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Patriot Ripple Effect Slightly Better at Influencing Legislative Races Than County and Convention Contests

Published 2022-06-15 by Cory Allen Heidelberger

Patriot Ripple Effect, the radical right-wing Republican faction based in the Sioux Falls metro whom Kristi Noem tried courting in May, issued several primary endorsements for candidates for Legislature, county office, and SDGOP convention voting seats to fight purge Noem and Senator Lee Schoenbeck (R-5/Lake Kampeska) waged against the radical fringe.

Patriot Ripple Effect endorsed 15 candidates for Legislature in 10 races with 34 candidates total for 17 seats. Ten of their endorsees won: two of their three Senate picks won and eight of their 13 House picks. So from a Schoenbeckian perspective, the wack-a-doodles won more than they lost in the fight for Legislative seats.

Race Candidate District PRE Endorse Primary Vote Primary Win
Senator Steve Kolbeck 02 1 Y
Senator Spencer Wrightsman 02 x 2
Senator Mark Willadsen 09 2
Senator Brent Hoffman 09 x 1 Y
Senator Tom Pischke 25 x 1 Y
Senator Lisa Rave 25 3
Senator Kevin R. Crisp 25 4
Senator Leslie “Doc” Heinemann 25 2
Representative Jake Schoenbeck 02 3
Representative John Sjaarda 02 x 1 Y
Representative David Kull 02 2 Y
Representative Jeffrey Lloyd Shawd 02 x 4
Representative Kenneth Teunissen 09 2 Y
Representative Bethany Soye 09 x 1 Y
Representative Jesse Fonkert 09 3
Representative Brian K. Mulder 11 2 Y
Representative Chris Karr 11 x 1 Y
Representative Tyler Bonynge 11 4
Representative Roger Russell 11 x 3
Representative Greg Jamison 12 1 Y
Representative Amber Arlint 12 2 Y
Representative Kerry Loudenslager 12 3
Representative Gary Schuster 12 x 5
Representative Cole Heisey 12 x 4
Representative Sue Peterson 13 x 2 Y
Representative Tony Venhuizen 13 1 Y
Representative Penny BayBridge 13 x 4
Representative Richard L. Thomason 13 3
Representative Taylor Rae Rehfeldt 14 1 Y
Representative Tyler Tordsen 14 2 Y
Representative Gina M Schiferl 14 x 3
Representative Kevin D. Jensen 16 x 2 Y
Representative Karla J. Lems 16 x 1 Y
Representative Richard Vasgaard 16 3

At the county level, Patriot Ripple Effect went 50-50 for stacking government with moonbats. Most alarmingly, their Trumpist Big-Liar candidate Leah Anderson beat much-maligned incumbent auditor Ben Kyte to become election chief for South Dakota’s largest county come 2023. They also saw their favorite Amanda Halsey beat Chad Zink for the Minnehaha register of deeds position and kept Trumpist Joel Arends on the Lincoln County Commission. But the two incumbents PRE didn’t endorse, Tiffani Landeen and Jim Schmidt, also held onto their seats against PRE right-wingers, as did incumbent Lincoln County auditor Sheri Lund.

Patriot Ripple Effect endorsed 66 candidates for delegate and precinct committeeperson positions at the Republican convention (coming up next week, June 23–25 in Watertown!). Minnehaha and Lincoln each get to send three delegates to convention; PRE endorsees won two of Minnehaha’s seats and one of Lincoln’s.

Race Candidate District PRE Endorse Primary Vote Primary Win
Delegates Gary Schuster Lincoln x 1 Y
Delegates Jay M Lems Lincoln x 4
Delegates Trish Murphy Lincoln 3 Y
Delegates Sara Steever Lincoln x 2 Y
Delegates Noah Greble Lincoln 5
Delegates Gerry Grouzis Lincoln 6
Delegates Darren Schlechter Minnehaha x 3 Y
Delegates Bobby L Smith Minnehaha x 6
Delegates Deb Peters Minnehaha 1 Y
Delegates Jake Schoenbeck Minnehaha 2 Y
Delegates Dale Barnhart Minnehaha 4
Delegates Joe Kippley Minnehaha 5
Delegates Dennis Fusaro Minnehaha x 7

In 59 precinct contests, Patriot Ripple Effect endorsed 60 candidates. 28* of them won voting seats at convention.

