OPINION

Argus Leader Editorial Board | Argus Leader

Briana Sanchez / Argus Leader

When Kristi Noem earned 57 percent of the vote in a surprisingly decisive Republican primary win over Marty Jackley in June, many political observers were ready to hand her the keys to the governor’s mansion.

That’s typically how it works in South Dakota, where the Grand Old Party reigns supreme and Democrats infamously haven’t won a race for governor since 1974.

In some ways, this permanence of one-party rule has hindered progress. Ethical lapses and shrinking accountability allowed the Gear Up and EB-5 scandals to fester, while legislative crusades on social issues – transgender policy, immigration restrictions, abortion rights – have placed South Dakota far right of national norms.

One could argue that’s fair game for an electorate that chose Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton by 30 points. But for a state that has seen Democratic figures such as George McGovern, Jim Abourezk, Tom Daschle, Tim Johnson and Stephanie Herseth make an impact in Washington, a multiplicity of interests within the state is hard to find.

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Much of the blame lies with the South Dakota Democratic Party, which has failed to put forth candidates with the qualifications or political breadth to attract voters from outside their affiliation. In that respect, Billie Sutton came around at just the right time.

The four-term state senator from Burke doesn’t represent a shock to the system for voters. He’s a pro-life Democrat who supports gun rights and pledges fiscal conservatism rather than tax and spend.

His ranching and rodeo background give him insight into the fabric of South Dakota beyond fast-developing Sioux Falls, and his personal triumph over adversity strengthens his political resolve.

Loren Townsley / Argus Leader,

When we endorsed Noem in the GOP primary, we pointed to the fact that she could make history as the state’s first female governor and bring much-needed change to Pierre.

But Sutton represents a substantial leadership shift that could benefit all South Dakotans, not just those who fit a certain ideology. For voters who approved Initiated Measure 22 in 2016 to deal with corruption, only to see it torn asunder by Republican legislators, his plans for greater oversight ring true.

On top of advocating for stronger ethics legislation as minority leader, Sutton has campaigned for governor on enforcing stricter lobbyist limits, protecting whistleblowers, forming an ethics commission and reining in campaign finance.

Briana Sanchez / Argus Leader

For her part, Noem has also pledged to clean up Pierre. But a Republican chief executive in a heavily Republican state has less incentive to do so.

The four-term U.S. House member is more conservative than outgoing governor Dennis Daugaard on most social issues, which means no veto on potentially discriminatory legislation and no check on South Dakota criminalizing abortion if the Supreme Court throws the issue back to the states.

It’s debatable whether voters see Noem’s experience in Washington as a positive, considering that Congress has a national approval rating of 21 percent. She was a key player in pushing through federal tax reform that has contributed to a $779 billion deficit, making it too unpopular for most GOP candidates to tout on the campaign trail.

The Congresswoman also failed to score points by tarring Sutton as a tax-happy Democrat for supporting a 2016 half-penny sales tax hike to boost teacher pay – a measure spearheaded by Daugaard and other Republican leaders and bolstered by a Blue Ribbon Task Force on school funding.

Noem’s insistence that her administration would not require task forces or committees seems to fly in the face of Daugaard’s success in finally addressing the teacher pay issue – a rare example of bi-partisan cooperation in Pierre and one that he undertook despite political cost.

The role of South Dakota’s chief executive should not be defined by blind party allegiance, but rather an understanding of what is best for all citizens. Sutton’s more moderate and collaborative approach could be just what our state government needs to restore confidence in its ability to seek progress, avoid prejudice and pave the way for a limitless future.