Last updated on 2016-07-23
Democrats have a ballot slot to fill in District 19. Surprisingly, it’s not the Senate seat, where political newcomer Russell Graeff faces a tough battle against the Fulton Fulminator, the Marine Monster, the biggest Red pain in the SDGOP’s tuchus, Stace Nelson. No, the vacancy is on the House side, where soybean producer Ardon Wek has withdrawn from the race. The withdrawal must have just reached the Secretary of State’s office, which appears to have just today updated its candidate list (and frequent clickers, make sure you’ve updated your bookmark to SOS Page 178, the general election list, and not Page 177, the old primary candidates’ list!).
On the bright side, it may thus be easier to convince a new Democrat to jump in and fill that vacancy than it would have been to find a replacement for Graeff. Peterson and Schoenfish both have weaknesses that a smart campaigner could use to her or his advantage. Then again, if a Democrat rises to the challenge, the GOP establishment is far more likely to pour money into helping pliable party boys Peterson and Schoenfish keep their seats than they ever would ride in to help Stace Nelson return to Pierre. (Dang, Russell! Maybe you could even get Republicans to give you some money to beat Stace! Just don’t let them turn you to the Dark Side!)
Graeff himself tells this blog that he is still a candidate and is eager to find a replacement for Wek. District 19 Democrats have apparently already begun some conversations with possibilities, but the door is open for any new, ambitious Democrat to step up, fill the gap, and maintain the opportunity for a little synergy between the remaining Democratic Senate candidate and a good House candidate.
The deadline District 19 county party leaders to name a replacement for Wek is August 9.
Note that Wek is not required to publicize any reason for his withdrawal. Had the 2015 Legislature had its way, District 19 Democrats would not have been able to replace Wek unless he gave the Secretary of State a note from his doctor saying he was too sick to serve, was appointed to or nominated for some other conflicting office or job, or moved out of District 19. Luckily, our successful referral of that law (Senate Bill 69; now Referred Law 19 on the ballot) spared Wek and his fellow District 19 Democrats that intrusive hassle. You’re welcome!
Also withdrawn and awaiting replacement: Democrat Chuck Groth from the District 22 Senate race and Democrats Betsy Lang of 12 and Tony Pier of 14* from their House races…*Correction 2016.07.23 10:32 CDT: Pier has been replaced, of course, as Ken Santema reminds us below, by J.R. LaPlante, whom I should have remembered from Convention in Sioux Falls and who is out campaigning hard! Sorry to leave you out, J.R.! So that leaves three Democratic Legislative race vacancies to fill.
dude [CAH edit: deleted for refusal to write literately. Try again, Kris.]
the democratic or progressive party in SD is dying because you are not educated.
sure, let the party of the republican families of the descendants of the red necks who embedded themselves in SD and all across the west, after stealing Indian land, gold and destroying 500 separate nations that occupied north America.
sure, let republicans run things 40 more years. or get involved kris, if u are not just a troll. btw, republicans are continuing to make it more difficult for your education, if you can get one, more and more meaningless in this political turmoil they have created.
for starters for all you young people kris attempts to speak (mis-speak) for… there is an election coming up and this is a good summary of Hillary, politically. https://www.propublica.org/article/the-best-reporting-on-hillary-clinton-over-the-years
[CAH: still insults us by pretending to be unable to spell]
[CAH: still insults us by pretending to be unable to spell]
I hope this isn’t some two-clever-by-half plot to try to move Wek into the Stace Nelson contest with the promise of money from Republican moderate donors.
Cory, I have one correction for you. Tony Pier was replaced a while back by JR LaPlante.
Monty, if there’s cleverness there, I’d have to ask why Republican donors would provide that money for Wek but not for Graeff. (I take it such money would come for the Senate race but not the House because the GOP House candidates in 19 are moderates, right?)
Don’t know Cory, maybe you should ask Tornberg, Sutton, Wismer, Schoenfish and Daugaard about how all of this works? I am sure it is for the good of the People of South Dakota, aren’t you?
Cory, It’d be nice it the state party would try and help us out a bit. It’s been disappointing.
Frank Klocek is the only one trying to do anything.
SDDP will not help Dist. 19, nor will SD GOP (or will they?: the answer just might surprise you! [Past Tense]). Aren’t we the only redistricted district? Why is that? Subverting the will of the people is what I observe these authoritarians do best. Bless District 19! Where there is tension, there is attention.
District 19 is not unique in its gerrymandering woes. See also Districts 1, 2, 3, anything touching Rapid City or Sioux Falls….
Based upon population changes, Cory? or retribution for policies and principles? What do you think?
Leo, the 2011 redistricting took place, as every ten years, to account for changes in population. The Republican majority drew the lines to carve Democrats away from their usual constituencies and increase the GOP vote count in the Legislature.