Race Candidate District PRE Endorse Primary Vote Primary Win
Precinct Committeeman David L. Anderson Lincoln – 02-Norway & Fairview, Fairview, Inc 2
Precinct Committeeman Scot Montgomery Lincoln – 02-Norway & Fairview, Fairview, Inc x 1 Y
Precinct Committeeman James Barnett Lincoln – Sioux Falls 1-11 2
Precinct Committeeman Manford J. Steele Lincoln – Sioux Falls 1-11 x 1 Y
Precinct Committeeman Arch Beal Lincoln – Sioux Falls 1-12 x 1 Y
Precinct Committeeman Donald Joseph Livermont Lincoln – Sioux Falls 1-12 2
Precinct Committeeman Donald Roesler Lincoln – Sioux Falls 1-15 2
Precinct Committeeman Dennis Bosma Lincoln – Sioux Falls 1-15 x 1 Y
Precinct Committeeman Chad Bishop Lincoln – Sioux Falls 1-18 x 2
Precinct Committeeman Trenton Lee Arlint Lincoln – Sioux Falls 1-18 1 Y
Precinct Committeeman Thomas Von Wald Lincoln – Sioux Falls 1-18 3
Precinct Committeeman Tony Venhuizen Lincoln – Sioux Falls 2-11 1 Y
Precinct Committeeman Rex C Keller Lincoln – Sioux Falls 2-11 x 2
Precinct Committeeman Bradley Jankord Lincoln – Sioux Falls 2-15 2
Precinct Committeeman Joel Arends Lincoln – Sioux Falls 2-15 x 1 Y
Precinct Committeeman Ellison Lee Hayenga Lincoln – Sioux Falls 2-16 3
Precinct Committeeman Adam Broin Lincoln – Sioux Falls 2-16 x 2
Precinct Committeeman David H. Hunhoff Lincoln – Sioux Falls 2-16 1 Y
Precinct Committeeman Jason L Bjorklund Minnehaha – Precinct-0117 2
Precinct Committeeman Chris Karr Minnehaha – Precinct-0117 x 1 Y
Precinct Committeeman Patrick Perino Minnehaha – Precinct-0201 x 2
Precinct Committeeman T.J. Nelson Minnehaha – Precinct-0201 1 Y
Precinct Committeeman Tad M Anderson Minnehaha – Precinct-0202 x 2
Precinct Committeeman Jesse Smith Minnehaha – Precinct-0202 3
Precinct Committeeman Max Mickelson Minnehaha – Precinct-0202 1 Y
Precinct Committeeman Corey Rehfeldt Minnehaha – Precinct-0203 2
Precinct Committeeman Allen Unruh Minnehaha – Precinct-0203 1 Y
Precinct Committeeman David Shelton Minnehaha – Precinct-0203 x 3
Precinct Committeeman Mark Christianson Minnehaha – Precinct-0309 x 1 Y
Precinct Committeeman Kelly Lieberg Minnehaha – Precinct-0309 2
Precinct Committeeman Richard P. Crawford Jr Minnehaha – Precinct-0311 4
Precinct Committeeman Andrew Curley Minnehaha – Precinct-0311 3
Precinct Committeeman Brian Mattson Minnehaha – Precinct-0311 x 1 Y
Precinct Committeeman Eric E. Erickson Minnehaha – Precinct-0311 2
Precinct Committeeman Tyler Bonynge Minnehaha – Precinct-0313 x 1 Y
Precinct Committeeman James W Bruse Minnehaha – Precinct-0313 2
Precinct Committeeman David Brummett Minnehaha – Precinct-0315 x 2
Precinct Committeeman Jim Stalzer Minnehaha – Precinct-0315 1 Y
Precinct Committeeman David M Omdahl Minnehaha – Precinct-0316 1 Y
Precinct Committeeman Isaiah J Tschetter Minnehaha – Precinct-0316 x 2
Precinct Committeeman Gregory Alan Neitzert Minnehaha – Precinct-0317 1 Y
Precinct Committeeman James Hisek Minnehaha – Precinct-0317 x 2
Precinct Committeeman Charles Butler Minnehaha – Precinct-0402 1 Y
