Democrats will have U.S. House primary, Noem looks to be unopposed
Would-be GOP challengers failed to submit enough valid signatures.By: Tom Lawrence, The Daily Republic
There will be a primary for the Democratic nomination for South Dakota’s lone congressional seat.
Tuesday was the deadline to file petitions.
Both Matt Varilek and Jeff Barth submitted enough names to quality for the June 5 primary ballot, according to South Dakota Secretary of State Jason Gant.
Varilek submitted petitions with more than 2,000 names, while Barth submitted petitions with more than 1,300 names, according to Gant.
Democratic candidates needed 1,221 signatures to qualify for the ballot.
It appears Rep. Kristi Noem will be unopposed for the Republican nomination, Gant said in a telephone interview with The Daily Republic.
Noem submitted petitions with well more than 3,000 names on them, he said.
Republican candidates had to submit petitions with at least 1,955 names.
Two political newcomers from the Black Hills, Bill Cissell, of Sturgis, and Stephanie Strong, of Rapid City, did not qualify for the ballot Tuesday, according to Gant.
Strong submitted a petition with 1,906 valid signatures, 49 short of the required amount. Cissell has not submitted petitions.
Strong said she will check the names to see which ones were rejected.
She said if she cannot make the GOP ballot, she will collect names to be on the November ballot as an independent.
“We’re not done yet,” she said.
“Not by a long shot.”
Both Strong and Cissell had said they wished to challenge Noem in a primary.
Cissell could still send in petitions with enough signatures if they are sent in using registered mail, according to Gant.
Independent candidates for the House seat would qualify for the ballot if they submit petitions with at least 3,171 names by June 5, he said.
Gant said he will know more about who’s in and who’s out in the next few days.
Tags: election 2012, news, updates, politics, state
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