Tracking the South Dakota Taliban

Update: Links fixed; the spreadsheet is now two .pdf files.

Given that a dozen or so states are preparing to follow South Dakota’s lead (Tennessee, Alabama, Missouri, and Indiana (among others) all have bills pending; states like Mississippi and Nebraska won’t be far behind), it would sure be nice if we could make an example of some of the South Dakota legislatures to discourage them.

I don’t know exactly how to accomplish this, but here are tables I compiled (warning: Excel file) with information on South Dakota Senate and House members (including vote on the abortion ban, phone and fax numbers, party registration in their districts, and 2004 election results). Maybe someone more politically savvy than I am can put it to good use. At first glance, it doesn’t look promising; the districts tend to vote overwhelmingly one way or the other, and swing districts are few and far between.

Below the fold, I’ve listed Democrats voting in favor of the ban (primary challengers, anyone?), districts where Republicans got less than 60% of the vote¹ (could be vulnerable--who knows?), and Republicans running unopposed (even a token challenge would force them to spend money). For more info, check out the SD Legislature website and the SD Elections website.

House

Democrats Voting for the ban:
Gassman, David District 8
Gillespie, Margaret District 16
Glenski, Mary District 15
Hargens, Dale District 22
Kroger, Michael District 25
Lange, Gerald District 8
Miles, Kathy District 15

Vulnerable (?) Republicans
Boomgarden, Jamie District 17
Deadrick, Thomas District 21
Dykstra, Joel District 16
Haverly, Jeffrey District 35
Heineman, Phyllis District 13
McCoy, Alice District 35
Peters, Deb District 9
Rausch, Val District 4
Schafer, Donna District 17

Republicans Running Unopposed
Brunner, Thomas District 29
Davis, Justin District 23
Hackl, Tom District 23
Hunhoff, Jean District 18
Hunt, Roger District 10
Jerke, Gary District 19
Klaudt, Ted District 28B
Krebs, Shantel District 10
Michels, Matthew District 18
Olson, Ryan District 24
Putnam, J.E. "Jim" District 19
Rhoden, Larry District 29
Rounds, Tim District 24
Wick, Hal District 12

Senate

Democrats Voting for the ban:
Bartling, Julie District 21
Kloucek, Frank District 19
Koetzle, Gil District 15
Moore, Garry District 18
Peterson, Jim District 4
Sutton, Dan District 8

Vulnerable (?) Republicans
Bogue, Eric District 28
Earley, William District 12
Hansen, Tom District 22
Kelly, Dick District 13
Koskan, John District 26
Smidt, Orville District 7

Republicans Running Unopposed
Abdallah, Gene District 10
Apa, Jerry District 31
Broderick, Mike District 16
Duenwald, Jay District 23
Gray, Bob District 24
Schoenbeck, Lee District 5

¹House elections are a little odd. Apparently, each district elects two House members; each party nominates (up to) two candidates, then they all run against each other (i.e., you vote for just one). For the House worksheet, I used the total of both Republican candidates.

[That's all, folks]