Precinct Committeeman Brett Fuglsby Minnehaha – Precinct-0402 x 2
Precinct Committeeman David Olson Minnehaha – Precinct-0411 x 2
Precinct Committeeman Mike Austad Minnehaha – Precinct-0411 1 Y
Precinct Committeeman Aaron Heidelberger Minnehaha – Precinct-0415 1 Y
Precinct Committeeman Michael Kent Minnehaha – Precinct-0415 x 2
Precinct Committeeman John D Barnett Minnehaha – Precinct-0501 1 Y
Precinct Committeeman Lloyd Ringrose Minnehaha – Precinct-0501 x 2
Precinct Committeeman David L Knudson Minnehaha – Precinct-0502 2
Precinct Committeeman Larry Luetke Minnehaha – Precinct-0502 x 1 Y
Precinct Committeeman David Roetman Minnehaha – Precinct-0508 x 2
Precinct Committeeman Scott Lawrence Minnehaha – Precinct-0508 1 Y
Precinct Committeeman Neal Tapio Minnehaha – Precinct-0517 x 2
Precinct Committeeman Barry H. Zachariahs Minnehaha – Precinct-0517 1 Y
Precinct Committeeman Ryan Kolbeck Minnehaha – Precinct-0519 2
Precinct Committeeman Rollyn H Samp Minnehaha – Precinct-0519 x 1 Y
Precinct Committeeman Mitchell L Wiese Minnehaha – Precinct-0519 3
Precinct Committeeman Michael W Gabel Minnehaha – Precinct-0520 2
Precinct Committeeman Ronald E Tschetter Minnehaha – Precinct-0520 x 1 Y
Precinct Committeeman Anthony Vanderwoude Minnehaha – Precinct-0522 3
Precinct Committeeman Mike Zitterich Minnehaha – Precinct-0522 x 1 Y
Precinct Committeeman Adam Scholten Minnehaha – Precinct-0522 2
Precinct Committeeman Todd Anawski Minnehaha – Precinct-VP05 3
Precinct Committeeman Brian Bahr Minnehaha – Precinct-VP05 1 Y
Precinct Committeeman Andrew Lind Minnehaha – Precinct-VP05 x 2
Precinct Committeeman William Barnett Minnehaha – Precinct-VP07 1 Y
Precinct Committeeman James Steckley Minnehaha – Precinct-VP07 x 2
Precinct Committeeman Timothy Rave Minnehaha – Precinct-VP09 2
Precinct Committeeman Scott Swanson Minnehaha – Precinct-VP09 x 1 Y
Precinct Committeeman David Carson Jr Minnehaha – Precinct-VP15 2
Precinct Committeeman Spencer Wrightsman Minnehaha – Precinct-VP15 x 1 Y
Precinct Committeeman Rich Konechne Minnehaha – Precinct-VP16 1 Y
Precinct Committeeman Gary Meyer Minnehaha – Precinct-VP16 x 2
Precinct Committeewoman Linda Montgomery Lincoln – 02-Norway & Fairview, Fairview, Inc x 1 Y
Precinct Committeewoman Karen R. Anderson Lincoln – 02-Norway & Fairview, Fairview, Inc 2
Precinct Committeewoman Sarah Barnett Lincoln – Sioux Falls 1-11 2
Precinct Committeewoman Barbara Steele Lincoln – Sioux Falls 1-11 x 1 Y
Precinct Committeewoman Hayley Halverson Lincoln – Sioux Falls 1-11 3
Precinct Committeewoman Amy Harms Lincoln – Sioux Falls 1-12 x 1 Y
Precinct Committeewoman Teresa Livermont Lincoln – Sioux Falls 1-12 2
Precinct Committeewoman Dana Jackson Lincoln – Sioux Falls 1-18 3
Precinct Committeewoman Amber Brooke Arlint Lincoln – Sioux Falls 1-18 1 Y
Precinct Committeewoman Kimberly Bishop Lincoln – Sioux Falls 1-18 x 2
Precinct Committeewoman Dawn Bures Lincoln – Sioux Falls 2-11 x 3
Precinct Committeewoman Sara Venhuizen Lincoln – Sioux Falls 2-11 1 Y
Precinct Committeewoman Geraldine M Keller Lincoln – Sioux Falls 2-11 x 2
