Dana Ferguson

dferguson@argusleader.com

A faction of conservative Republicans left Pierre this session feeling spurned for their stances on teacher pay and transgender legislation.

Now, some of them say they won't be going back.

As their peers submit nomination petitions ahead of Tuesday's deadline, a handful of conservative lawmakers say they don’t plan to seek re-election. Some blame frustration and disappointment with the governor, along with public criticism they faced for statements on controversial legislation.

Among the legislators who say they don't plan to return to Pierre is Sen. David Omdahl, R-Sioux Falls, who received flack from voters after he told constituents at a legislative coffee event last month that transgender people were “twisted” and needed psychological help.

“I don’t like the dictatorial style of our governor or the dictatorial style of the leadership in the Senate,” Omdahl said. “I don’t like the cronyism. I don’t like the legislators meeting at the governor’s mansion every week to discuss policy. It’s political incest.”

Omdahl and others said they were disappointed in fellow legislators' decision to support a half-cent sales tax increase intended to boost the state's lowest-in-the-nation teacher pay. And that disappointment escalated to anger when Gov. Dennis Daugaard vetoed a so-called transgender bathroom bill .

"That was the final straw," Omdahl said.

Story continues below video.

The bill would have made South Dakota the first state to bar transgender students from public school bathrooms, locker rooms and shower rooms that don't match their biological sex. The bill didn't gain the required two-thirds majority required in the House to override the governor's veto.

"The governor believes he and all legislators were elected to exercise their best judgment," Daugaard's Chief of Staff Tony Venhuizen said in a statement. "The education package followed very closely the recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Task Force, which included 10 legislators and passed both houses with strong support from both parties."

Sen. Bill Van Gerpen, R-Tyndall, said the governor's education package and veto of the transgender bathroom bill helped prompt his decision not to return to Pierre next year. He said he'll consider returning in the future, but isn't happy with the way the executive branch influenced policy.

“You put all that together and it’s just too much to take,” Van Gerpen said.

Sen. Ried Holien, R-Watertown, submitted nomination petitions to the secretary of state’s office but withdrew them. Holien also supported the transgender bill and opposed a proposed sales tax hike for teacher pay. He didn't respond to multiple calls seeking comment.

Another conservative lawmaker said she planned to hang it up after this session, but the decisions on the education bills and the transgender bill cemented that sentiment.

“That was just sort of the frosting on the cake,” Sen. Betty Olson, R-Prairie City, said. “It became clear that it was more than time for me to go home.”

Sens. Phyllis Heineman, R-Sioux Falls, and David Novstrup, R-Aberdeen, as well as Rep. Michele Harrison, R-Mobridge, all said they'd planned to retire from the Legislature before session started and opposition to their positions on a sales tax increase hadn't changed that.

“That didn’t factor into my decision,” Novstrup said. “It might have made it a little easier to leave, but I already knew I wasn’t running for re-election.”

Others say they’ll reluctantly return to the Capitol.

Rep. Elizabeth May, R-Kyle, said she didn’t plan to return to Pierre after she faced backlash from teachers and education lobbyists for not supporting a sales tax hike for teacher pay.

“I guess my name got thrown in the hat,” May said. “My husband mailed my petitions.”

May said she won't be eager to get back to Pierre if voters in her district re-elect her, though.

“It’s about the same level of anticipation as going to the dentist,” May said.

Follow Dana Ferguson on Twitter@bydanaferguson

Who's out?

A handful of conservative Republican lawmakers say they won't seek re-election this year.

Rep. Michele Harrison, R-Mobridge

Sens. Phyllis Heineman, R-Sioux Falls

Sen. Ried Holien, R-Watertown

David Novstrup, R-Aberdeen

Sen. Betty Olson, R-Prairie City

Sen. David Omdahl, R-Sioux Falls

Sen. Bill Van Gerpen, R-Tyndall

Daugaard approves state-subsidized scholarships

Buffer strips bill vetoed