Dakota Town Hall

Back again! This week on the show, South Dakota's election season somehow finds another gear. We break down the unbelievable two vote Sioux Falls mayoral runoff, what happens if it ends in a tie, and what it all says about turnout, campaigns, and the razor thin margins that decide elections. Plus, Rapid City Mayor Jason Salamun joins us to talk America 250, the city's Fourth of July plans, President Trump's visit to Mount Rushmore, and why Rapid City is betting big on becoming the center of the nation's birthday celebration. We also get into the Republican convention controversy after members of the media were denied access, Ian Fury joins us to defend Governor Larry Rhoden's campaign strategy, the latest back and forth with Toby Doeden, and the policy fight over property taxes, trusts, and debates. And of course, Ding Dong Corner delivers another wild chapter in South Dakota politics with Tom Pischke's felony charges, convention chatter, constitutional office races, and plenty of laughs along the way.@DakotaTownHall@Jakeshoenbeck@MurdocJ

Back again! This week on the show, the guys welcome Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Julian Beaudion for a wide-ranging conversation on his challenge to Senator Mike Rounds, the state of Democratic politics in South Dakota, education policy, Social Security, data centers, tribal consultation, and whether there’s an opening for a different kind of leadership in Washington. We get into voter frustration, campaign strategy, and what it takes to compete statewide in one of the reddest states in the country.Plus, government reform advocate Joe Kirby returns to make the case for ranked-choice voting, open primaries, and ending expensive runoff elections. The crew debates election reform, turnout, and whether South Dakota is ready for a different system. And of course, they hit the Travis Ismay felony controversy, the latest twists in the Sioux Falls mayoral race, Don Jorgensen’s surprise endorsement, and Joe’s annual attempt to move the state capital out of Pierre.@DakotaTownHall@Jakeshoenbeck@MurdocJ

Back again! The election cycle refuses to die, and neither do the political fireworks. This week Matt Paulson and District 15 Rep. Eric Muckey join the show to break down the Sioux Falls mayoral runoff, city council battles, and the increasingly blurry line between "nonpartisan" elections and partisan reality. We get into turnout predictions, endorsement drama, dark money accusations, and why Sioux Falls voters are heading back to the polls again. Plus, the crew debates whether anybody actually knows who their city councilor is and what that means for local politics.We also dive headfirst into the Republican gubernatorial runoff between Larry Rhoden and Toby Doeden, the fallout from Dusty Johnson's surprise loss, the role of negative advertising, and the growing influence of online political tribes. Along the way, there's plenty of convention chatter, speculation about statewide races, social media tough guys, dark money jokes, and a look at the Democrats' path forward. And of course, no Dakota Town Hall episode would be complete without a few burger recommendations and some good old-fashioned South Dakota political chaos.@DakotaTownHall@Jakeshoenbeck@MurdocJ

Back again! The votes are in, the dust is settling, and South Dakota politics just delivered one of the biggest surprises in recent memory. Jake is joined by Lieutenant Governor Tony Venhuizen, Nathan Sanderson, and SD News Watch’s Alexander Rifaat to break down Toby Doeden’s unexpected first place finish, Dusty Johnson’s exit, and the July 28 gubernatorial runoff that now pits Doeden against Governor Larry Rhoden. We get into what happened on election night, where the polls got it right, where they missed, and why turnout may decide everything from here.Plus, we dive deep into the legislative shakeups that could reshape Pierre for years to come. Incumbents fell, familiar names made comebacks, and several of the state’s most closely watched races delivered surprises right down to the final precincts. From District 29’s political earthquake to the changing balance of power in both chambers, the 2026 primary may be over, but the battle for South Dakota’s future is just getting started.@DakotaTownHall@Jakeshoenbeck@MurdocJ

Back again! With primary day just around the corner, the Dakota Town Hall crew gathers a heavyweight panel featuring Jonathan Ellis, Patrick Lally, Pat Powers, and Ryan Budmayr to break down the final sprint in South Dakota’s governor’s race. We get into Toby Doden’s headline-grabbing mailers, the fallout from candidates pushing back on unauthorized endorsements, Tamara Grove’s residency controversy, and the campaign strategies shaping the final days before voters head to the polls. Plus, a deep dive into whether ground game still beats money, media, and Facebook warriors in modern South Dakota politics.We also hit the best and worst campaign ads of the cycle, the explosion of AI-generated political content, the Sioux Falls mayoral race, and the panel’s final predictions for turnout and the governor’s race itself. From runoff speculation to legislative battles and campaign gossip, this one is packed with last-minute analysis before South Dakota picks its winners and losers.@DakotaTownHall@Jakeshoenbeck@MurdocJ

The election is on June 2nd, if you haven't been near a mailbox. (Apologies for not having the full slate. If 90 percent of success is showing up, I'm just happy there's someone standing up for the other 10. -doc)