakotans climb the ladder and brighten their families’ future with better education and a better job. As governor, Billie will work to make educational opportunities accessible and affordable for people in all life’s stages by forging public-private partnerships and increasing access to scholarships. He will encourage and foster creative education and training options like satellite classes, effective online degrees, and apprenticeship programs for non-traditional students looking to get a degree or change jobs.

Building a Stronger South Dakota: A Plan for a Stronger South Dakota Economy
In my day job as a finance professional, I’ve learned that the economy is pretty simple: it’s people. And in South Dakota, we’re lucky to have some of the most honest, common sense, and hard-working folks to build our economy. Our approach to building a stronger South Dakota should be centered around our best resource, our people. South Dakota’s needs include training people for the jobs we already have, creating jobs for the people we educate, and planning for robust economic development regardless of where people live in our state. I’m focused on creating opportunities for South Dakotans and working together to make sure nobody gets left behind as we develop, grow, and prosper. I’m a proud South Dakotan, and I’ll fight to make sure our economy rewards the hard-working families that make our state strong.

Strong Career Opportunities with Good Pay
Tech Careers
South Dakota is one of a few states with good-paying jobs that don’t require a bachelor's degree. We are facing a workforce shortage, especially in fields like construction and welding. Billie’s plan for a stronger South Dakota economy includes training people for the jobs we have and developing apprenticeship programs and public-private partnerships between industry and our tech schools to make sure students and trainees are job-ready.

Professional Careers
In South Dakota, we believe that hard work should be rewarded, but in many professional careers, our low wages prevent folks with years of schooling from realizing the benefits available elsewhere. The average wages for each educational level in South Dakota are quite telling:

Folks who spend the time and money to get bachelor’s and master’s degrees aren’t getting the same return on investment as those with associate degrees. South Dakota has some of the lowest wages in the nation for professionals like nurses and teachers. Billie recognizes that many of our young and highly educated students are leaving the state because they don’t see the jobs or wages they need to build a strong and responsible future for their families. Billie knows economic capital trails human capital as long as South Dakota prioritizes creating jobs that pay reasonable wages. His work to raise teacher pay, utilize federal dollars available to expand healthcare coverage, and increase provider reimbursement rates to free-up more money for nurses wages are examples of the big-picture approach Billie will use to close South Dakota’s wage gap. There’s room for all levels of education in our economy, and a stronger South Dakota is one where hard work actually pays off.

Education for a Strong Workforce
Early Exposure to Tech Ed
One of the most important elements of economic and workforce development is education. It is through carefully designed educational experiences that students find their fit in the workforce. Our high schools offer great opportunities to present career and technical exploration earlier, and the need is especially strong in rural South Dakota. In Billie’s hometown of Burke, the school district partnered with three others to buy four mobile units with a grant from the Future Fund, each offering a career & technical class like manufacturing, engineering, biomedical engineering, and welding. This is the kind of innovation we can bring to all our schools, urban and rural, so all our students get exposure and experience to job opportunities before making post-secondary decisions.

Billie’s plan for a stronger economy includes developing CTE grant programs to encourage schools to be collaborative and innovative in creating these opportunities for students and in connecting them with the post-secondary options that put them on the path to jobs. We must give schools the resources to build partnerships with tech schools and industries to give opportunities to students of all interests. Billie will work with educators to develop tech experiences for our students and explore more ways students can earn high school and college dual credit while gaining work experience in the community.

Access to Higher Education
Not only is it important to provide exposure early to different career opportunities, we also need to make sure that traditional and non-traditional students can afford to further their education at tech school and four-year colleges. The cost of higher education has been increasing rapidly, and tech schools are no exception. Some programs have a nearly $20,000 price tag per year. Billie will work to keep the costs of higher education down while also increasing needs-based scholarships so that every interested student has the chance to advance their skills and knowledge and join our workforce to make South Dakota stronger.

Build a Strong South Dakota for Everyone
Filling existing job openings is just one part of the solution. We also need to work to create new job opportunities. Billie will work with the Governor’s Office of Economic Development to build more partnerships with local economic development organizations. Together, this team will create a plan for economic growth that encompasses every part of the state, including our reservation communities, and prioritizes good-paying jobs in both our cities and small towns. Resources like the REDI Fund are a good starting place for businesses to find help in expansion or training efforts, but we can do more to make this process easier and help small businesses grow. Future Fund dollars can be better targeted and used more efficiently to invest in people and create opportunities. Investments in local infrastructure, a strengthened healthcare system, and affordable housing are imperative to make South Dakota a place folks want to live and do business. Billie will fight to make South Dakota a welcoming place for businesses and families alike in order to strengthen our economy.

Innovate for a Strong Future
In order to make sure South Dakota’s economy continues to grow in the future, Billie recognizes the need to encourage and invest in innovation for all our major industries.

Farming and Ranching
Agriculture is an area where we’ve seen technological advances lead to more efficient use of our resources. Billie will continue to stand behind our producers as they continue to innovate in bio-tech, value-added and precision ag. A rancher himself, Billie understands the importance of promoting homegrown product in our state; we raise world class meat, and we should all eat it here. He is a proponent of making it easier to process meat on a small scale, at the local level, as well as placing labels on meat that designate it’s South Dakota raised.

