PIERRE — Governor Kristi Noem’s grasp on the South Dakota Republican Party got even tighter Thursday.

Madison Sheahan, a former Noem staffer — both in the governor’s office and on the campaign trail — has been tapped to be the executive director of the state GOP by the party’s executive committee and newly-elected chairman John Wiik.

Wiik, along with GOP vice chair Mary Fitzgerald, were the governor’s preferred choices in a contentious lead-up to last week’s party elections that took place in the Capitol city.

NEWS: Noem’s food tax cut bill filed in South Dakota legislature