YDSD Officially Endorses 20 Candidates in South Dakota Election

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 7, 2022

Young Democrats of South Dakota State Executive Committee Endorses 20 Candidates for the 2022 General Election

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — On the evening of October 6, the Young Democrats of South Dakota (YDSD) State Executive Committee (SEC)—the official representative entity of all South Dakota Democrats ages 13–35—endorsed 20 Candidates running for office in South Dakota’s 2022 general election. YDSD President Addison Miller released the following statement: ​ “South Dakota’s youth are the future not only of the South Dakota Democratic Party but of the entire state. However, that future is fleeting. Our elected officials have continuously failed to address the issues that force South Dakotan youth—Republican or Democrat—to flee the state at rates that continue to increase. The state’s incessant oppression of minority groups throughout the heartland and its failure to address the issues which send South Dakota’s best minds elsewhere are a direct result of its inability to move South Dakota forward into the modern era. This is why the Young Democrats of South Dakota, for the first time under my tenure as President, have opted to endorse a slate of 16 candidates who we believe are what South Dakota needs to lead us into the future. ​ South Dakota can be a leader of the heartland, of democracy, and of progress. We can build a home for all South Dakotans by electing leaders who will work to move South Dakota forward. I’ll be doing everything I can to ensure these candidates are elected and serving us this upcoming legislative session, and I implore you to do the same—and to vote for them on November 8th.” ​ YDSD endorsed the following South Dakota candidates at the October 6th SEC Meeting:

• Rep. Jamie Smith for Governor

• Brian Bengs for United States Senate

• Cole Sartell for State House — District 7

• Representative Erin Healy for State House — District 10

• Kameron Nelson for State House — District 10

• Kim Parke for State House — District 11

• Sheryl Johnson for State Senate — District 11

• Margaret Kuipers for State Senate — District 11

• Erin Royer for State House — District 12

• Jessica Meyers for State Senate — District 12

• Representative Linda Duba for State House — District 15

• Kadyn Wittman for State House — District 15

• Senator Reynold Nesiba for State Senate — District 15

• Jay Williams for State House — District 18

• Dan Andersson for State Senate — District 21

• Dan Ahlers for State House — District 25

UPDATE: Four additional candidates were endorsed by the YDSD SEC on October 13th.

• Liz Larson for State Senate — District 10

• Nick Winkler for State House — District 9

• Bekki Enquist-Schroeder for State House—District 17

• Matthew Tysdal for State Senate—District 14

These endorsements are made up of candidates who completed a form sent out by YDSD in early September. Candidates who completed the form prior to the start of the October 6th YDSD SEC Meeting were then voted upon via a private vote of YDSD SEC members to decide whether or not the candidates were reflective of YDSD’s values, and in which, should be endorsed and supported by YDSD. More endorsements may be made on a rolling basis, pending additional endorsement form submissions by South Dakota campaigns. Announcements of further endorsement will be made via future press release. These endorsements do not serve as endorsements made by the South Dakota Democratic Party, and should be considered as separate endorsements made solely by the Young Democrats of South Dakota.

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