From the latest episode of the podcast Dakota Town Hall, candidates and lawmakers traded barbs over campaign ads, legislative priorities and the increasingly heated tone of South Dakota politics ahead of the June primary.
The episode featured Sioux Falls House candidate Kathleen Brudvig, Rep. Kadyn Wittman of District 15, former Rep. Tyler Tordsen of District 14 and former Sen. Jean Hunhoff. Hosts Jake Schoenbeck and Murdoc steered the conversation through campaign strategy, healthcare policy and the explosion of AI-generated political advertising.
Brudvig, a registered nurse running for the Legislature for the first time, said her experience in healthcare pushed her into politics.
“The cost of healthcare is a big, big issue for a lot of people,” Brudvig said. “We live in the wealthiest country in the world. These things just shouldn’t happen.”
Wittman defended the role Democrats have played despite holding a legislative superminority, pointing to successful efforts on school lunch funding and coalition-building in Pierre.
“We have actually learned how to operate really well in our small tight-knit coalition,” Wittman said. “We were often the deciding factor on a lot of critical pieces of policy.”
Hunhoff, who is seeking a return to office after losing reelection, pushed back on claims that South Dakota’s budget contains major waste.
“There’s always room for efficiencies,” Hunhoff said. “But as far as taking away from departments and cutting budget slashing, through my experience, there isn’t.”
Tordsen said stepping away from the Legislature gave him a new perspective on how disconnected many voters feel from state government and political messaging.
“People are seeing through some of the stuff now,” Tordsen said while discussing campaign rhetoric and property tax debates.
The conversation later shifted toward increasingly aggressive campaign tactics, including AI-generated political ads and viral social media messaging. Panelists joked about controversial mailers and online attacks that have circulated during the primary season.
One recurring topic was Watertown Senate candidate Josephine Garcia claiming she had been “endorsed by God,” a campaign message that drew criticism and laughter from the panel.
The hosts also previewed upcoming gubernatorial interviews and their annual election prediction episode ahead of the June primary
