South Dakota’s Noem, Thune repel GOP challenges from right

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem has won the Republican primary for another term, defeating a former legislative leader who accused her of using the office to mount a 2024 White House bid. The first-term governor’s primary win Tuesday (June 7, 2022) against former South Dakota House Speaker Steve Haugaard gives her a commanding advantage in November. She’ll face Democratic state Rep. Jamie Smith, who did not face a primary challenger. Noem has used this election fundraising cycle to collect a record amount of money for a South Dakota gubernatorial candidate — bringing in more than $15 million from a series of fundraisers all over the country. Republicans Sen. John Thune and Rep. Dusty Johnson also won their primary campaigns on Tuesday.