Energy
While protecting the resources we have, we can also invest in forward-thinking energy production and focus on energy efficiency in our projects. Billie will work to fuel the state fleet with E-30 to support our ethanol producers. He will also work to establish a grant program to assist communities and nonprofits in their energy efficiency ventures.

Entrepreneurism
Entrepreneurs and small business owners are the heart of rural South Dakota communities. Billie will fight to renew the spirit of entrepreneurism in South Dakota by keeping it easy to do business here and ensuring a ready workforce by investing in people. Billie will work to make South Dakota the best state for entrepreneurs with a welcoming environment for new ventures and start-ups; he’ll build that atmosphere with investments in infrastructure, broadband connection, and an equipped labor pool. Talented residents—not government—are what drive growth and development.

Tourism
Billie also sees promise in our tourism industry and will work with interested parties all over the state to put together an innovative tourism plan that includes all 66 counties and our state’s reservations. He’ll work to extend the tourism season to include the winter months and keep people coming back with modern marketing technologies and classic South Dakota hospitality.

With smart investments in our best ideas and input from all industries, Billie knows we can achieve a stronger South Dakota economy for all South Dakotans.

Restoring Trust & Integrity Plan
In response to South Dakotans’ concerns about the recent onslaught of political scandals in our state, Billie has advocated for good government measures to help restore integrity and trust in state government. South Dakota needs a leader in the Governor’s office willing to fight for the type of open, honest, and accessible government South Dakotans deserve. Billie has a record of championing trust and transparency and will continue to fight to restore government integrity. Here are a few of the ways Billie will do that as your next Governor:

Trust & Accountability
Ending Corruption
Prohibiting Self-Dealing
South Dakota has made national headlines in recent years for corruption scandals like GEAR-UP and EB-5. In both cases, the lack of accountability and misuse of public money was rooted in self-dealing by people connected to government. People trusted to make decisions about how your tax dollars are spent have funneled money to fill their own pockets and advance their own interests. Current laws prohibiting self-dealing must be extended to more people involved in government, such as state board members. Rules that currently allow conflict of interests to persist if disclosed and approved should be strengthened to prohibit certain conflicts. Billie has supported legislation to do this in the past, and will fight to improve laws that ban self-dealing as Governor.

Ending the Good Ol Boys Club
South Dakota has very few laws on the books that prohibit the hiring or appointing of friends, family, or supporters in government positions. It’s time to make sure our positions are filled with the most qualified people and our tax dollars are going to the experts best suited to make an impact in our state, not those with friends in high places or the deepest pockets. Billie will fill appointments with the best equipped applicants, require the same throughout government, and pass laws to end nepotism, patronage, and specials favors to political insiders.

Limiting Gifts and Special Favors
South Dakota may be known for our generosity and hospitality, but government shouldn’t be the place for unchecked giving. It’s time to more strictly define a gift and limit how much lobbyists can give to elected officials and state employees. Currently the definition of a gift has many exceptions and lobbyists can spend without limit on any event or service that could be deemed helpful to “a public official in the performance of official duties.” These exceptions allow lobbyists to provide food, entertainment, or travel to government officials. Public officials shouldn’t get special treatment when tasked to work on behalf of the people. Billie will work to tighten loopholes and keep the people working for you honest.

Strengthening Whistleblower Reporting
We’ve seen too many recent instances of corruption in our state that could have been prevented if we made it easier for good people to speak up when something is wrong. Billie will create a clear internal reporting mechanism for the public and government workers to ensure their corruption concerns are investigated before it’s too late. Billie will work to ensure public servants are required to report suspicions of corruption or mismanagement and have a safe, reliable process to do so.

Ensuring Oversight
Strengthening Ethics Commission
South Dakotans deserves a state government as honest and trustworthy as they are. Without strong oversight, government officials are not held accountable. Our current ethics efforts consist of a series of boards and committees appointed by those in power that aren’t enough to guard against corruption. Billie will create an ethics commission with citizen involvement that covers all branches of government with independent investigative and audit authority. Billie will also ensure that this watchdog has the capacity to receive anonymous whistleblower tips and the ability to solicit independent legal counsel when an investigation requires.

Campaign Finance Reform
Limiting Money's Influence
In 2016, the voters approved stricter contribution limits with Initiated Measure 22. In 2017, the majority in the legislature repealed these limits and refused to pass replacement measures offered by Senator Sutton. A majority of states place limits on the money political parties and PACs can give to candidates, but South Dakota allows unlimited contributions. It’s time to make these changes and ensure money doesn’t decide our elections. Billie will work to restore the will of the people and re-enact voter approved campaign finance limitations, ending unlimited contributions in South Dakota.

Eliminating Pay to Play
In a small state like ours, there’s often overlap between those who contribute to campaigns and those who receive money from the state. The public deserves a transparent disclosure process to fully understand the connections between their government and businesses profiting from taxpayer dollars. Billie will fight to require candidates disclose their donors’ employer on campaign finance reports to shine light on potential conflicts of interest. Billie sponsored legislation to limit political contributions by government contractors receiving $25k or more in state funds to ensure high level donors aren’t being rewarded with state dollars in return for campaign contributions. Billie will also work with the Secretary of State to make sure that campaign finance data is publicly available and easily searchable so voters are able to do their research when choosing a candidate.

