Dakota Town Hall

Back again! Fresh off the Sioux Falls gubernatorial debate, we break down what actually mattered and what was pure campaign theater. Patrick Lalley joins the show to pull back the curtain on the production, the strategy, and the moments that will actually move voters. We get into Dusty’s polish, Hansen’s messaging, Rhoden’s presence, and whether Toby Doeden’s playbook is already locked in. Plus, the bigger question: are these debates about persuasion anymore, or just fuel for the next round of campaign clips?Then we dive straight into the property tax fight that just won’t die, including a new referendum push that could reshape the conversation, or prove it’s all just a tax shell game. Candidates Ned Horsted and Nicole Mitzel jump in on affordability, public safety, and what voters are actually saying at the doors. And of course, we hit campaign tactics, AG drama, and yes… an unexpected international hippo negotiation that might be the most realistic policy proposal of the week.@DakotaTownHall @Jakeshoenbeck @MurdocJ

Back again! This week on the show, Jake and Murdoc dive straight into the poll everyone in South Dakota is talking about. Dan Ahlers joins fresh off locking up the Democratic nomination for governor and makes his case on property taxes, affordable housing, healthcare, and why he thinks 50 years of one-party rule has run its course. Plus, Alex Rifaat from South Dakota News Watch breaks down the newest GOP governor numbers, why Dusty Johnson keeps climbing, how John Hansen suddenly surged into second, and what it means for Larry Rhoden, Toby Doeden, and the rest of the field.We also get into Bill Meirose and his challenge against John Carley in District 29, with a heavy focus on Meade County property taxes, school closures, limestone mining fights, and the never-ending zoning wars out west. And of course, we hit the fallout from the Kristi Noem polling, early voting delays across the state, gubernatorial attack ads getting sharper, Kaleb Weiss apparently owning an emu, and yes… Murdoc is still trying to bring hippos to South Dakota. Because of course he is.@DakotaTownHall@Jakeshoenbeck@MurdocJ

Back again! This week on the show we head to District 8 with John Nelson jumping into a packed House race, Casey Crabtree laying out why affordability is becoming the defining issue in South Dakota politics, and the ungovernable Pat Powers jumping in to stir up the ballot chaos, convention chatter, and governor’s race crossfire. We get into the farm economy squeeze, property tax reality, economic development fights, TIF confusion, and why the debate over who can actually put more money back in voters’ pockets is quickly becoming the whole race.Plus we hit the early voting mess, turnout math, the GOP convention money crunch, and of course the only Dakota Town Hall side quest wild enough to steal the third break: Murdoc’s full-blown campaign to bring Pablo Escobar’s Colombian hippos to Reptile Gardens. Add in gizzard diplomacy, Pizza Ranch politics, and Pat’s signature war-college-level chaos, and this one feels like campaign season in South Dakota finally hitting full speed.@DakotaTownHall@Jakeshoenbeck@MurdocJ

Back again! This week on the show we’re loaded up with campaign energy as Jason Fleming jumps in on the District 35 race, Amber Hulse lays out her reelection case in District 30, and Wyatt DeJong joins the District 21 scrum. We get into the B-21 buildup, Ellsworth’s long-term economic ripple effect, the fight over whether West River is finally getting the infrastructure and defense investment it needs, and why Rapid City’s next phase of growth is becoming one of the biggest political stories in the state. Plus Amber breaks down the session’s late-stage chaos, anti-SLAPP protections, property tax relief, and how the governor’s race turned Pierre into a faction-on-faction psychological experiment.Plus we hit the opioid settlement tug-of-war between big-city impact and rural access, the prison rehab fight now bleeding into the governor’s primary, and the latest candidate shuffle as races lock in across the map. And of course, we close the only way Dakota Town Hall can with burger rankings, campaign trail banter, and enough primary-season side chatter to remind you South Dakota politics is fully in motion.@DakotaTownHall@Jakeshoenbeck@MurdocJ

Back again! On the show this week we’re joined by Ryan Budmayr, returning show historian Tony Venhuizen, and District 13 Senate candidate Dan Kippley for a fast-moving episode on how the session ended, what actually got done in Pierre, and how the governor’s debate is already reshaping the 2026 race. We get into historic property tax relief, TIF and Future Fund fights, the battle over economic development, and why the divide between growth-first Republicans and the populist wing is only getting sharper. Plus Dan jumps in to talk about his District 13 Senate run, why he’s leaning on his economic development background, what “common sense politics” looks like in Sioux Falls, and how he plans to grind through one of the toughest primaries in the state. We also hit petitions, yard sign wars, debate fallout, and the campaign-season chaos that’s officially underway. @DakotaTownHall@Jakeshoenbeck@MurdocJ

Back again! On the show this week we’re joined by South Dakota Searchlight reporter John Hult and South Dakota Chamber CEO Ryan Budmayr for a wide-ranging episode on what did—and didn’t—happen in Pierre this session. Plug in as we talk about prison reform that stalled out, what lawmakers avoided tackling, the reality of rehabilitation efforts, and how campaign politics may be shaping those decisions. We also get into economic development, TIF changes, data center incentives that didn’t make it, property tax shakeups, shifting the tax burden, and what it all means for businesses and communities across the state.Plus we dive into Sioux Falls’ massive upcoming transformation with the Smithfield move, what doubling downtown could look like, the politics behind big development projects, and how local leadership is navigating it all. And of course, we wrap with campaign season chatter, candidate announcements, legislative leftovers, and the always important debate… best burgers in South Dakota.@DakotaTownHall @Jakeshoenbeck @MurdocJ

Back again! On the show this week we are joined by Campaign Manager Ian Fury, Pat Powers of South Dakota War College and Sioux Falls City Council candidate James Oppenheimer for a packed episode on city politics and campaign season chaos. Plug in as we talk about James’ run for Sioux Falls City Council, the future of downtown, the massive Smithfield redevelopment, TIF debates, data centers, public safety, affordable housing, family-focused growth, the Sioux Falls mayor’s race, and what the city could look like in the next 5 to 10 years. Plus Pat jumps in for a full South Dakota politics rundown with court week drama, Shad Olson, candidate DUI trouble, a flood of new legislative filings, major Senate primaries, PUC buzz, governor’s race ripple effects, campaign season madness, and of course… the best burgers in South Dakota.@DakotaTownHall@Jakeshoenbeck@MurdocJ

Back again! On the show this week is Carmen Toft Director of South Dakota Families for Vaccines, Nathan Sanderson of the South Dakota Retailers Association, D15 Rep. Kadyn Whitman from Sioux Falls, and D29 House candidate Gary Deering, who’s jumping into the District 29 House race. Plug in as we talk about measles cases and vaccine policy, the wild final days of the legislative session, property tax relief, grocery tax debates, school lunch funding, the state budget, cell-cultured meat, ag policy, campaign season, brand-new candidates, polling drama, data centers, and of course… the best burgers in South Dakota. Plus Jake drops some surprise polling numbers you haven’t seen yet and we speculate on the 2026 governor’s race and MORE! @DakotaTownHall@Jakeshoenbeck@MurdocJ