Billie Sutton names running mate right before SD Democractic Party meet in Sioux Falls

Democrat and gubernatorial hopeful Billie Sutton on Thursday announced that Sioux Falls businesswoman and former Republican Michelle Lavallee would be his running mate.

The announcement comes a day before the South Dakota Democratic Party is set to weigh her nomination Friday in Sioux Falls.

The pair touted the decision as a move to unite people despite their partisan affiliations. But it raised questions among critics, in both the Democratic and Republican Party.

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The pick brings gender diversity and potentially stronger Sioux Falls support for the Democrat who's strayed from highlighting his party affiliation, instead leaning into his moderate track record.

And it's a move that has yielded adverse results for Democrat Scott Heidepriem, who ran with Republican Ben Arndt and came up short in 2010.

Despite that, Sutton said the pick furthers his promise to work across the aisle and to bring people together.

“This proves it unequivocally," Sutton said. "We’ve chosen a well-respected Republican to join our team and shows that I’m willing to work with anybody as long as the idea is good.”

Lavallee said she changed her partisan registration weeks ago from Republican to Democrat to join the ticket.

“It’s true, I’ve been a Republican for decades, but that didn’t matter when I met Billie,” Lavallee said at the announcement. "We share the same values and that's all that really matters."

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Ahead of the news conference, Lavallee scanned through notes in a folder, which included her speech. Among the pages, an Argus Leader reporter spotted a note card with the question, "Do you consider yourself a D?"

When asked later whether she identifies with the state's minority party, Lavallee said she's never leaned into her partisan affiliation, but identified with fiscal conservatism and progressive social platforms.

“I think that being a Democrat and being a Republican, I think that I’ve never worn that label on my sleeve and I don’t think Billie does either,” she told reporters.

Whereas Sutton has supported efforts to limit a woman's access to abortion, Lavallee said that decision should be made by a woman and her doctor.

Lavallee leads a strategy and marketing group in Sioux Falls and has previously worked in marketing and strategic advancement with Cornerstone Financial Solutions, Raven Industries, Avera McKennan Hospital and the University of South Dakota.

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She also served as president of the Downtown Sioux Falls Rotary Club and has worked on various local boards and commissions.

Sutton is set to face Republican Kristi Noem in the November General Election.

Follow Dana Ferguson on Twitter @bydanaferguson, call 605-370-2493 or email dferguson@argusleader.com