Transparency & Open Government
Opening Records
Public Records
Documents produced using taxpayer dollars should be available to the taxpayers. Under current law many government records are exempt from public disclosure, and according to the Rapid City Journal, “South Dakota is one of 14 states whose government emails are not considered public records.” In the name of transparency, Billie will work to open emails, correspondence, memoranda, calendars or logs of appointments, working papers, and records of telephone calls of state agency officials and employees for public review.

Open SD
Our government serves the people and there should be an expectation of accountability, openness, and transparency. It’s difficult for the people to hold the government accountable without easy access to records and data. Open.SD.Gov is meant to serve this purpose, but it’s currently little more than a series of links to other resources already available. Billie will work to make the Open SD website the user-friendly tool it should be with searchable databases and access to additional information like campaign finance donor data, elected officials voting records, fiscal documents, and other important government records.

Records Retention
In order to ensure adequate access to the information necessary for voters and watchdogs to hold government accountable, we must keep important public records long enough for mismanagement to be investigated and discovered. Billie worked in the last legislative session to require government agencies maintain fiscal records longer. Although improvement was made, we can do more. The new retention period would not have allowed us to properly investigate GEAR-UP from the inception of the program. In today’s age with many records in digital formats, we ought to be able to keep fiscal and other documents for 10 years or indefinitely.

Public and Press Access to Officials
The press and the public serve as watchdogs of government, acting as additional checks and balances to catch inefficiencies and instances of corruption. It’s imperative that the press and public have regular access to government officials. Billie will set up regular press conferences and public meetings as Governor and will ensure other top agency officials do as well.

Requiring Disclosures
Lobbying Disclosures
Very little information regarding lobbyist compensation and spending is reported to the State for public review. Expenses on a particular bill or policy are not identified and the compensation received by a lobbyist is currently exempt from disclosure. In addition, the disclosures currently required are not audited. As a result, it very difficult to find out how much an organization actually spends influencing legislation in South Dakota. This lack of transparency among lobbyists influencing government decisions results in a lack of public trust in government, and it’s time for a change. We need more detailed and frequent lobbying disclosures that are regularly audited and made accessible to the public.

End Conflicts of Interest
Currently elected officials complete asset disclosure forms when they take office. But these forms provide little information, are not easily searchable, and are not audited. Sources of income of the household are disclosed, but not dollar amounts. It’s difficult to identify and combat serious conflicts of interest if more about the interest isn’t made public. Serious conflicts should be prohibited in state law. We need a more in-depth and audited disclosure process to keep special interests from influencing our laws and officials. A procedure should also be put in place to track government officials and lawmakers after they leave office to ensure the revolving door isn’t paying off officials when they leave government, as was the case in the EB-5 scandal.

Transparency in State Contracts
Current law mandates a call for bids on professional projects costing more than $50,000 and on non-professional projects costing over $25,000. For any contract lower than those amounts, officials can choose vendors without going through the bidding process. Our country is one of free markets, but millions of taxpayer dollars are spent without a bidding process to ensure taxpayer dollars are being spent efficiently and not steered to political insiders for personal gain as a political favor. When we’re not using the marketplace to find the most efficient price, taxpayers are being short-changed. As governor Billie will work to reform the bidding process to return accountability and transparency to government spending and will require disclosure of multiple contracts to the same entity that cumulatively exceed $50k but were not bid.

Kiwanjila - United As One: A Plan for Stronger Tribal-State Partnerships
Advocating for Native American communities should be a fundamental component of our roadmap to make South Dakota a state based on the shared values we have always held dear: honesty, integrity, hard work, the love of family, protecting our natural resources, celebrating community, and providing for our children. As governor of our great state, I will do all I can to ensure South Dakota Native Americans have access to quality education, economic opportunities, jobs, health care services, quality housing, and state government partnerships they need and deserve.

In my eight years in the legislature, I advocated for the Native communities I represented. My family and I have ties that go back generations with the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and the community of Eagle Butte, where my mother grew up and my grandmother taught kindergarten for nearly 50 years. My experiences have taught me that it is essential that people in positions of power in South Dakota listen to Native American communities and take the necessary actions to respond to their needs and challenges. That’s why I made sure to visit each and every tribe in South Dakota and meet with leaders in the community to listen to their concerns and ideas for a stronger South Dakota.

Tribal Sovereignty
Billie recognizes and appreciates the sovereign status of the nine Tribes of South Dakota. Tribal sovereignty will be front and center in any conversation around Native American issues. Understanding the history of the relationship between tribes and the federal government, especially around treaties and treaty obligations, is the necessary starting point.

A Strengthened Secretary of Tribal Relations
In Sutton’s administration, Indian Country will have a seat at the table. As governor, Billie will increase the resources and capacity of the cabinet-level position that focuses on Indian Affairs. This department must be a vibrant, effective vehicle for change in South Dakota’s executive branch. The Secretary of Tribal Relations has the potential to play a critical role in building a strong, lasting relationship between the State and its nine Tribal Nations. South Dakota must do better in raising state employees’ awareness of Native culture; communication protocol with tribal governments; tribal sovereignty; and jurisdiction. Governor Sutton’s office will facilitate an annual tribal relations training to educate the state government workforce on the guiding principles for working with tribes.

A Focus on Indigenous American Health Disparities
The United States has a trust responsibility to provide services to Native Americans, but Governor Sutton understands that coordination across all different levels of government is essential to ensuring the public’s health. Governor Sutton will assure that Native populations are not excluded from participation in any federal program, despite their relationship and reliance on Indian Health Services. To that end, Governor Sutton will pursue a public health infrastructure that includes Native representation and perspective.

