Oct 2, 2026 · 13 min · 11 segments
The two candidates for South Dakota governor recently met for a final debate before the Nov. 3 general election, hosted by South Dakota Public Broadcasting and South Dakota News Watch. In this…
When I first started in my first address to the public, I pledged that the pillars of my administration would be openness, responsiveness, civility, and integrity.
And I've lived up to those promises.
But leadership is a lot more than a title.
I've been leader long before I was in the legislature.
I was a church deacon, volunteer firefighter, a coach, I served on the school board for five and a half years.
I was in the legislature for 16 years, including a number of leadership positions.
And then I was lieutenant governor for six years after that, and now as governor.
We've seen some incredible things happen in South Dakota in the last couple years.
And I pledge that if I have the opportunity to serve another four years, we're just getting started.
He served as executive director of the state's Democratic Party and previously served six years in the legislature.
I'm a husband, a father, a small business owner, and a former legislator who spent his entire career trying to build stronger communities and a better state.
For nearly 40 years, Amy and I have called Del Rapids our home.
It's where I own my small business.
It's where I serve my community in a variety of ways, from president of our Chamber of Commerce to leading our before and after school program and working as a substitute teacher.
I also had the privilege of serving six years in the South Dakota legislature.
What I learned from this experience is that leadership isn't about having all the answers.
It's about being a good listener.
It's about bringing people together and doing the hard work to solve problems.
That's the type of leadership you deserve, and that's why I'm running for governor.
When I first started in my first address to the public, I pledged that the pillars of my administration would be openness, responsiveness, civility, and integrity.
And I've lived up to those promises.
But leadership is a lot more than a title.
I've been leader long before I was in the legislature.
I was a church deacon, volunteer firefighter, a coach, I served on the school board for five and a half years.
I was in the legislature for 16 years, including a number of leadership positions.
And then I was lieutenant governor for six years after that, and now as governor.
We've seen some incredible things happen in South Dakota in the last couple years.
And I pledge that if I have the opportunity to serve another four years, we're just getting started.
He served as executive director of the state's Democratic Party and previously served six years in the legislature.
I'm a husband, a father, a small business owner, and a former legislator who spent his entire career trying to build stronger communities and a better state.
For nearly 40 years, Amy and I have called Del Rapids our home.
It's where I own my small business.
It's where I serve my community in a variety of ways, from president of our Chamber of Commerce to leading our before and after school program and working as a substitute teacher.
I also had the privilege of serving six years in the South Dakota legislature.
What I learned from this experience is that leadership isn't about having all the answers.
It's about being a good listener.
It's about bringing people together and doing the hard work to solve problems.
That's the type of leadership you deserve, and that's why I'm running for governor.
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