Gov. Noem backing potential replacement for Lederman as South Dakota GOP chair

Race could pit wings of state Republican Party against one another

State Sen. John Wiik (center) and outgoing state Rep. Taffy Howard are among the potential replacements for retiring South Dakota GOP Chairman Dan Lederman.

With election season in the rearview mirror, both political parties in South Dakota are bracing for shakeups in their organizational leadership teams. 

Current GOP Chairman Dan Lederman announced via a news release Monday that he’s decided to relinquish the title he’s held for six years. During his tenure, the party experienced unprecedented increases in the number of registered Republicans in the state.

Lederman’s departure sets up a potentially contentious contest pitting the Republican Party establishment against the ultra conservatives within the state GOP.

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