Provide More Comprehensive Addiction Treatment for Meth, Opioids, and Alcohol
The impacts of addiction ripple out to families, communities, first responders, and employers, so improving our treatment options for people with addictions will have broad benefits for all South Dakotans. While law enforcement must be a part of the solution, simply filling our jails with people who really need treatment is not an effective solution. We must take this epidemic very seriously and work with people, communities, and organizations all over the state to find solutions that work for Indian Country. As Governor, Sutton will convene a work group to formulate a comprehensive plan to improve prevention and access to treatment for addicted individuals, including: improved first responder training; prevention among young people; more widely accessible treatment options for rural South Dakotans; and offering support to children and families of those receiving treatment. Sutton will take on the other issues impacting our meth problem too, including addiction, poverty, homelessness, suicide, school dropout, incarceration, and recidivism.

South Dakota Native Youth Suicide Reduction Strategic Plan
Native communities have significantly higher rates of suicide than non-Native communities. Governor Sutton will develop evidence-based and culturally responsive programs aimed at reducing Native youth suicide across South Dakota. Within one year of office, Governor Sutton pledges to call upon partners to create a strategic plan on Native youth suicide reduction.

Economic Development in Indian County
Governor Sutton recognizes that South Dakota’s Indian Country is a vibrant and important part of South Dakota’s economy, and Native people are an important part of today and tomorrow’s workforce. Governor Sutton also acknowledges that much has already been done to identify and grow economic opportunities in Indian Country. Governor Sutton will invite business leaders to embark on a private-public partnership to build and implement an updated business plan that is inclusive to Indian Country.

Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
Native women have been disappearing for generations. Shining a light on this issue is critical to enhancing and ensuring the safety of our women and girls. Governor Sutton will work to create a culture of respect and dignity around women in South Dakota. He will also coordinate with governmental, non-governmental, and international organizations with a goal of receiving effective recommendations. This commission will focus on the importance of inter-agency information sharing.

Working Together on Closing Jurisdictional Loopholes
Sutton will work alongside tribes and law enforcement to address the issue of jurisdiction, a concern on many tribal lands. Due to allotment policies dating back in the late 1800s, many of the tribes' land bases are checkerboarded. You can drive five miles on reservation land, then drive another five miles and you're on state land. There is an opportunity for collaboration with the tribes on helping close jurisdictional loopholes, perhaps by cross-deputizing tribal officers or state officers. However, we can only seriously discuss taking these steps after we build trust between state and tribal governments. As always, we must work closely alongside the tribes, finding mutually beneficial solutions.

Renewed Focus on the Issues that Matter
South Dakota must do everything it can to reduce poverty, increase the quality of education, expand housing options, improve access to physical and mental health care, and boost public safety and security in tribal communities. We cannot turn a blind eye to the things that matter to our Native citizens.

Open Channels of Communication
As Governor, Sutton will ensure that our federal delegation is appropriately informed on tribal issues so that they can work more effectively on our issues in Washington. He will also have an open-door policy, so that the Secretary of Tribal Relations and tribal governments can easily inform him of any issues or questions that may arise.

Celebrating Culture and Traditions
In South Dakota, we know that what makes us unique also makes us strong. We must move past tolerating our differences and begin to celebrate how our diversity can inform our strengthened and united path forward. Our histories and traditions are tied together to make South Dakota a place where Wacipi and rodeos happen in tandem and folks stand for both the "Lakota Honor Song" and "Star Spangled Banner” at major ceremonies. As governor, Billie Sutton will work to celebrate all of South Dakota’s cultures and traditions including those of the Lakota, Nakota, and Dakota peoples, uniting us around both what we have in common and what we have to share.

Record of Cooperation and Partnership
Just as important as Sutton’s plans for the future is his record of showing up for Indian Country in the past. Over his eight years in the legislature, Sutton always represented Native communities and fought for solutions to Native issues. He supported legislation that increased Native representation and equality in state government five times. He supported bills to increase access and quality of education for Native students nine times. He supported increased access to and quality of care for Natives four times. He sponsored and cosponsored legislation to examine economic opportunity and development in Indian Country and to ensure due process for Native children and families. He’s voted to celebrate and protect Native culture and traditions several times over. He has traveled to and met with leaders of all nine tribes in South Dakota and received the endorsement of the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Association. Senator Sutton has time and again proven his commitment to Indian Country, and will continue that commitment as governor.

We can do better than the status quo and politics as usual. Our best days are ahead of us – if we make sure everyone shares in South Dakota’s success.

