DECEMBER 26, 2023:
Democratic state party leaders were invited to the White House by President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden.
SDDP Chair Shane Merrill and Executive Director Dan Ahlers attended the White House Holiday Reception. Merrill says it was an honor of a lifetime.
“It was a really neat experience for a farm kid from Parker,” said Merrill. “When I got back involved with the state party last spring, I never could have dreamed an opportunity like this would present itself. I think it’s good for South Dakota as a whole to let the national folks know we are out here.
“We were able to meet some great folks from DC and push for the filling of the vacant judgeships,” continued Merrill. “Dan and I are working constantly on this issue. I also spoke with Vice President Kamala Harris and her aides in St. Louis in October about this important issue.”
“We were able to reconnect with Sen. Doug Jones who was our featured speaker earlier this year at McGovern Day,” said Ahlers. “I met with DNC Chair Jaime Harrison and visited about our progress and needs as a state party.”
Dan and his wife Amy also met actor Sean Astin, known for starring in movies such as The Goonies, Rudy and Lord of the Rings. Astin is also a mental health advocate. Following his mother’s death in 2016, he created a foundation to continue her work to make mental health guidance more accessible. “Access to mental health professionals in South Dakota is a real problem,” said Ahlers.
“President Biden shared his thanks and appreciation for the work we are doing in South Dakota. He highlighted his administration’s record investments in our country’s infrastructure, low unemployment, record job growth and lowering inflation.
“When you take a moment to reflect, we have a lot to be thankful for this holiday season,” Ahlers said.
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DECEMBER 13, 2023:
Last week, South Dakota Democratic Sen. Reynold Nesiba and Rep. Oren Lesmeister, along with their wives Erika and Tracy, were invited by President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden to a Holiday Reception at the White House.
Both said they were in awe of the holiday decorations as well as the military band that played during the event. Rep. Lesmeister says it was one of the greatest highlights of his legislative career so far.
“Once inside I found myself staring more and more at the architecture and the paintings and pictures on the walls of former presidents and first ladies, and thinking to myself about how many world leaders have been in the same area I was standing in,” said Rep. Lesmeister.
The two met with several state and tribal officials from across the country, including the former Democratic Governor of Virginia Terry McAuliffe. Rep. Lesmeister and his wife Tracy were even able to get a selfie with President Biden.
“President Biden’s main message was simply ‘thank you’,” said Sen. Nesiba. “He said that city, county, state and tribal leaders are on the front line of meeting constituent needs. The President said he wanted the federal government to ‘be helpful, not hurtful’ in helping us do the work we do.”
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