HURON (9-8-26) — Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden and Democratic challenger Dan Ahlers debated this weekend at the South Dakota State Fair.
Both candidates criticized President Trump’s decision to import more foreign beef.
Rhoden said he was disappointed… “I have supported President Trump on a lot of the things he’s done. His latest announcement on the 300-thousand metric tons of ground beef coming to South Dakota is not one of them, and I don’t support that. I thought he was wrong-headed in his logic, and the things that came out of that administration trying to defend it I think were weak.”
Ahlers said Trump is ignoring American producers… “This was not the first time that Trump had talked about bringing in imported beef, and we have to be a stronger advocate for our farmers and ranchers — and that means also working with our members of congress to make sure that that happens. And I think we have to be there, we have to continue to beat that drum, and I think that’s what we can do. Obviously he didn’t listen.”
When it comes to education funding, Ahlers said the state isn’t keeping its promises… “The last two years we have not met what we are required to to fund education. In fact it’s the consumer price index for urban wage earners or three percent — whichever’s less. And we did half of what the inflation rate was. We need to honor that statutory commitment. That’s the first place that we can start.”
Rhoden said South Dakota schools are properly funded… “In the Noem-Rhoden administration, for the last eight years — if you took all eight years and added the statutory increases that were applied over those eight years — we’re still this year 7.6 percent above where we would’ve been if we’d have just followed the statute. So I reject any arguments that say we haven’t made education a priority.”
Both candidates were also asked about Amendment I — a proposal to repeal expanded Medicaid in South Dakota if federal funding for it drops below 90 percent.
Ahlers said Medicaid is worth fighting for… “Our elected officials should have been working and advocating to keep that funding there, because we know that when we have healthcare and everyone has access to it we all do better. Keep in mind that most people that are on Medicaid, over 60 percent are children. They don’t control their circumstances.”
Rhoden said Amendment I will not necessarily end Medicaid expansion in South Dakota… “If the feds drop their percent from 90 percent to a lower number, then it removes that provision out of our constitution. It doesn’t end Medicaid expansion. That would take further action to do that — probably legislatively or on the ballot. So it’s not true to say that would end it.”
Ahlers said he sees the proposed amendment as part of a pattern of lawmakers ignoring voters… “When we passed minimum wage, the legislature came back the next year (and) tried to undo it. When the citizens of South Dakota passed Medicaid expansion, the legislature came in and tried to undo it. When the people of South Dakota passed recreational (and) medicinal marijuana, the governor worked with law enforcement to undo the will of the people.”
Rhoden took issue with that comment and said state lawmakers do not ignore voters… “To say that we’re denying or ignoring the will of voters is also patently false. Again what this initiative does is if they — the feds — go back on their promise that we voted on and reduce the funding to less than 90 percent, we have the ability to say ‘wait a minute.'”
This weekend’s debate was hosted by the South Dakota Farmers Union. Election day is November 3. Early voting starts September 18.
— Brookings Radio News