Consistent Common Sense: From the Senate to South Dakota's Highest Office
In my eight years in the state Senate, I worked to make South Dakota and our families stronger. From fighting for grassroots economic development, to strengthening our schools, and holding our government accountable, I’ve worked as a bipartisan consensus builder to make sure the people’s voice is heard. I fought for common sense South Dakota priorities in the Senate, and I will continue to lead on these priorities to get more done for our state as governor:

Senator Sutton's Track Record
Government Integrity
Accountability:

Retaining state agency financial records for a longer time period
Requiring printed names of those signing state contracts
Serving on the legislative oversight committee that investigates other arms of government
Decreased lobbyist gift limits and limited ability of government officials to serve as lobbyists
Limited conflicts of interest in state government programs and grants

Limit Money's Influence in Politics:

Fighting to tighten-up campaign finance limits so that money alone can't win power
Changed the law to limit personal use of campaign money so officials can’t get rich off being a politician

Open Government:

Opening more government records to public view so voters know how their tax dollars are spent
Supported legislation to increase transparency on government websites

Listening to the People:

Fighting the repeal of campaign finance limits and ethics commission approved by the people in IM 22
Implementing a state ethics commission
Ensuring all hardworking South Dakotans receive minimum wage in accordance with the people’s vote

Economic & Workforce Development
Building South Dakota:

Created a bipartisan economic plan focused on infrastructure, better jobs, affordable housing, and education
Securing ongoing funding for this initiative without raising taxes

Expand Training and Opportunity:

Bolstering career and tech education in high schools
Supporting Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) by expanding job-training opportunities to urban and rural schools
Professional recruitment assistance for rural communities
Childcare support and workplace accommodations for working class families

Education
Support Teachers and Student Success:

Raised teacher pay in 2016 to increase recruitment/retention of teachers & moved SD from last place in the nation
Lowered the student to teacher ratio to help small schools
Recruit rural teachers with tuition reimbursement program
Ensure all students can access post-secondary education
Reduce student debt by lowering education costs and increased support to needs-based scholarships
Invest in our future by addressing the need for early childhood education

Healthcare
Improve Coverage:

Ensured insurance coverage for health services for kids with hearing difficulties

Rural Access to Healthcare:

Served on the Governor’s Primary Care Taskforce to keep rural hospitals in operation
Support the Rural Healthcare Recruitment Assistance Program to attract providers to smaller hospitals
Support increased provider reimbursements for Community Support Providers and Nursing Homes
Allowed nurse practitioners’ independence to make healthcare more accessible in rural areas

Recognize Opportunity and Provide Treatment:

Expanding healthcare coverage to working South Dakotans to create jobs, save millions, and improve coverage for tribal members
Collaborating for solutions to the meth and opioid epidemic
Supporting increased access to extensive addiction treatment and mental health services^[13]

”

—Sutton for South Dakota^[15]

Social media

Twitter accounts

Tweets by Kristi Noem Tweets by Billie Sutton

Facebook accounts

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Kristi Noem

Billie Sutton

Pivot Counties

See also: Pivot Counties by state

Five of 66 South Dakota counties—7.6 percent—are Pivot Counties. Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.

Counties won by Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012 and 2008
County	Trump margin of victory in 2016	Obama margin of victory in 2012	Obama margin of victory in 2008
Corson County, South Dakota	4.51%	11.08%	21.48%
Day County, South Dakota	23.77%	6.16%	12.89%
Marshall County, South Dakota	15.51%	8.66%	16.48%
Roberts County, South Dakota	15.53%	9.84%	19.64%
Ziebach County, South Dakota	1.96%	16.43%	27.16%

In the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump (R) won South Dakota with 61.5 percent of the vote. Hillary Clinton (D) received 31.7 percent. In presidential elections between 1900 and 2016, South Dakota cast votes for the winning presidential candidate 63.3 percent of the time. In that same time frame, South Dakota supported Republican candidates for president more often than Democratic candidates, 86.7 to 10.0 percent. The state favored Republicans in every presidential election between 2000 and 2016.

Presidential results by legislative district

The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state House districts in South Dakota. Click [show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns describe the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns describe the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. The "Party Control" column notes which party held that seat heading into the 2018 general election. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled by Daily Kos.^[16]^[17]

In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won six out of 37 state House districts in South Dakota with an average margin of victory of 19.9 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won four out of 37 state House districts in South Dakota with an average margin of victory of 12.7 points. Clinton won one district controlled by a Republican heading into the 2018 elections.

In 2012, Mitt Romney (R) won 31 out of 37 state House districts in South Dakota with an average margin of victory of 22.4 points. In 2016, Donald Trump (R) won 33 out of 37 state House districts in South Dakota with an average margin of victory of 32.5 points. Trump won five districts controlled by Democrats heading into the 2018 elections.

