SEARCHLIGHT NEWS
Republican candidate for governor Toby Doeden gives a speech to a room full of supporters in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, on June 2, 2026. (Photo by Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight)
By Joshua Haiar
Toby Doeden spent a total of about $5.3 million of his own money on his failed campaign for governor of South Dakota, according to a new campaign finance report.
The report, which was due this week, covers the Doeden campaign’s spending from May through the June 2 Republican primary election and July 28 runoff.
By Joshua Haiar
WAGNER — About 120 South Dakota National Guard soldiers are deploying to the U.S.-Mexico border for a year at the request of the federal government, the state’s seventh border deployment since 2021.
The state Guard’s Adjutant Gen. Mark Morrell spoke to a full gymnasium of family and community members at a ceremony Thursday in the southeast South Dakota city of Wagner.
The South Dakota Highway 44 Platte-Winner Bridge, which crosses the Missouri River in the southeast part of the state. (Photo courtesy of the South Dakota Department of Transportation)
By John Hult
State and federal officials on Thursday heralded the start of a yearslong, $290 million project to replace the “vital lifeline” that is South Dakota’s longest bridge.
State Highway 44’s Platte-Winner Bridge, which opened in 1966, is more than a mile long and crosses the Missouri River in the southeastern part of the state.
By Juan Salinas II/Nebraska Examiner
JD Vance became the first vice president to visit North Platte on Thursday, campaigning for Sen. Pete Ricketts and Gov. Jim Pillen as they face challenging reelection bids.
FROM STATES NEWSROOM
A voter fills out a ballot at a rural Minnehaha County polling place during the runoff election for the South Dakota Republican nomination for governor on July 28, 2026. (Photo by Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)
By Anna Claire Vollers/Stateline
Voters in six states are considering ballot measures in the midterm elections that would make it clear that only U.S. citizens may vote — and block local governments from expanding that right to others.
Proposed constitutional amendments or law changes in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Kansas, South Dakota and West Virginia would explicitly bar noncitizens from voting.
D.C. NEWS
Dems in Congress say they’re wary Trump won’t accept results of election | Jonathan Shorman
NATIONAL NEWS
The percentage of people without health insurance is growing | Shalina Chatlani/Stateline
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