Precinct Committeewoman Sue K. Lucas-Peterson Lincoln – Sioux Falls 2-15 x 1 Y
Precinct Committeewoman Genevieve Westerman Lincoln – Sioux Falls 2-15 2
Precinct Committeewoman Renae Wolfgang Lincoln – Sioux Falls 2-16 x 2
Precinct Committeewoman Sara Rabern Lincoln – Sioux Falls 2-16 1 Y
Precinct Committeewoman Pamela Boyden Minnehaha – Precinct-0106 x 1 Y
Precinct Committeewoman Adrienne Hartman Minnehaha – Precinct-0106 2
Precinct Committeewoman Kathryn Ashmore Minnehaha – Precinct-0117 3
Precinct Committeewoman Erika Cole Minnehaha – Precinct-0117 x 1 Y
Precinct Committeewoman Kristina Bjorklund Minnehaha – Precinct-0117 2
Precinct Committeewoman Angela S Griner Minnehaha – Precinct-0201 x 2
Precinct Committeewoman Paige W Bock Minnehaha – Precinct-0201 1 Y
Precinct Committeewoman Leah Gaye Anderson Minnehaha – Precinct-0202 x 2
Precinct Committeewoman Christine Aberson Minnehaha – Precinct-0202 1 Y
Precinct Committeewoman Karla Erickson Minnehaha – Precinct-0206 1 Y
Precinct Committeewoman Michele Klimek Minnehaha – Precinct-0206 x 2
Precinct Committeewoman Kristie Fiegen Minnehaha – Precinct-0310 1 Y
Precinct Committeewoman Joan Gadbois Minnehaha – Precinct-0310 x 2
Precinct Committeewoman Vicki Bruse Minnehaha – Precinct-0313 2
Precinct Committeewoman Bridget Myers Minnehaha – Precinct-0313 x 1 Y
Precinct Committeewoman Tanna W. Brummett Minnehaha – Precinct-0315 x 2
Precinct Committeewoman Carol Stalzer Minnehaha – Precinct-0315 1 Y
Precinct Committeewoman Amber Rikansrud Minnehaha – Precinct-0317 1 Y
Precinct Committeewoman Vicki Fuglsby Minnehaha – Precinct-0317 x 2
Precinct Committeewoman Georgia Hanson Minnehaha – Precinct-0404 2
Precinct Committeewoman Allison Edwards Minnehaha – Precinct-0404 x 1 Y
Precinct Committeewoman Ashley Petretta Minnehaha – Precinct-0411 2
Precinct Committeewoman Wendy L. Olson Minnehaha – Precinct-0411 x 1 Y
Precinct Committeewoman Beth Feuchtenberger Minnehaha – Precinct-0415 x 2
Precinct Committeewoman Liza Heidelberger Minnehaha – Precinct-0415 1 Y
Precinct Committeewoman Bobbi Lynn Andera Minnehaha – Precinct-0508 x 2
Precinct Committeewoman Phyllis Heineman Minnehaha – Precinct-0508 1 Y
Precinct Committeewoman Jacqueline Zachariahs Minnehaha – Precinct-0517 1 Y
Precinct Committeewoman Katherine Meert Minnehaha – Precinct-0517 x 2
Precinct Committeewoman Donna M Wiese Minnehaha – Precinct-0519 2
Precinct Committeewoman Karen A Samp Minnehaha – Precinct-0519 x 1 Y
Precinct Committeewoman Mary Haugaard Minnehaha – Precinct-VP04 x 1 Y
Precinct Committeewoman Diane Schlaak Minnehaha – Precinct-VP04 2
Precinct Committeewoman Janie R. Steckley Minnehaha – Precinct-VP07 x 2
Precinct Committeewoman Vonnie Barnett Minnehaha – Precinct-VP07 1 Y
Precinct Committeewoman Kris Swanson Minnehaha – Precinct-VP09 x 1 Y
Precinct Committeewoman Lisa Rave Minnehaha – Precinct-VP09 2
Precinct Committeewoman Cindy Meyer Minnehaha – Precinct-VP16 x 1 Y
Precinct Committeewoman Janet Feterl Minnehaha – Precinct-VP16 2

