Bob Mercer plows through campaign finance reports and lists all the rich Republicans who used Kristi Noem’s federal PAC to get around South Dakota’s $4,000 annual limit on individual contributions to political candidates:
Twenty-five South Dakota people and three business entities contributed at least $5,000 apiece and in some cases as much as $25,000 — and in one instance a combined $42,000 between a person and his farm — to the Noem Victory Fund in 2022, according to Federal Election Commission records. During the prior year, 24 South Dakotans and two business entities contributed at least $5,000 apiece to the fund.
Besides allowing South Dakotans and their entities to sidestep the South Dakota contribution limits, Noem Victory Fund served as a channel to re-direct money from contributors outside South Dakota into the campaign accounts for Noem and her lieutenant governor, Larry Rhoden.
State laws allow unlimited transfers to a candidate’s committee or another political action committee from a political action committee, the state political party or another candidate’s committee. Noem Victory Fund transferred nearly all of the money it received to five designated political accounts:
Her state-level campaign committee, Kristi for Governor, received five transfers totaling $1,530,549.15.
Her running mate’s state-level campaign committee, Rhoden for Lt. Governor, received five transfers totaling $502,630.03.
Her committee that funds legislative candidates, SD Strong Leadership PAC, received five transfers totaling $492,445.58 [Bob Mercer, “Noem Campaign Donors Bypassed State Limits,” KELO-TV, 2023.05.15].
Noem and her rich Republican friends aren’t breaking the law; they are just using the discontinuities between state and federal campaign finance law to their advantage.
In case KELO follows Vice into bankruptcy, here’s Mercer’s list of Nome’s skirting donors:
- CHRIS BRO 4 LLC — $10,000 November 8, 2022 (Harry Christianson, Craig Christianson, Rapid City)
- Shawn Gengerke, Groton — $17,000 November 5, 2022
- Shawn Gengerke Farms, Groton — $25,000 November 5, 2022
- Nathan Reede, Aberdeen — $25,000 November 5, 2022
- Robert Fouberg, Aberdeen — $25,000 November 5, 2022
- Sharon Rivett, Aberdeen — $25,000 November 2, 2022
- Cynthia Jewett, Aberdeen — $25,000 November 2, 2022
- Jami Hennrich, Arlington — $5,000 October 31, 2022
- Leeann Reiman, Rapid City — $25,000 October 16, 2022
- Dana Dykhouse, Sioux Falls — $10,000 October 16, 2022
- Jalayna Haug, Lake Norden — $5,000 October 13, 2022
- Zach Neugebauer, Sioux Falls — $5,000 October 12, 2022
- Todd Huntimer, Arlington — $5,000 October 11, 2022
- Brad Henrich, Arlington — $5,000 October 10, 2022
- Tim Kessler, Aberdeen — $5,000 September 27, 2022
- Joel Jansen, Tea — $5,000 September 19, 2022
- Steve Boote, Sioux Falls — $5,000 May 22, 2022
- Larson Livestock Inc, Columbia — $5,000 May 21, 2022 (President Alfred Larson)
- Preston Steele, Huron — $5,000 May 18, 2022
- Scott Erickson, Sioux Falls — $5,000 May 18, 2022
- Jeff Erickson, Sioux Falls — $5,000 May 18, 2022
- Micah Aberson, Sioux Falls — $5,000 May 18, 2022
- Ronald Rivett, Aberdeen — $25,000 May 16, 2022
- Harvey Jewett IV, Aberdeen — $25,000 May 16, 2022
- Michael Evans, Aberdeen — $25,000 May 16, 2022
- James Thares, Aberdeen — $25,000 April 28, 2022
- Rodney Peter Burwell, Sioux Falls — $21,000 March 31, 2022
- Dan Lederman, Dakota Dunes — $5,000 March 14, 2022
- Cimarron Label, Sioux Falls — $5,000 December 31, 2021 (President Randy Cowan)
- Clint Ackerman, Sioux Falls — $5,000 December 16, 2021
- Thomas P. Walsh Sr., Sioux Falls — $5,000 December 2, 2021
- Judson Pins, Sioux Falls — $5,000 December 2, 2021
- Gene Jones Jr., Sioux Falls — $5,000 December 2, 2021
- Jerry’s Chevrolet of Bereseford — $5,000 December 2, 2021 (Owner Jerry Barr)
- Dana Dykhouse, Sioux Falls — $5,000 December 2, 2021
- David Bockorny, Sioux Falls — $5,000 December 2, 2021
- Scott Erickson, Sioux Falls — $5,000 November 25, 2021
- Brian Gunderson, North Sioux City — $5,000 November 23, 2021
- Zach Neugebauer, Sioux Falls — $5,000 November 15, 2021
- David H. Billion, Sioux Falls — $5,000 November 14, 2021
- Scott Jones, Sioux Falls — $5,000 November 11, 2021
- Tom Everist, Sioux Falls — $10,000 November 11, 2021
- Duane Sather, Sioux Falls — $5,000 November 10, 2021
- Pierce H. McDowell III, Sioux Falls — $5,000 November 10, 2021
- Jon Jorgenson, Sioux Falls — $5,000 November 10, 2021
- Travis Behrens, Sioux Falls — $5,000 November 10, 2021
- Jeff Erickson, Sioux Falls — $5,000 November 9, 2021
- Greg Carmon, Brandon — $5,000 November 2, 2021
- Eric Yunag, Sioux Falls — $5,000 November 1, 2021
- Jay Van Voorst, Sioux Falls — $5,000 October 29, 2021
- Vance Thompson, Sioux Falls — $5,000 October 29, 2021
- William Metz, Dakota Dunes — $25,000 August 18, 2021
- Lynn Persinger, Dakota Dunes — $5,000 August 15, 2021
- David Bailey Aalfs, Dakota Dunes — $5,000 August 15, 2021
Cory – Not to “dox” anyone but what’s the number of these donors who are frequent or once in a while readers of Dakota Free Press?
It’s important to know who’s listening before choosing how to construct a blog post, ‘ya know.
It is an impressive list of Republican donors that Mrs. Noem and her team have mobilized. I know several of them and they are fine people. The Democrats need to get to work and form a similar funding coalition…it is that simple.
Just two donors from West River? Are real conservatives mad at Mrs. Noem?
No, Larry, West River conservatives are notoriously close with a dime. They are also suspicious of any deal that isn’t an up front quid pro quo proposition. They believe good intentions are the pathway to economic ruin. Plus, politicians won’t let you examine their mouths before you fork over a donation.
Huh. Jeopardy just legitimized Governor Noem today. “This governor of South Dakota was crowned the Snow Queen in 1990”
The master champion, Mattea Roach responded on the money.
Mr. Blundt- I hate to ask but will you, or anybody who knows, please clue me in on the meaning your latest comment’s last sentence? I tried to Google it and it only brought me back to this post. I have been reserving my blonde card for this.
Gift horse in the mouth is the likely intent.
Well, if you look in the mouth of a cow or a horse you can examine their teeth
and get a fairly good idea of how old the animal is. A young cow is worth more
than an old cow, a young horse is worth more than an old horse…..
One person’s skirmish is another’s jock itch.
What’s the ROI on a campaign donation these days? Or are the givers just that righteous in their beliefs that they don’t expect anything in return?
The west river repubs don’t have to contribute, they already get the milk for free!
Black Hills Harley Davidson $25,000
So many from Sioux Falls but the $25,000 group from Aberdeen is surprising.
Perhaps Mr. Mercer is able to cross-reference the donor list with companies that will receive the “tourism grants”. It may yield an interesting pay – to – play.