Commentary: South Dakota floats toward moderation, even without a wave

“The Blue Wave Washed Across Much of America,” said a recent headline in The New York Times, “But Not Here.” It was a reference to South Dakota, and it missed some nuance. There was in fact a political shift that washed across the state this year. But it was less like a wave crashing on the shore, and more like a flood creeping over the land. The shift was toward moderation — or South Dakota’s version of it, anyway — and was best exemplified by four developments: the fall of Kristi Noem, the rise of less-absolutist Republican legislators, the trouncing of a MAGA millionaire in the race for governor, and the first Democratic gains in 18 years. Noem’s bad year Officers working for the federal Department of Homeland Security — which Noem led as secretary — shot and killed American citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti during January immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis. Public and congressional outrage forced President Donald Trump to demote Noem by early March.

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