VIEWPOINT | Doeden’s disruption to South Dakota status quo harkens Janklow
Guest column by Scott Eccarius, former House Speaker
South Dakota has elected just one anti-establishment governor in the last half-century: Bill Janklow. The late Washington Post columnist David Broder called him a “combination of ‘prairie populist’ and ‘street-smart kid’” in an article 40 years ago. South Dakota Republicans may choose a second on July 28: Toby Doeden.
One always had my support — Janklow; the other, Doeden, now does.
I’m drawn to anti-establishment candidates and the qualities they bring with them that status quo candidates do not. They’re not encumbered by special interests, donors or political alliances, nor do they let long-held political views become ideological roadblocks. They tend to offer big ideas, and they are willing to challenge political norms to accomplish them.
