Just as we are coming off of the 2024 election and think we can stop and take a breath for two seconds, 2026 elections in SD are already getting talked about and the possible candidates as well. The most obvious race being talked about is that of the SD Secretary of State. Supposedly, Monae Johnson, our current SOS, wasn’t going to seek re-election at first, but then changed her mind.  Then the word is that a Jason Williams is a name being thrown around by the GOP as one who’d be good for the role.

As a person from the outside looking in and coming off of the insane battle that grassroots conservatives fought for two years to get our preferred candidates in the legislature, with an insanely high success rate, I might add, I’m left wondering: why aren’t they floating people who have shown they’re way more qualified, honest, transparent and capable to serve the people of SD in the way we deserve? Why aren’t names being floated around like Minnehaha County Auditor Leah Anderson or SD Canvassing’s Jessica Pollema?  When it comes to elections, these two amazing women have proven countless times over that they’re more than able to handle the job of Secretary of State for SD.  With Jessica as a private citizen and Leah as a county  auditor for the biggest county in the state (it carries 25% of the vote), they showed up, they never backed down, they took outright verbal abuse from people like Lee Schoenbeck and the the Minnehaha County Commission, they’ve had countless obstacles thrown in their way, yet they stand by the Constitution and the people of SD…not the elites, not the GOP, not some other agenda, but the PEOPLE.

They’ve shown us their research, data, statistics, etc for years now.  They’ve proven with all the evidence to back it up that our elections in SD are NOT clean nor transparent.  They’ve proven that our elections are being rigged, yes, even in SD.

While I try to see as many perspectives as I can on certain things such as the approach candidates take when campaigning, I’m still left befuddled as to why so many conservative legislators who truly are very good and moral people did not speak out more about supporting election integrity.  All of the evidence is right in front of us with free accessibility.  SD Canvassing has been non-stop in sharing it all and trying to teach and inform us of what they’ve learned and discovered.  Heck, Jessica’s even come on my little podcast to share info with me and teach me! She’s so willing to share and teach, so why aren’t more legislators reaching out to her to fully know and understand what’s going on with our elections?  Are they falling for the false narrative about her and SD Canvassing being pushed by the Establishment and those who hate SD Canvassing for whatever reason? Will they give SDC a chance by speaking with them directly? Will our legislators that we fought so hard for reach out to US and see what WE think?

I mean…these amazing legislators who have vowed to uphold our Constitution, our rights, etc will surely work to uphold the integrity of our elections, too…right? Especially when all the evidence is right in front of our faces?

I sure hope so.  As for me, the names I’m throwing into the ring for SD SOS is Leah Anderson and Jessica Pollema. Let’s stop picking people from inside the establishment  who are just in the revolving door of politics and let’s get fresh blood in these roles.  It’s long past time for a real change.