Seven South Dakota ballot measures, $7 million and counting: Reports reveal total spending

Another fine article from the South Dakota Searchlight, summing up spending on the seven measures on our ballots here in the Rushmore State.

Seven ballot measures, $7 million and counting: Reports reveal total spending
by Joshua Haiar, South Dakota Searchlight

Millions more raised and likely spent since pre-election reporting deadline

Ballot question campaigns in South Dakota had collectively spent about $7 million this year by their Oct. 21 reporting deadline, according to a South Dakota Searchlight analysis, and they’ve likely spent millions more since then that won’t be fully disclosed until the next spending reports in January.

There are seven statewide ballot questions under consideration by South Dakotans in the Nov. 5 general election.

Groups campaigning for an open primary system were the top spenders as of the deadline, committing approximately $1.6 million to sway voters toward a “yes” on Amendment H. The amendment would change future primary elections so that all candidates, regardless of party, would be on a single ballot open to all voters. The top two vote-getters would advance to the general election. The top four would advance in races with two winners, such as state House districts. 

The “no” groups on abortion rights had spent about $1.5 million to defeat the measure by the reporting deadline. Abortion is currently banned in the state, with one exception for abortions necessary to save the life of the mother. Amendment G would legalize abortion while allowing for restrictions in the second trimester of pregnancy and a ban in the third trimester, with mandatory exceptions to protect the life or health of the pregnant woman.

The candidates, the ballot measures, and the tools you need to cast your vote.

Supporters of a law containing new regulations on carbon dioxide pipelines, Referred Law 21, had spent over $1.4 million to secure “yes” votes by the filing deadline. The law would establish financial and other protections for landowners and counties affected by pipelines. It would also help maintain a regulatory path forward for a CO2 pipeline supported by the ethanol industry and opposed by some landowners along the route. 

Supporters of adult marijuana legalization, Initiated Measure 29, had spent more than $920,000 by the filing deadline. 

Beyond these top-spending groups, several others reported expenditures below $400,000.

One of those was Dakotans for Health, a ballot question committee supporting both the abortion rights measure, which is Amendment G, and Initiated Measure 28, which the group describes as a repeal of state sales taxes on groceries. The group reported expenditures of more than $270,000 at the filing deadline, without distinguishing expenses for one campaign or the other.

Ballot question committees are required to file supplemental reports about fundraising in the days leading up to the election. Those reports have reflected significant recent activity, such as $500,000 contributions from out-of-state groups for both the pro and con sides of the abortion measure. Further committee reports detailing spending aren’t due until Jan. 31.

This South Dakota Searchlight article is republished online under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Photo:  A Sioux Falls resident votes in the city and school board election at Southern Hills United Methodist Church on April 9, 2024. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight).

Related posts

• PAC'n Heat sends anti-Mark Robinson post card against Republican SD1 House candidates
• Dark money in SD: Virginia nonprofit outspends in-state groups in open primaries campaign
• Ethanol is fueling support of South Dakota carbon pipeline ballot measure
• Jeepers: ethanol coop kicks in another $400,000 to support carbon pipeline ballot question 
• SD abortion-rights measure opposition gets $500,000 from Leonard Leo's Concord Group 
• Cannabis industry is major funder of South Dakota pot legalization ballot question 

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