Patriot Ripple Effect thus enjoyed a slightly better success rate in the higher-profile Legislative races, where they faced the direct opposition of cash and counter-endorsements from Governor Noem and Senator Schoenbeck, than they did in races for county offices and convention seats, where they went roughly 50-50.

*Correction 09:05 CDT: An eager reader notices that I put the win on the wrong committeewoman candidate in Minnehaha Precinct 2-01. Paige Bock beat PRE-endorsed Angela Griner in that race. I have corrected this regrettable error.

Published in South Dakota

10 Comments

  1. John

    Conclusion: things will not be improving in the near term. Too many regressives; too many apologists of the charlatan, grifter, Trump. Too many closeted supporters of Q-Anon, Proud Boys, Oath Keepers in our midst. What a pathetic, waste of old men.

    2022-06-15
  2. Cory Allen Heidelberger

    John, you are likely right. That radical anti-vax election-denying CRT-paranoiacs can win half the races they contest in the Sioux Falls metro, a place where’d I’d like to think rational Main-Street Republicanism might hold more sway than the Black Hills or the high lonesome prairie, indicates just how far right the SDGOP is tacking.

    2022-06-15
  3. Jake Schoenbeck

    The legislative race losses are unfortunate (speaking from experience), but it’s important that the right people are elected at the convention. It’ll be nice going back to my old stomping grounds next week :)

    2022-06-15
  4. Donald Pay

    Do people really pay attention to endorsements when they decide to vote? I don’t.

    I do look at information that groups send out on the votes of incumbents on issues. Mainly I do that to see what these groups are most interested in, but as far as their candidate endorsements, it has zero impact on me. I do my own due diligence on those who seek to represent me, and don’t rely on political special interest groups to lead me by the nose.

    What means something? I like personal contact with politicians, so those who come by my place or spend time at neighborhood meetings discussing issues are more likely to get a favorable impression, but not necessarily my vote. I vote on issues—environment, education, democracy and fairness. Character matters a lot. I don’t vote for haters, bullies or slimy apologists for special interests. I believe in merit. Thus, intelligence, broad knowledge and experience is a plus. Endorsements don’t factor in.

    2022-06-15
  5. leslie

    Excellent work Cory!

    Noem whined: “They were blowing me up saying I wasn’t conservative because I would not come in and tell Sanford (the state’s largest hospital system) and tell big businesses that they couldn’t require vaccines for their employees,” she said. “My answer for them was, ‘You’re telling me as the government to tell them as a private business what to do.’”

    South Dakota’s … 2005 trigger law ― the first one passed in the country ― immediately bans all abortions except to save the life of the mother. The law bans both medical abortions and the provision or prescription of any abortion drug to a pregnant woman. The punishment is up to two years in prison and a fine up to $4,000. Gov. Kristi Noem (R) said that she would call a special legislative session in the event Roe is overturned.

