South Dakota Voters Reject Hostile Ballot Measures

Grassroots conservatives in South Dakota doubled down on the momentum they had after the June 4th primary sweep to seize total victory on several key ballot measures threatening to end South Dakota’s status as an emerging bastion of freedom and liberty.

The count is in, and the crony capitalist pipeline bill was crushed through Referred Law 21. Despite $1.44 million pouring into the state from moneyed interests hoping to exercise eminent domain for private gain, South Dakota voters vetoed the bill with 59% of the vote. This bill would have preempted political subdivisions from resisting the land grab, with proponents dangling trinket bribery payments in the form of $1 per linear foot seized. Thanks to the diligent work of grassroots activists working on a shoestring budget, this phony bill was vetoed. Back in February, activists forced a recorded vote on House Bill 1219 which would have banned the use of eminent domain to seize land for carbon capture pipelines. The accountability mailers that American Action Fund sent following that vote combined with the outcome of the primary and general election are moving the environment to the point where real eminent domain reform is possible.

Similarly, a ballot question that would have destroyed the primary election system to allow Biden voters to decide Republican primaries was defeated by a collective of grassroots activists. If this ballot measure passed, it would have made it much easier for anti-liberty candidates to succeed in primaries with votes from far-left liberals. Proponents spent $1.61 million to try to buy victory on this anti-liberty measure. Conservatives stood up and defeated Amendment H with 66% of the vote.

These are two David vs Goliath battles that verified what we saw in the June 4th primary in South Dakota as well. Grassroots conservatives are on the upswing and we can win if we rejoice and double down.

In terms of offensive wins, Amendment F (work requirements for Medicaid benefits) passed with 56% of the vote. Even though the welfare lobby spent $346,000 against this proposal, South Dakota voters rejected endless entitlements and voted to reign in the welfare state. Even in a near neutral environment, South Dakotans have shown that they favor freedom over big government.

“If we’re going to have these entitlements, we should at least prevent flagrant abuse.” said Rep. Aaron Aylward, member of American Action Fund’s Hazlitt Coalition. “I’m glad to see common sense prevails yet again in South Dakota.”

In a state with under 1 million residents, you might think it would be easy for the left to take over the political environment. This general election shows that the citizens of South Dakota want liberty and that we should redouble our efforts in mobilizing the grassroots to create a Liberty Lighthouse state. It’s time to rejoice and double down.