I’m not a Republican. I’m not a Democrat either. For those who have followed me for a while, this should not be a surprise. I’ve been to Lincoln Day Dinners, and I’ve been to the Democrat Roundup. I’ve been in Rapid City for Citizens For Liberty gatherings, and I’ve also been in Pierre for the Democratic Convention. I’ve reached as far as my arms would go out in either direction, standing about as close to the middle as I can. I haven’t done this because of some ego telling me to stand there; only because the middle ground and the ability to see reason in different ideas have always seemed natural.

Last week, the final Gubernatorial Debate was held, and the four Republican Primary candidates tried to flesh out their reasons for you to vote for them. Beyond watching the debates, voters are still looking for answers on whom to pick, and I’ve been asked several times who I think is the best choice among the four in the Republican Primary.

The clear frontrunner, Representative Dusty Johnson, is the safe bet to win. He’s never lost an election, and he’s been in a lot of them. So many elections, in fact, that at the age of 49, he’s only ever worked in the Private Sector for about four years. His whole life has been working for Elected Officials, or being an Elected Official. He is the Status Quo, and if an “Establishment” exists, he has been a cog in it for many years. If you’re comfortable with the way the government is to the point of saying “Politics should be left to Politicians,” Representative Johnson should be your vote. 

Current Governor Larry Rhoden has also been part of the establishment. Not on the same national level that Representative Johnson has been, but after over 20 years in elected office in South Dakota, there is no way to escape the career politician brand on his record. He was the guy Kristi Noem picked to give her gubernatorial run more credibility as her Lt. and he was involved in her Administration as her mentor. If you like the way South Dakota has been governed for the last two decades, Larry Rhoden should be your vote because it won’t be any different.

South Dakota Speaker of the House Jon Hansen has been in office for a while, too, not to the length of Dusty and Larry, but since 2010. Jon and his candidacy feel more insurgent than establishment, and that’s evident in his friends in Pierre and the voting blocks that have emerged over the last two years. He’s been around and has made property rights the primary issue separating him from his competitors. He is deeply religious and an anti-abortion absolutist. If you’re the voter who has a Bible in multiple rooms or a landowner, Jon Hansen should be your vote.

Businessman Toby Doeden started getting his name out there this time last year, and it’s worked. He has spent a lot of money making sure everyone knows his name. He’s been a successful businessman in the Aberdeen area, owns multiple businesses, and employs many people. He’s never held political office before and has styled himself as “South Dakota Trump”. For a voter who wants to see radical change in the Republican Party in South Dakota and the biggest shake-up in Pierre, Toby Doeden should be your vote.

Bonus perspective: the handshake. They say you can tell a lot about a man by his handshake, and I’ve been well-traveled around the state. I’ve met bad guys with good handshakes and good guys with weak ones- so it isn’t an exact science, and this IS NOT an endorsement. That being said, I’ve met all four of the men in the Republican Primary, and the Democrat Challenger Dan Ahlers (more on him in the future, but no primary for him to worry about) as well. In terms of pure handshake quality- grip strength, eye contact, naturalness, and length of time: I’ll rank them below.

1st Place: Tied- Larry Rhoden & Dan Ahlers

2nd Place: Toby Doeden

3rd Place: Jon Hansen

4th Place: Dusty Johnson

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