In recent weeks, the first-term governor flew to Florida to address a large gathering of conservative activists. He announced on Fox News that he had released an autobiography. He also criticized President Joe Biden’s energy policy during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The politician who tried to claim the title of the most conservative governor in the country has been met with considerable resistance from her party members. They have obstructed key aspects of her agenda, including school prayer, COVID-19 exemptions, and how racism is taught at schools.
Brent Buchanan, a Republican pollster, says that intraparty quarrels in Donald Trump’s GOP are not a liability. In fact, they may be an asset to politicians trying to win favor with him and his supporters.
Buchanan stated that it was beneficial for her to not pass (her agenda) as much as if they did. “Trump has prompted Republican leaders to consider the unfaithful in their own ranks.”
Republicans rejected Noem’s plan to make K-12 schools free from “critical race theory,” a controversial academic concept that has become a rallying cry for the right. Later, they passed a bill that applied to universities. However, it was not before limiting its scope.
Noem opened the session by setting out a list of demands for social conservatives. She has had to navigate a divided Legislature, with conservatives pushing for strict social policy and a GOP establishment that is more focused on bread and butter issues. About half of the proposals the governor presented in her State of the State speech to the beginning of the session were rejected by lawmakers.
Noem has always been open to disagreeing with the Legislature. However, this winter’s resentful behavior boiled. Spencer Gosch, Republican House Speaker, accused Noem of being more interested in TV headlines than building legislative support for her plans at home.
Noem is a skilled performer in Trump’s Republican Party. She won Trump’s endorsement last month for her reelection campaign. Images of Noem riding a motorcycle to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally on horseback, carrying an American flag and showing off a flamethrower, are abundantly shared by her social media accounts.
Her move to the Republican White House list was marred by her failure to sign a bill banning transgender girls and college-aged women from participating in school sports that are compatible with their gender identities.
To placate conservatives angry, Noem introduced a ban on transgender athletes through the Legislature in this year’s session. She promoted her proposal via a series of Fox News TV ads that said she “never back down” on the issue.
It appears that it worked with this element of the national party.
Terry Schilling, president and CEO of the conservative American Principles Project said that “I think this has really fixed her image.” “Seeing her sign this has made me more supportive of her.”
However, some in both parties view that bill and others as being aimed primarily at Noem’s national ambitions.
“You have a governor trying to get her name heard and unfortunately that’s what many of these bills are — they’re to be used as election material, not to effect any real policy changes,” stated Democratic state Senator. Troy Heinert. “It seems to me that we’re trying out-crazy Texas, and Florida.”
Noem is a fan of Trump’s bombast and has been naming-calling her fellow Republicans on Twitter when they do anything she does not like. It’s a tactic that can backfire in Pierre, a small town with a few elected officials. Pierre lawmakers are proud of their decorum and refer to each other as “friend” or even “good representatives” during debates.
She complained that two Republican legislators were acting like “wolves dressed as sheep” when they proposed a ban on vaccine mandates for last year. She took to YouTube to complain about the “corruption” of two Republican lawmakers for not being able to reach an agreement on the state budget.
Noem stated that she was “screwed in any way,” referring to her tense relationship in particular with Gosch. She has been accused of interfering in an impeachment inquiry of the attorney general after a fatal traffic accident. It’s been probably one of my biggest struggles because I know he wants to blame me for everything.
Jon Schaff, a Northern State University political science professor, said that “a lot of bridges were burned.” “There’s a rump section of the Republican Party that doesn’t agree with Kristi Noem.”
Even former allies of the governor, lawmakers said that they were often left out after challenging her.
Rhonda Milstead, a Republican Representative, said that the “breakdown” is simply not keeping in touch with people. She was appointed to the Legislature after Noem killed the trans-athlete bill.
Noem may choose to pursue a higher office, so the drama at home might not be as important. Ten years ago, Minnesota U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann was more known for her advocacy of far-right social causes than for lawmaking. She made a big splash in the GOP race to be president in 2012.
Noem said that she is focusing on her reelection campaign later in the year. By just 3 points, she won her first term in 2018, beating Billie Sutton (Democratic state lawmaker). She had a compelling personal story about a former professional rodeo cowboy, who was paralysed and had to overcome it in order to pursue a second career as a politician.
This year, the race will be very different. Noem has raised $11.8 million, a record amount. He is also known in the red states as the governor who saved businesses from closing during the pandemic.
Some of her backers already look beyond November — and beyond South Dakota.
“There will be plenty people raising her flag, regardless of whether it’s to be President Trump’s running mate, should that he decides to engage, or to be a bona fide candidate for the Republican nomination,” stated Ken Blackwell, cochairman of pro-Trump America First Policy Institute.
