The South Dakota Democratic Party has elected Brown County’s Jennifer Slaight-Hansen to lead the political organization for the next two years.

The former Aberdeen City Councilor defeated John Cunningham of Sioux Falls during the party’s annual State Central Committee meeting Saturday in Oacoma, walloping the retired public administrator with 92 percent of the delegate vote.

She succeeds current chairman Randy Seiler, who has filled the position since 2019.

Both candidates told attendees — virtual and in-person — about the party’s fundraising deficiencies, but Slaight-Hansen leaned into her connection with young people. She said too many are registering independent in South Dakota, a trend that needs to be addressed before the Democratic Party can grow in South Dakota.

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