South Dakota Resource Guide
Sam Adams State Resource Guides are designed to help citizens get involved in their home state.
Do you have additional information that you'd like to see on this list? Please email your tips to resources@samadamsalliance.org.
Background
South Dakota has long been dominated by the Republican Party. The state has not voted for a Democrat in a presidential race since 1964 and has only voted for four Democratic candidates since its statehood. A Democrat has also not won the governorship since 1978. In the U.S. Senate, South Dakota has one Republican and one Democrat—the U.S. House Member is also a Democrat. There are about five reliably Democratic counties in South Dakota which all lie within Indian Reservations.
The state legislature is also controlled by the Republican Party. Out of the 35 members in the Senate, there are 20 Republicans. The Republicans also hold 49 of the 70 seats in the House of Representatives. The legislature begins its session on the second Tuesday of January each year. In odd numbered years they meet for 40 days and in even numbered years that falls to 35 days. Legislators are limited to serving four consecutive years in a single house.
Issues
Initiative and Referendum
South Dakota permits initiatives, legislative referendums and popular referendums. It was the first state to adopt initiative and referendum rights in 1898. South Dakotans have approved several initiatives that have further promoted liberty in the state, such as initiatives concerning term limits, tax reform and gaming.
Think Tanks
Great Plains Public Policy Institute
http://www.greatplainsppi.org/
Action Groups
Americans for Prosperity- South Dakota
http://www.americansforprosperity.org/index.php?state=sd
Blogs
South Dakota War College
http://dakotawarcollege.com/
South Dakota Politics
http://southdakotapolitics.blogs.com/
South Dakota Straight Talk
http://www.sdstraighttalk.com/
Hog House Blog
http://www.hoghouseblog.com/
Resources
State of South Dakota Official Homepage
http://www.sd.gov/
South Dakota Secretary of State (Elections)
http://www.sdsos.gov/electionsvoteregistration/electionsvoteregistration_overview.shtm
Quick Facts (U.S. Census Bureau)
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/46000.html
Online Guide to South Dakota Politics
http://politics1.com/sd.htm
Political News
South Dakota Political News—U.S. Politics Today
http://uspolitics.einnews.com/southdakota/
South Dakota State News Web
http://www.state.sd.us/News/default.aspx
Rapid City Journal—Regional News
http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/ap-state-sd/