2016 presidential results by state House district
District	Obama	Romney	2012 Margin	Clinton	Trump	2016 Margin	Party Control
1	51.58%	46.48%	D+5.1	37.24%	57.24%	R+20	D
2	41.78%	55.63%	R+13.8	28.47%	65.46%	R+37	R
3	44.43%	52.39%	R+8	33.93%	59.00%	R+25.1	R
4	40.82%	56.54%	R+15.7	27.54%	66.02%	R+38.5	R
5	39.90%	58.16%	R+18.3	27.89%	65.65%	R+37.8	R
6	38.47%	59.68%	R+21.2	30.89%	61.65%	R+30.8	R
7	50.40%	46.81%	D+3.6	43.62%	47.39%	R+3.8	D
8	43.39%	54.25%	R+10.9	32.58%	61.26%	R+28.7	R
9	44.78%	52.69%	R+7.9	35.24%	57.43%	R+22.2	R
10	42.73%	55.52%	R+12.8	34.89%	58.46%	R+23.6	R
11	42.02%	56.19%	R+14.2	36.63%	56.47%	R+19.8	R
12	43.37%	54.72%	R+11.3	40.26%	52.71%	R+12.4	R
13	42.42%	55.91%	R+13.5	42.90%	50.51%	R+7.6	R
14	45.37%	53.02%	R+7.7	42.55%	50.96%	R+8.4	R
15	60.76%	36.19%	D+24.6	50.37%	40.21%	D+10.2	D
16	37.11%	61.13%	R+24	28.21%	66.43%	R+38.2	R
17	46.23%	51.48%	R+5.3	38.71%	54.73%	R+16	D
18	42.37%	55.09%	R+12.7	34.30%	58.81%	R+24.5	R
19	30.80%	67.46%	R+36.7	21.26%	73.69%	R+52.4	R
20	39.03%	58.77%	R+19.7	28.66%	65.65%	R+37	R
21	32.69%	65.58%	R+32.9	21.75%	74.28%	R+52.5	D
22	40.25%	57.55%	R+17.3	28.05%	65.80%	R+37.8	R
23	27.77%	70.13%	R+42.4	17.94%	77.32%	R+59.4	R
24	31.98%	66.03%	R+34.1	26.93%	66.80%	R+39.9	R
25	39.10%	58.97%	R+19.9	31.43%	61.88%	R+30.4	D
26A	71.98%	26.91%	D+45.1	62.07%	31.66%	D+30.4	D
26B	38.65%	59.41%	R+20.8	27.43%	66.49%	R+39.1	R
27	59.61%	39.08%	D+20.5	51.30%	43.71%	D+7.6	R
28A	59.49%	38.69%	D+20.8	48.66%	46.00%	D+2.7	D
28B	21.01%	75.69%	R+54.7	13.67%	79.93%	R+66.3	R
29	26.65%	70.23%	R+43.6	18.53%	73.59%	R+55.1	R
30	28.42%	68.70%	R+40.3	22.14%	71.69%	R+49.5	R
31	34.98%	61.85%	R+26.9	28.34%	62.58%	R+34.2	R
32	37.98%	59.43%	R+21.5	33.81%	56.85%	R+23	R
33	32.89%	64.91%	R+32	28.15%	64.55%	R+36.4	R
34	34.28%	63.64%	R+29.4	32.46%	59.35%	R+26.9	R
35	35.21%	61.55%	R+26.3	26.34%	64.40%	R+38.1	R
Total	39.87%	57.89%	R+18	31.74%	61.53%	R+29.8	-
Source: Daily Kos

Election history

2014

	2022 → ← 2014
Governor and Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota
	Democratic primary; Republican primary; General election;
Election details
	Filing deadline: March 27, 2018
	Primary: June 5, 2018; Primary runoff: August 14, 2018 (if needed); General: November 6, 2018; Pre-election incumbent(s):; Gov. Dennis Daugaard (Republican); Lt. Gov. Matthew Michels (Republican)
How to vote
	Poll times: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Voting in South Dakota
Race ratings
	Cook Political Report: Toss-up; Sabato's Crystal Ball: Toss-up; Inside Elections: Tilt Republican
Ballotpedia analysis
	Federal and state primary competitiveness; State executive elections in 2018; Impact of term limits in 2018; State government trifectas; State government triplexes; Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2018
South Dakota; executive elections
	Governor; Lieutenant governor; Attorney general; Secretary of state; Treasurer; Auditor; Public lands commissioner; Public utilities commissioner

See also: South Dakota gubernatorial election, 2014

Governor and Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota, 2014
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Dennis Daugaard/Matthew Michels Incumbent	70.5%	195,477
	Democratic	Susan Wismer/Susan Blake	25.4%	70,549
	Indpendent	Mike Myers/Lora Hubbel	4.1%	11,377
Total Votes				277,403
Election results via South Dakota Secretary of State

2010

See also: South Dakota gubernatorial election, 2010

On November 2, 2010, Dennis Daugaard/Matt Michels won election to the office of Governor/Lt. Governor of South Dakota. They defeated Scott Heidepriem/Ben Arndt in the general election.

Governor/Lt. Governor of South Dakota, 2010
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Dennis Daugaard/Matt Michels	61.5%	195,046
	Democratic	Scott Heidepriem/Ben Arndt	38.5%	122,037
Total Votes				317,083
Election results via South Dakota Secretary of State.

2006

On November 7, 2006, Mike Rounds/Dennis Daugaard won re-election to the office of Governor/Lt. Governor of South Dakota. They defeated Jack Billion/Eric Abrahamson, Steven J. Willis/Larry Johnsen and Tom Gerber/Bette Rose Ryan in the general election.

Governor/Lt. Governor of South Dakota, 2006
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Mike Rounds/Dennis Daugaard Incumbent	61.7%	206,990
	Democratic	Jack Billion/Eric Abrahamson	36.1%	121,226
	Constitution	Steven J. Willis/Larry Johnsen	1.2%	4,010
	Libertarian	Tom Gerber/Bette Rose Ryan	1%	3,282
Total Votes				335,508
Election results via South Dakota Secretary of State.

2002

On November 5, 2002, Mike Rounds/Dennis Daugaard won election to the office of Governor/Lt. Governor of South Dakota. They defeated Jim Abbott/Mike Wilson, James P. Carlson/Ron Bosch and Nathan A. Barton/Eric Risty in the general election.

Governor/Lt. Governor of South Dakota, 2002
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Mike Rounds/Dennis Daugaard	56.8%	189,920
	Democratic	Jim Abbott/Mike Wilson	41.9%	140,263
	Independent	James P. Carlson/Ron Bosch	0.7%	2,393
	Libertarian	Nathan A. Barton/Eric Risty	0.6%	1,983
Total Votes				334,559
Election results via South Dakota Secretary of State.

