There’s no doubt that thanks to former President Donald Trump, we’re seeing a whole new kind of Republican rising through the political ranks. Most of this new blood in the Republican Party is a breath of fresh air. They are individuals who have solid principles, practice what they preach, and aren’t afraid to stand boldly for truth in the face of great opposition.
In other words, they are the exact opposite of the GOP establishment. This might explain why those individuals who are part of said establishment aren’t big fans of the new crop of conservatives taking their jobs. Too bad for them.
One of the individuals who is part of this crew is South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a woman who is a firecracker that is the very definition of bold. According to the New York Post, Noem released a campaign ad back in June that featured her riding on horseback across a grassy field that told the audience to “Saddle Up….We’re Just Getting Started.”
The commercial was pushed out big time on Facebook. Not only to voters in South Dakota, but to folks living in several key presidential primary states such as New Hampshire, Nevada, and Iowa. As you might imagine, this got folks thinking that Noem could be considering a potential bid for the White House in 2024. That would really make the potential field for the next presidential race super stacked.
“Watching Noem enter a local business near the state Capitol, the governor exudes all the swagger of a no-nonsense rancher in worn jeans, a cowboy hat and boots. But on the subject of a presidential run, she is coy,” the report said.
“When people ask me that, I don’t know what to say,” she went on to say. “I’m not convinced that it has to be me. I think there’s a lot of people interested in running for president but … I certainly would never say that I wouldn’t run.”
“While the ad is meant to boost her gubernatorial re-election chances come November, Noem said it also serves as a message about all South Dakota has to offer — not just to visit, but as a potential new home,” New York Post reported.
“In 2020, when the rest of the country was shutting down, we ran ads across the country inviting people to come to South Dakota, and it changed everything for our state economically. People came overwhelmingly and visited and the ads put us on people’s radar,” the South Dakota governor stated.
Back at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, Noem recalled, she wouldn’t invoke the kind of sweeping executive powers that were put into use by many other governors all over the U.S., which ended up forcing millions of Americans to work from home while also leading to the closure of thousands of businesses. Quite a few of these closures ended up being permanent.
Noem then said that the approach she used to handle the pandemic caught the attention of folks all over the country who were looking for somewhere to visit that took a balanced approach to the situation.
“When folks started coming here to visit, they soon found out they wanted to live here. So our economy’s thriving and, I believe, the best in the country because of decisions like that,” Noem said.
Here’s a bit more information about Noem and her time in public service via the NY Post report:
She’s not wrong. In 2021, South Dakota jumped 14 spots in the U-Haul Growth Index to No. 11 among states attracting inbound movers. Newcomers accounted for 52% of all one-way U-Haul traffic in South Dakota that year. And the 2021 National Movers Study placed South Dakota at No. 2 in the US for states where people are looking to relocate.
South Dakota is one of the most striking yet least populated states in America, boasting striking rock formations, ancient hot springs, soaring Black Hills and endless hikes for those who love wide-open space. It’s also home to Mount Rushmore, which attracted approximately 2.53 million visitors last year.
Noem started out serving South Dakota in the state legislature in 2007, moving in 2011 to the US House of Representatives, where she stayed until she was sworn in as governor in 2019. Now Noem is running for re-election against South Dakota state Rep. Jamie Smith, in a race she is widely expected to win.
It wouldn’t be a big shock if she did decide to throw her hat in the ring, especially if, for some strange reason, Trump decides not to run. That doesn’t seem likely, however. Noem would be an excellent fit for a vice presidential candidate should Trump win the Republican Party nomination for president. Lots of people want to see DeSantis in that role, which would be awesome too.
Guess we’ll know whether Noem will run or not after the midterms.
