Former Sen. Ryan Maher was the last Democratic lawmaker who switched to the Republican Party. He switched in 2011 after serving as a Democrat from 2007 to 2010, while representing a portion of northwestern South Dakota and the Cheyenne River Reservation.

Nathan Sanderson, a Republican, executive director of the South Dakota Retailers Association and former director of policy and operations in the Daugaard administration, said one of the state’s greatest economic development successes is the dairy industry.

Baxter will be running against current Secretary of State Monae Johnson, who is seeking re-election, and Terrence Davis, a former SD State Trooper.

Madison Republican state Sen. Casey Crabtree announced Monday that he is running for South Dakota’s lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

It looks like Republicans will have at least two candidates when they choose their nominee for South Dakota secretary of state next year. Rep. Heather Baxter of Rapid City said on Monday she’s running.

South Dakota News Watch and South Dakota Public Broadcasting are building on an effort they started ahead of last year’s election with several upcoming televised and in-person events.