Wave election analysis

See also: Wave elections (1918-2016)

The term wave election is frequently used to describe an election cycle in which one party makes significant electoral gains. How many seats would Republicans have had to lose for the 2018 midterm election to be considered a wave election?

Ballotpedia examined the results of the 50 election cycles that occurred between 1918 and 2016—spanning from President Woodrow Wilson's (D) second midterm in 1918 to Donald Trump's (R) first presidential election in 2016. We define wave elections as the 20 percent of elections in that period resulting in the greatest seat swings against the president's party.

Applying this definition to gubernatorial elections, we found that Republicans needed to lose seven seats for 2018 to qualify as a wave election.

The chart below shows the number of seats the president's party lost in the 11 gubernatorial waves from 1918 to 2016. Click here to read the full report.

Gubernatorial wave elections
Year	President	Party	Election type	Gubernatorial seats change	Elections analyzed^[18]
1970	Nixon	R	First midterm	-12	35
1922	Harding	R	First midterm	-11	33
1932	Hoover	R	Presidential	-10	35
1920	Wilson	D	Presidential	-10	36
1994	Clinton	D	First midterm	-10	36
1930	Hoover	R	First midterm	-9	33
1938	Roosevelt	D	Second midterm	-9	33
1966	Johnson	D	First midterm^[19]	-9	35
1954	Eisenhower	R	First midterm	-8	33
1982	Reagan	R	First midterm	-7	36
2010	Obama	D	First midterm	-7	33

State overview

Partisan control

This section details the partisan control of federal and state positions in South Dakota heading into the 2018 elections.

Congressional delegation

Following the 2016 elections, Republicans held both U.S. Senate seats in South Dakota.
Republicans held the at-large U.S. House seat in South Dakota.

State executives

As of September 2018, Republicans held 10 of 14 state executive positions and the remaining four positions were officially nonpartisan.
The governor of South Dakota was Republican Dennis Daugaard. The state held elections for governor and lieutenant governor on November 6, 2018.

State legislature

Republicans controlled both chambers of the South Dakota General Assembly. They had a 59-10 majority in the state House and a 29-6 majority in the state Senate.

Trifecta status

South Dakota was under a Republican state government trifecta, meaning Republicans held the governorship, a majority in the state senate, and a majority in the state house.

2018 elections

See also: South Dakota elections, 2018

South Dakota held elections for the following positions in 2018:

Demographics

Demographic data for South Dakota
	South Dakota	U.S.
Total population:	857,919	316,515,021
Land area (sq mi):	75,811	3,531,905
Race and ethnicity**
White:	85%	73.6%
Black/African American:	1.6%	12.6%
Asian:	1.2%	5.1%
Native American:	8.6%	0.8%
Pacific Islander:	0%	0.2%
Two or more:	2.6%	3%
Hispanic/Latino:	3.3%	17.1%
Education
High school graduation rate:	90.9%	86.7%
College graduation rate:	27%	29.8%
Income
Median household income:	$50,957	$53,889
Persons below poverty level:	15.3%	11.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in South Dakota. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.

As of July 2016, South Dakota's three largest cities were Sioux Falls (pop. est. 177,000), Rapid City (pop. est. 74,000), and Aberdeen (pop. est. 28,000).^[20]

State election history

This section provides an overview of federal and state elections in South Dakota from 2000 to 2016. All data comes from the South Dakota Secretary of State.

Historical elections

Presidential elections, 2000-2016

This chart shows the results of the presidential election in South Dakota every year from 2000 to 2016.

Election results (President of the United States), South Dakota 2000-2016
Year	First-place candidate	First-place candidate votes (%)	Second-place candidate	Second-place candidate votes (%)	Margin of victory (%)
2016	Donald Trump	61.5%	Hillary Clinton	31.7%	29.8%
2012	Mitt Romney	57.9%	Barack Obama	39.9%	18.0%
2008	John McCain	53.1%	Barack Obama	44.8%	8.3%
2004	George W. Bush	59.9%	John Kerry	38.4%	21.5%
2000	George W. Bush	60.3%	Al Gore	37.6%	22.7%

U.S. Senate elections, 2000-2016

This chart shows the results of U.S. Senate races in South Dakota from 2000 to 2016. Every state has two Senate seats, and each seat goes up for election every six years. The terms of the seats are staggered so that roughly one-third of the seats are up every two years.

Election results (U.S. Senator), South Dakota 2000-2016
Year	First-place candidate	First-place candidate votes (%)	Second-place candidate	Second-place candidate votes (%)	Margin of victory (%)
2016	John Thune	71.8%	Jay Williams	28.2%	43.6%
2014	Mike Rounds	50.4%	Rick Weiland	29.5%	20.9%
2010	John Thune	100.0%	No candidate		100.0%
2008	Tim Johnson	62.5%	Joel Dykstra	37.5%	25.0%
2004	John Thune	50.6%	Tom Daschle	49.4%	1.2%
2002	Tim Johnson	49.6%	John Thune	49.5%	0.1%

Gubernatorial elections, 2000-2016

This chart shows the results of the four gubernatorial elections held between 2000 and 2016. Gubernatorial elections are held every four years in South Dakota.

