FROM THE BLOG: South Dakota by the numbers

When I launched this campaign on September 8, 2025, I made a commitment to visit all 66 counties in South Dakota. I knew it would mean a lot of miles, oil changes and long days. What I didn’t know is just how much I would learn from the people I met along the way. 

66 counties. 41,742 miles (to date). 47 town halls. Over 4,000 doors knocked. 

From Buffalo to North Sioux City, Rosholt to Edgemont, I’ve had the privilege of listening to South Dakotans from every walk of life. Farmers and ranchers, teachers, healthcare workers, small business owners, retirees, and young families have shared their stories, frustrations, policy ideas, and hopes for the future.

Many of these conversations will stay with me forever. 

In Sturgis, I met Suzanne, who didn’t have health insurance and put off seeking medical care for her aches and pains. By the time she went in and received a diagnosis, she had stage four cancer. It’s heartbreaking. Suzanne wanted me to share her story because she doesn’t want anyone else to go through what she has experienced. When you are sick or in pain, you should be able to access healthcare. 

In Britton, a farmer named Steve told me about his neighbor who couldn’t secure an operating loan ahead of the 2026 planting season. The loss of soybean markets had already taken a toll on his farm, and the inability to secure financing for this young farmer was a final blow. We need those young farmers for the future of the industry and for the vitality of rural South Dakota. They keep the Main Street businesses, the schools, the churches, and the local hospital going. 

These are more than stories. They are real people living with the consequences of decisions made under Republican rule in Washington, D.C.

While every community has its challenges, I’ve heard many concerns that are directly related to this administration’s policies. People are working hard but struggling to get ahead. They’re worried about healthcare, housing, the future of Social Security, and whether their children and grandchildren will have the same opportunities they had. 

There comes a point where no matter how hard you work, you can’t overcome an economy set up to fail working families. 

It’s why my number one priority is working with other members of Congress to take back our constitutionally given right to control tariffs which are hurting consumers, businesses, and our farmers. There must be a check on the executive branch. That is step one. 

I have always believed that good leadership starts with listening. You can’t represent people you don’t take the time to know. And you can’t understand South Dakota from behind a desk. That is why I have promised through this campaign to keep the town halls going once elected. It’s the job of your representative. 

Reaching all 66 counties wasn’t about checking boxes. It was about showing up, building relationships, and understanding what matters to the people who call our beautiful state home. 

To everyone who opened their door, attended a town hall, shared a cup of coffee, or stopped me on the street for a conversation, thank you. You have made me a better candidate, and you’ll make me a better representative.