Riley Gaines, a former swimmer at the University of Kentucky who's been outspoken about transgender athletes competing in women's sports, is featured in a campaign ad for Gov. Kristi Noem that attacks Noem’s opponent, Sioux Falls state Rep. Jamie Smith.

The ad comes less than a month ahead of the Nov. 8 election and could provide cover for the first-term Republican on a topic where she took criticism from within the GOP in the past.

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