Sioux Falls, SD (Press Release) – On Monday, 56 Republican Legislators and Candidates released a letter supporting the South Dakota Republican Party’s official position on Amendment H. The Legislators and Candidates ask all Republican voters to vote “No” on Amendment H and protect our primary election system.
Signees include members of leadership in both the House and Senate and legislators from every corner of the state. The letter invites any South Dakotans who support the principles of limited government, free enterprise, and individual liberty to register as party members and help choose our nominees.
Full letter is attached below:
“We the undersigned Republican Legislators and Legislative Candidates stand resolutely with the position of the South Dakota State Republican Party that Constitutional Amendment H should be defeated. We support the Republican Party and believe that each party should be able to choose its own candidates through a primary election.
We invite any South Dakotans who support the principles of limited government, free enterprise, and individual liberty to register as party members and help us choose our nominees. Amendment H would completely destroy our primary election system, instead creating a general election in June and a run-off election in November.
This system is currently in place in California and has not increased voter turnout but has led to more corruption and polarization. Our current system allows average citizens to run for and achieve public office. Amendment H would substantially increase the cost of running for office and would discourage new individuals from entering the field.
We urge Republican voters to stand against making this change in South Dakota. Please support the position of the South Dakota Republican Party and vote No on Amendment H.”
Representative Amber Arlint, Representative Chris Kassin, Representative Julie Auch, Representative Ben Krohmer Representative Aaron Aylward, Representative David Kull, Representative Kirk Chaffee. Representative Trish Ladner, Representative Mike Derby, Representative Karla Lems, Representative Fred Deutsch. Representative Liz May, Representative Mary Fitzgerald, Representative John Mills, Representative Randy Gross, Representative Scott Moore, Representative Jon Hansen. Representative Will Mortensen. Representative Greg Jamison, Representative Tina Mulally, Representative Kevin Jensen, Representative Scott Odenbach, Representative Phil Jensen, Representative Marty Overweg, Representative Chris Karr, Representative Carl Perry, Representative Drew Peterson, Representative Sue Peterson, Representative Neal Pinnow, Representative Tony Randolph, Representative Taylor Rehfeldt, Representative Brandei Schaefbauer, Representative John Sjaarda, Representative Bethany Soye, Representative Mike Stevens, Representative Tony Venhuizen
Senator Arch Beal, Senator Casey Crabtree, Senator Julie Frye-Mueller, Senator Brent “B.R.” Hoffman, Senator Jack Kolbeck, Senator Jim Mehlhaff, Senator Al Novstrup, Senator Tom Pischke, Senator Jim Stalzer
Candidates Heather Baxter. Greg Blanc, Joy Hohn, Taffy Howard, John Hughes, Travis Ismay, Dylan Jordan, Tony Kayser, Logan Manhart, Kaley Nolz, Tesa Schwans
Bold= Represents Districts 1, 3, & 23