May, Pourier and Foster retain Dist. 27 seats
Republican incumbent Liz May of Kyle and Democratic incumbent Peri Pourier of Rapid City both retained their seats in the Legislature.
This will be May's fifth term in the state legislature. She and her husband ranch 90 miles southeast of Rapid City and operate a grocery store in Kyle. She's been an advocate for the agriculture and ranching industry and for small businesses vital to South Dakota's economy.
"It's always an honor to step up to the plate," May told the Journal Wednesday.
May said SB 201, which would provide new statutory requirements for regulating linear transmission facilities, to allow counties to impose a surcharge on certain pipeline companies, and to establish a landowner bill of rights, was an issue this election season that "awakened a sleeping giant."
"It was allowing for Summit Carbon Solutions to come in. ... They wanted to run carbon pipelines from an ethanol plant to North Dakota to bury the carbon, and they were going on people's property with no permission and costing landowners tons and tons of money ... trying to protect their property," May said. "To me, it boiled down to private property rights."
The issue drew pushback from people across party lines. "It was a reach too far. They said 'no, we're not doing this,'" May said.
"The battle's not over. We're going to have to do something in Pierre to protect landowners and their property rights," she said.
While national politics dominate news cycles, May urges South Dakota citizens to continue to pay attention to local and state politics too.
"I'm feeling optimistic because citizens seem to have been more engaged this election than in prior elections," she said.
Property taxes and the way they are tied to school funding formulas are high on her list of other vital issues that need to be addressed.
"We've got to figure this out so our public schools are funded but citizens have a choice," May said. "My philosophy is you've got to get everything back as close to the people as possible. Most of the big decisions should be coming from local people. They know the need."
Pourier is a small business owner and Minority Whip. This will be Pourier's fourth term. She was not available for comment Wednesday.
First-time legislative candidate Elsie Meeks, a Democrat, did not win a House seat.
Meeks was persuaded to run for a House seat by Pourier and was pleased with Pourier's win.
"I had a lot of support from Peri," Meeks said. "She recruited me to run. .... I would prefer that Peri was in Pierre if I couldn't be. I do not want to be in Pierre if Peri's not going to be there. I'm really happy that Peri got back in. She does a good job."
Meeks is a full-time rancher, president of the board of directors for Lakota Funds in Kyle, and she serves on the board of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines. Had she been elected, Meeks said she would have focused on issues related to agriculture, economic development and affordable housing.
"There are opportunities that the tribe and state should work together on. I was looking forward to that," Meeks said. "But also, agriculture – I know how important it is. It's important to me and it is to most of my would-be constituents."
District 27 Senate
Democrat Sen. Red Dawn Foster secured her next term in the South Dakota legislature Tuesday, beating Republican challenger Anthony Kathol by less than 300 votes.
Out of the four counties District 27 represents, Foster only won one — Oglala Lakota County — where she received 88% of the vote (2,714).
Neither Foster nor Kathol were available for comment Wednesday.
PHOTOS: Rapid Citians turn out for Election DayVoters in Rapid City turn out to cast their ballots in the 2024 General Election on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.
A man votes on Nov. 5 at the Canyon Lake Activity Center in Rapid City. Rapid City voters head to the polls at West Park Apartments on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. Voters line up outside Rapid City's Community Center West to vote on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. A man turns in his ballot at West Park Apartments on General Election Day 2024. A poll worker assists voters at the Canyon Lake Activity Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. A woman gets her ballot at West Park Apartments on Tuesday, Nov. 5. A poll worker hands out ballots at the Canyon Lake Activity Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. Voters cast their ballots at the Canyon Lake Activity Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. A man casts his ballots at the Canyon Lake Activity Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. A woman casts her ballot at the Canyon Lake Activity Center on General Election Day 2024. Voters line up to cast their ballots in Rapid City on Election Day 2024. Voters leave with election materials after casting their ballots on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. Voters leave after casting their General Election ballots on Nov. 5, 2024. Voters leave Rapid City's Community Center West after casting their ballots on General Election Day 2024. Lines at several polling places — like here at Rapid City's Community Center West — were out-the-door on Election Day 2024. Poll workers hand out "I Voted" stickers to voters in Rapid City on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. A woman casts her ballot on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 at West Park Apartments in Rapid City. Voters cast their ballots at West Park Apartments in Rapid City. A poll worker hands out ballots at West Park Apartments on General Election Day 2024. An Indigenous child is given a sample ballot to practice voting on at General Beadle Elementary School in Rapid City. An Indigenous woman casts her vote at General Beadle Elementary School in Rapid City. A woman casts her vote at the Parkview Church on the south side of Rapid City. Voters throughout Rapid City, including at Bethel Church, Rapid City Christian School and Rapid City Community Center South, headed to the pol... An Indigenous man fills in his ballot at General Beadle Elementary School in Rapid City on Nov. 5. An Indigenous woman fills in her ballot at General Beadle Elementary in Rapid City on Nov. 5. A Vote Here sign sits outside of He Sapa New Life Church in Rapid City. A woman submits her ballot on Nov. 5 at the He Sapa New Life Church in Rapid City. A Native Votes Matter! sign sits outside of the COUP Council in Rapid City where volunteers are providing free rides to the polls. A woman casts her ballot at He Sapa New Life in Rapid City on Nov. 5. A ballot sits ready to be filled out on Tuesday, Nov. 5 at Bethel Church in Rapid City. Residents cast their vote on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, inside Bethel Church in Rapid City. Pennington County voters head to the polls at Valley View Elementary School Gym on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. Pennington County voters head to the polls at Valley View Elementary School Gym on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. A man votes while holding a child at Valley View Elementary School Gym on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Pennington County voters head to the polls at Valley View Elementary School Gym on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. Pennington County voters head to the polls at Valley View Elementary School Gym on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. Pennington and Meade County voters head to the polls at Box Elder City Hall on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. Pennington Co. and Meade Co. voters head to the polls at Box Elder City Hall on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. Pennington and Meade County voters head to the polls at Box Elder City Hall on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. Voters fill in their ballots at Parkview Church in Rapid City on Nov. 5. Voters fill in their ballots at General Beadle Elementary School in Rapid City on Nov. 5. Chuck Thibault poses with his 8-week old son, Gregory, after voting at Rapid City Community Center South on Tuesday, Nov. 5. "For the record, ... The American flag waves outside Rapid City Christian School on Tuesday, Nov. 5. The school was one of many polling cites throughout the area. Voters cast a ballot at Rapid City Christian School on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Election workers said about 1,000 people had voted by 11:30 a.m. Election workers were ready at Rapid City Christian School on Tuesday morning. Election workers help a woman as she gets ready to vote at Rapid City Christian School on Tuesday, Nov. 5. A blue sky with puffy clouds is the backdrop for an American flag waving outside Rapid City Christian School. Voters at Rapid City Christian School. A man and woman leave the Pennington County Administration building on Monday, Nov. 4 in Rapid City. Residents wait in line to vote while others cast their ballots at the Pennington County Administration building on Monday, Nov. 4 in Rapid City. Voting at Rapid City Community Center South.Darsha Dodge is the City Editor at the Rapid City Journal. Contact Darsha at .
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