One less drunk in Pierre—Senator Kris Langer (R-25/Dell Rapids) has bailed out of her bid for reëlection:
District 25 Sen. Kris Langer (R-Dell Rapids) Tuesday announced in a news release that she is no longer seeking re-election and will instead return to private sector work while spending more time with family.
…Langer said she’ll finish out her current term, which ends before the 2021 legislative session begins in January. She faced a pair challengers in the November election. Former Sioux Falls mayor Rick Knobe and Dell Rapids business owner Seth Van’t Hof are both running for the District 25 senate seat as Independents [Joe Sneve, “Top Republican Lawmaker Withdraws Name from November Ballot,” that Sioux Falls paper, 2020.08.04].
Langer’s departure means both the Senate and the House will have new majority leaders in the 2021 Session, as she joins primarily-toppled House Majority Leader Lee Qualm (R-21/Platte) in Legislative retirement.
Yesterday was the last day for candidates to withdraw their names from the November ballot. The District 25 Republican Party committee has until Tuesday, August 11 to nominate a replacement for Langer on the ballot. We can only hope District 25 GOPers will make a sober choice.
But we should take a moment to thank Senator Langer for recognizing her unfitness for office. She should have resigned immediately after her drunken misconduct at the Capitol on the last day of Session, but I understand that it takes time for South Dakota Republicans to get some things through their thick skulls. Now what about Senator Brock Greenfield (R-2/Clark), Senator Langer’s partner in on-duty inebriation? Could Greenfield have submitted a withdrawal from the ballot yesterday that we haven’t heard about yet? Will he simply resign and let Governor Noem appoint his mom to his seat? Will he do the right thing and hand his office to someone worthy—i.e., not schnockered—of representing District 2?
Mark an X down by grudznick’s words, Mr. H. When the overgodders grab power we will all rue the day and beg young Ms. Langer to return.
Langer and Greenfield should have fired up a left hander instead of guzzling the demon alcohol.
No harm, no foul.
That alcohol is bad, it’s really bad.
The source of misery and pain for centuries.
Plus, they wouldn’t have had a hangover.
They could have enunciated instead
of puking.
Grudz, I’ll take my chances. Langer’s behavior warrants termination of employment. Occasionally less radical rightwing voting does not excuse a Republican from accountability.
A drunk Ms. Langer, besides being more entertaining, is 10 times more effective than a sober Mr. Haugaard with his bible in his back pocket.
I almost have to agree with Grudz………….One can be drunk with religion or overly tipsy from Johnny Walker Red and the resultant mental impairment can be indistinguishable and just as obnoxious. Monroe and Jensen are two other examples of errant, religious chicanery which is conceptually worse than temporary inebriation from celebratory, alcoholic indulgence.