Out of 206 candidates for 105 Legislative seats, only seven are running as independents. At least three of them—Perpich for District 7 Senate, Klebanoff for District 25 Senate, and Hofer for District 19 House—aren’t really independent but happily support a party.
Roger Hofer of Bridgewater shows that he’s still a Republican with this flyer (front and back), in which he headlines himself as a “Lifelong Actual Conservative Republican Running as an Independent”:
Hofer is clearly a Stace Nelson Republican who just wanted to avoid being knocked out early in the GOP-machine-dominated primary by the two incumbent “tax and spend liberal RINO representatives.” Hofer says nothing directly about his independent ticketmate Alison Bowers of Alexandria, but he makes clear he does not want her serving with him in Pierre by urging his neighbors to “bullet vote” and mark only his name on the ballot.
Hofer makes some fair points about the party favorites trying to keep their seats. The two-year cover-up of the sexual misconduct of their former colleague Mathew Wollmann and the infamous GOP caucus loyalty and secrecy oath stain incumbent Reps. Peterson and Schoenfish and the entire Republican caucus. Rep. Schoenfish has been less than persuasive in his evasive explanations of his auditing company’s role in watchdogging the corrupt Mid-Central Educational Cooperative. And Peterson and Schoenfish are receiving plenty of special-interest money. Two of Peterson’s three itemized contributions come from registered lobbyists. Both Peterson and Schoenfish get cash from powerhouse Pierre law firm May, Adam, Gerdes, & Thompson. And to update Hofers $17K claim, Peterson and Schoenfish reported over $21,000 in PAC and party contributions just on this month’s pre-general reports.
Hofer himself reports a suspiciously exact $3,000.00 in unitemized contributions (hey, it could happen!). He also reports $1,240 in radio ads and $760 in printing. A source tells me 10,000 copies of the above flyer are going into the sprawling District 19’s newspapers. My reasonable printer will do 10,000 glossy brochures for $1,500, and then I’d still have to pay a few hundred to get those papers slipped into the papers. If he’s really putting out 10,000 of the above flyer, either he has yet to report that expense or I need to switch printers.
The question is whether there are enough Stace Nelson Republicans in District 19 willing to buck the party on both sides of the ticket… and whether there are enough independents and Democrats who are willing to put those reasonable arguments about incumbent Republican corruption over the arch-conservative agenda Hofer promotes. The 2,087 registered independents in District 19 could retaliate against Hofer’s IINO-ism by bullet-voting or independent Alison Bower. The 4,077 Democrats in District 19 have no live option: their sole Democratic House candidate, John C. Koch, died Friday night. However, Democrats could still bullet-vote for Koch and gamble on Billie Sutton’s (a) winning the Governor’s race and (b) appointing a Democrat to that vacancy.
Whatever voters choose, Hofer makes clear that if he can make any claim to the independent label, it is only in his independence from the South Dakota Republican Party establishment machine, not from the hard-right partisan agenda of conservative Republicans.
So he’s right about the corruption and the anti-democratic party loyalty oath. That should resonate with people in his district. Where is 19? What are a few towns in it?
Does he have something against Independent Bower?
Hofer is so far right, but at least he seems to be honest and clean. I’d take him over the rot in the SDGOP.
I will be bullet voting for Roger. Contrary to the wailing and gnashing of teeth by a certain young Obama Democrat turned “Republican’s” mommy, no I cannot take the credit for recruiting Roger. Funny how the RINOs over at the War toilet are okay with the slew of dishonest political attacks they are peddling but scream bloody murder (and don’t post) Roger’s recitation of these facts. They also have no problem with Schoenfish supporting liberal Democrat Ardon Wek against a conservative Republican candidate. My regret is that I was helping other candidates and I was not involved in Roger’s campaign.
Arthritis has slowed me down a lot this year and I have been forced to call my own campaign in without the normal physical presence.
If Pat and his little RINO contingency don’t like me supporting Republican Roger Hofer, tough. They will have to whine and cry in their little safe zone.
Debbo, Hofer probably has no beef with Bowers other than that she’s not a conservative Republican. If he were smart, he’d encourage people to vote for her as well, to increase her total and increase the chance that District 19 could unseat both RINO incumbents. Better to vote for two honest independents than to only vote for one and thus miss an opportunity to knock two dishonest RINOs out of office.
Stace, that goes for you, too. If your objective is to remove fake Republicans from office, casting two votes, one for Hofer, one for Bowers, increases the chances of obtaining your objective. You have two grenades—throw them both!
Stace, sorry to hear about your arthritis. I have it to and am recovering from a surgical fix in my shoulder. I’m fortunate it can be repaired. Best of luck with yours.
Debbo, Thanks.. Bone on bone in my lower back, both knees… hands, elbows, wrists, ankles.. :-( A fleeing felon didn’t want to be arrested in ’92, used his car to run me over and I went for a little ride at high speed while being drug. Its the day I am not in pain that I’m worried about :-D
@CAH Don’t know her or what she stands for. Bullet vote is still the best option..
You & your loyal Democrats should be proud to know that former Obama Democrat Kyle Schoenfish has been diligently helping my Democrat opponent. No word on whether he is going to officially go back to the Democratic Party or simply stay a RINO.
God bless you and here’s hoping the pain continues to be manageable, Sen. Nelson. We all hope you won’t be diminished in Pierre. Love ‘ya, man. :0)