PIERRE (AP) - The South Dakota Republican Party has donated $70,000 to a group opposing a ballot measure that would remove candidates' party affiliations from primary and general election ballots.
The donation announced Thursday kicks the party's cash and in-kind contributions to fight the measure past $100,000, but foes are still at a huge fundraising disadvantage in the race.
Since late May, a group supporting the amendment has taken in over $1.2 million in cash and in-kind contributions, including about $820,000 in cash from the New York nonprofit Open Primaries. In recent days, the campaign has reported more donations, including $20,000 from Republican supporter Joe Kirby.
Constitutional Amendment V would establish a nonpartisan primary that would send the top vote-getters to the general election; it wouldn't apply to presidential races.
