Staff Reports
South Dakota’s Republican senators, John Thune and Mike Rounds, have endorsed Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) for the 2024 GOP nomination. This has not deterred former President Donald Trump from visiting South Dakota on September 8th for a “Monumental Leaders Rally” at Mount Rushmore. Governor Kristi Noem, a strong supporter of Trump, will be attending the event and is often mentioned as a potential running mate for Trump in 2024.
South Dakota has been a reliably red state, voting for Republicans in presidential elections since 1964. President Biden’s chances of winning the state in 2024 are slim to none. Following his visit to South Dakota, Trump will make an appearance at the California Republican Party’s fall convention on September 29th. However, he won’t have the spotlight to himself as Governor Ron DeSantis, a potential primary rival, is also scheduled to speak at the event.
Donald Trump to hit state Republican party events in California and South Dakota. https://t.co/VCbO0AtgIX
— Sandy 🥁🙋♀️😎 (@sj_pete) August 25, 2023
Trump’s campaign has successfully influenced changes to California’s GOP primary rules that are expected to benefit him. Under the new rules, a candidate who receives over 50% of the state’s vote will win all 169 delegates. If no candidate reaches this threshold, delegates will be awarded proportionally. This change is crucial for Trump, who has widespread support and name recognition in California.
Senator Scott is focusing heavily on Iowa, where the Republican caucuses will be held on January 15. He has been actively campaigning in the state, attending town hall events and participating in candidate interview programs. While Trump remains the overwhelming favorite among Iowa caucusgoers, Scott has secured third place in a recent poll, with 9% of respondents choosing him as their first choice. Additionally, over 50% of likely Republican caucusgoers see Scott as a potential candidate, giving him room to grow if Trump’s popularity declines. As the 2024 election draws closer, the battle for the GOP nomination is heating up, and candidates like Scott are leaving no stone unturned in their pursuit of the presidential bid.
