Dakota Town Hall

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)

Back again! This week on the show the primary chaos somehow gets even louder as the governor’s race heats up, attack ads flood every screen in South Dakota, and the Dakota Town Hall gubernatorial extravaganza starts taking shape. We get into the most expensive primary in state history, the war over “Rhinos,” AI-generated campaign ads, property tax politics, and why voter fatigue might be the biggest wildcard on the ballot. Plus, the crew breaks down the bizarre rise of buzzword politics, the anti-data center backlash, and whether South Dakota Republicans have completely lost the plot.We also welcome first-time candidate Kathleen Brodvig, along with Kaden Whitman, Tyler Torson, and longtime legislative heavyweight Jean Hunhoff for a brutally honest conversation about healthcare, appropriations, legislative chaos, and what it’s like watching Pierre from the sidelines before jumping back into the fight. And of course, the gang absolutely cannot ignore the wildest endorsement of campaign season after Josephine Garcia announces she’s officially endorsed by God himself. Plus: burger rankings, campaign war stories, Dusty attack ads, Freedom Caucus insanity, and Murdoc accidentally inventing the greatest PAC name in South Dakota political history.@DakotaTownHall@Jakeshoenbeck@MurdocJ

Back again! This week on the show, the campaign trail is heating up and the candidate forums are stacking up faster than yard signs in a South Dakota windstorm. We get into the governor’s race chaos, the “Rhino Revenge Tour,” Toby Doeden vs. John Hansen intrigue, and the growing wave of AI-generated political attacks flooding social media. Lieutenant Governor Tony Venhuizen joins the show to talk debates, life as a running mate already tied to the ballot, and what it’s like balancing official duties with campaign season pressure. Plus, Senator Michael Rohl delivers one of the most brutally honest breakdowns yet of the GOP governor primary field and the behind-the-scenes tensions driving it.We also plug into the Sioux Falls mayor race, the bizarre hammer-wielding city council invocation making the rounds online, and the return of familiar faces in the Attorney General contest. District 10 candidate John Pullman talks campaign fundamentals, knocking every corner of one of the state’s most competitive districts, and why retail politics still matters in the AI era. And of course, we close with the official launch of Task Force HIPPO: the Hippo Infrastructure Plan for Profit and Opportunity, because apparently the dream of bringing Pablo Escobar’s hippos to South Dakota is now entering the policy phase. Just another normal week in South Dakota politics.@DakotaTownHall@Jakeshoenbeck@MurdocJ