YDSD Statement on the 2022 Election

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 9, 2022

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Last night, Young Democrats both in South Dakota and across the United States made history by turning out to vote at incredible rates, proving to those who underestimated the power of our youth that we are a force to be reckoned with—and we're going to vote like it.

Across the nation, Young Democrats turned out to vote, playing an integral role in key races like those in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, New Hampshire, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, Arizona, and many more. Not only did Young Democrats play an absolutely critical role in electing key candidates—we pushed detrimentally important ballot measures across the finish line. We ensured that abortion rights are guaranteed in states like Kentucky, Michigan, Vermont, and California. We helped legalize marijuana in states like Maryland and Missouri.

In South Dakota, we showed the world that Democrats can win in South Dakota, and that progressive ideals can still succeed in one of the most Republican states in the nation. We re-elected House Representatives Erin Healy (10), Linda Duba (15), Peri Pourier (27), and Oren Lesmeister (28A), and State Senators Reynold Nesiba (15), Shawn Bordeaux (26A), and Red Dawn Foster (27). But our power didn't stop there; we expanded our Democratic caucus in the state senate, and sent a slate of brand-new faces to Pierre this upcoming Spring—Kadyn Wittman (15), Eric Emery (26A), Liz Larson (10).

One additional, particularly historic, race that Young Democrats pushed over the finish line is that of Kameron Nelson's race for State House (10). Kameron will serve as South Dakota's first-ever openly gay man elected to the state legislature.

Young Democrats are the largest—and most underestimated—voting bloc of the South Dakota Democratic Party, and many, if not all, of these races could not have been won without the work of Young Democrats.

We've been working to Move South Dakota Forward for two years and three months—and it showed last night at the ballot box. You can count on the Young Democrats of South Dakota, and of America, to continue working as hard as we can to return South Dakota to what it should be: a home in the heartland for us all.

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