    The session is not necessary to trigger the state’s abortion ban, but could be used to enact further restrictions like BANNING companies from reimbursing employees for out-of-state travel to obtain an abortion. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/states-ban-abortion-roe-v-wade-overturned_n_62a755b9e4b0cdccbe537af0
    (my emphasis added)

    Patriot Ripple, ALEC and Wall Builders, part of the GOP’s organized conservative corporate radical capitalistic cabal in the making for the last half-century. The long game Mitch McConnell has groomed Thune for as they embedded themselves in like fat ticks!

    “Conservative evangelicals have a vision for America,” said Rob Boston, a senior adviser at Americans United for Separation of Church and State. “Increasingly, they are advocating voter suppression as a way to keep Republicans in power, even if most Americans don’t support them….”
    https://jacobin.com/2021/03/wallbuilders-alec-gerrymandering-south-dakota-voting

    THEN there is the following national trend which fits hand and glove with SD’s new secret trust money laundering financial industry, the state’s largest:

    “…private equity has taken control of more than 80 retailers, leading to the loss of 1.3 million jobs…, all while successfully lobbying Congress to kill legislation mandating a $15 minimum wage.

    Private equity incursions into real estate have left no form of housing unscathed, driving up the costs of both owning and renting any type of house or apartment or mobile home. They’ve bought up for-profit colleges, driving down graduation rates while increasing student debt….

    And they’ve enveloped the health care sector, including hospitals, dermatologists, ophthalmologists, veterinarians, hospice care, and nursing homes, often leading to increased medical costs for patients and a drop in the quality of care.

    Trump’s Labor Department issued a ruling allowing private equity firms to invest the money held in 401(k) accounts, subjecting the retirement savings of Americans to higher fees and the risk of, at worst, losing their entire investment. Biden’s campaign at the time called the move “another example of President Trump putting the interests of Wall Street ahead of American workers and families.” But in December of last year, Biden’s Labor Department quietly issued its own ruling, leaving the Trump-era changes intact.

    This aversion to stricter regulation of private equity means its dominance will only grow, and so will cutting costs and corners and jobs to extract financial gain.

    The evidence can be seen in small inconveniences: the decision by a PE-owned hospital, for instance, to buy the cheapest, roughest paper towels for nurses who wash their hands dozens of times a day. Or in broader indignities: a PE-owned ­hospice care company that provides fewer visits to dying patients by medical assistants who are cheaper to employ, but for whom the company can bill Medicare the same amount as for a visit by a nurse.

    And then there is life-altering damage: medical bills that gut family finances all because private equity firms have bought up so much of the health care sector that they can charge virtually anything.

    “Right now, they can do whatever they want,…that means quality of life deteriorates for everybody.””

    https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2022/05/private-equity-buyout-kkr-houdaille/

    2022-06-15
  6. Mark Anderson

    Well Noem played up to them, but was overrun by DeSantis who has no objection to telling business what they can say or do. He’s now the numero uno Republican in Fame Only. It’s just hard to identify what Republicans stand for anymore other than killing, they love that. No wonder all the big selling movies are based on comic books.

    2022-06-15
  7. Arlo Blundt

    Mark…I’m afraid you are correct…there is a correlation between the Trumpist anti-vaxers, gun worshipers, and pure fantasy. An inability to separate reality from fantasy starts with Trump and has infected his followers.

    2022-06-15
  8. Arlo Blundt

    Taffy Howard’s 40% of the vote against Dusty statewide and in Minnehaha County prove my point.

    2022-06-15
  9. cathy

    We’ve been lucky in Yankton County so far–the Qanon, Trumper, FOX-loving, insurrection-denying wackadoodooheads got beat back again in all the local elections. They’re having a hard time getting past the taint they put on themselves by disrupting school board and city commission meetings, and by publicly embracing the Qraziness. I hope our luck holds.

    2022-06-15
  10. Cory Allen Heidelberger

    Good work, Yankton County! The PRE’s election-thief candidate for auditor got beat, and that’s good for fair elections. Keep the Fox-watchers out of the election henhouse!

    2022-06-16

Comments are closed.