Election results (Governor), South Dakota 2000-2016
Year	First-place candidate	First-place candidate votes (%)	Second-place candidate	Second-place candidate votes (%)	Margin of victory (%)
2014	Dennis Daugaard	70.5%	Susan Wismer	25.4%	45.1%
2010	Dennis Daugaard	61.5%	Scott Heidepreim	38.5%	23.0%
2006	Mike Rounds	61.7%	Jack Billion	36.1%	25.6%
2002	Mike Rounds	56.8%	Jim Abbott	41.9%	14.9%

Congressional delegation, 2000-2016

This chart shows the number of Democrats and Republicans who were elected to represent South Dakota in the U.S. House from 2000 to 2016. Elections for U.S. House seats are held every two years.

Congressional delegation, South Dakota 2000-2016
Year	Republicans	Republicans (%)	Democrats	Democrats (%)	Balance of power
2016	1	100.0%	0	0.0%	R+1
2014	1	100.0%	0	0.0%	R+1
2012	1	100.0%	0	0.0%	R+1
2010	1	100.0%	0	0.0%	R+1
2008	1	100.0%	0	0.0%	D+1
2006	1	100.0%	0	0.0%	D+1
2004	1	100.0%	0	0.0%	D+1
2002	1	100.0%	0	0.0%	R+1
2000	1	100.0%	0	0.0%	R+1

Trifectas, 1992-2017

A state government trifecta occurs when one party controls both chambers of the state legislature and the governor's office.

South Dakota Party Control: 1992-2025
No Democratic trifectas • Thirty-two years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year	92	93	94	95	96	97	98	99	00	01	02	03	04	05	06	07	08	09	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25
Governor	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R
Senate	R	D	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R
House	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R

Recent news

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms South Dakota governor election 2018. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

South Dakota gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018 - Google News

External links

Suggest a link

Footnotes

↑ Youtube, "4 Pillars," May 22, 2018
↑ Kristi for Governor, "4 Pillars of Protection," accessed October 5, 2018
↑ Kristi for Governor, "Meet Kristi," accessed October 5, 2018
↑ Kristi for Governor, "Accomplishments," accessed October 5, 2018
↑ Billie Sutton for Governor, "Home," accessed October 5, 2018
↑ Billie Sutton for Governor, "Video," accessed October 5, 2018
↑ KELO, "Libertarian candidate for governor says he offers alternative choice," August 23, 2018
↑ Tri-State Neighbor, "Candidates for governor focus on rural issues," August 27, 2018
↑ Twitter, "Kurt Evans," October 21, 2018
↑ The Argus Leader, "Editorial: Billie Sutton makes sense for South Dakota," October 18, 2018
↑ KDLT, "Sutton Picks Up Republican Endorsements," October 25, 2018
↑ KDLT, "Daugaard, Thune, Rounds, Jackley Endorse Noem for Governor," October 23, 2018
↑ ^13.0 ^13.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
↑ Kristi for Governor, "The Plan," accessed October 5, 2018
↑ Sutton for South Dakota, "Plans and Priorities," accessed October 5, 2018
↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts," July 9, 2013
↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2016 presidential results for congressional and legislative districts," February 6, 2017
↑ The number of gubernatorial seats up for election varies, with as many as 36 seats and as few as 12 seats being up in a single even-numbered year.
↑ Lyndon Johnson's (D) first term began in November 1963 after the death of President John F. Kennedy (D), who was first elected in 1960. Before Johnson had his first midterm in 1966, he was re-elected president in 1964.
↑ South Dakota Demographics, "South Dakota Cities by Population," accessed September 8, 2018

[1] Youtube, "4 Pillars," May 22, 2018

[2] Kristi for Governor, "4 Pillars of Protection," accessed October 5, 2018

[3] Kristi for Governor, "Meet Kristi," accessed October 5, 2018

[4] Kristi for Governor, "Accomplishments," accessed October 5, 2018

[5] Billie Sutton for Governor, "Home," accessed October 5, 2018

[SuttonVideo-6] Billie Sutton for Governor, "Video," accessed October 5, 2018

[7] KELO, "Libertarian candidate for governor says he offers alternative choice," August 23, 2018

[8] Tri-State Neighbor, "Candidates for governor focus on rural issues," August 27, 2018

[9] Twitter, "Kurt Evans," October 21, 2018

[10] The Argus Leader, "Editorial: Billie Sutton makes sense for South Dakota," October 18, 2018

[11] KDLT, "Sutton Picks Up Republican Endorsements," October 25, 2018

[12] KDLT, "Daugaard, Thune, Rounds, Jackley Endorse Noem for Governor," October 23, 2018

[quotedisclaimer-13] 13.0 ^13.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.

[14] Kristi for Governor, "The Plan," accessed October 5, 2018

[15] Sutton for South Dakota, "Plans and Priorities," accessed October 5, 2018

[16] Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts," July 9, 2013

[17] Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2016 presidential results for congressional and legislative districts," February 6, 2017

[18] The number of gubernatorial seats up for election varies, with as many as 36 seats and as few as 12 seats being up in a single even-numbered year.

[LBJ-19] Lyndon Johnson's (D) first term began in November 1963 after the death of President John F. Kennedy (D), who was first elected in 1960. Before Johnson had his first midterm in 1966, he was re-elected president in 1964.

[20] South Dakota Demographics, "South Dakota Cities by Population," accessed September 8, 2018

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South Dakota gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018

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