South Dakota GOP spends $17,500 on Noem’s book

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — The South Dakota Republican Party bought plenty of copies of Gov. Kristi Noem’s newest book.

According to the pre-primary campaign finance report filed May 20, 2024 by the South Dakota Republican Party, 60.1% of the operational money spent by the party in the pre-primary period of January 2024 to May 15, 2024 went to a “books purchase.”

You can view the campaign finance report attached below.

John Wiik, chair of the SD Republican Party, told KELOLAND News the $17,523 was spent on 1,000 copies of Noem’s book, “No Going Back,” which was released on May 7.

Wiik said these books were given out to attendees at the party’s convention in early June.

This was a $17,523 purchase, out of a total of $29,143.57 in operational expenditures, which included $2,509.69 for advertising, $82 in bank fees, $5,095.69 for event expenses, $291.46 for office supplies, $1,104.48 for printing and $2,537.25 for rent.

The party also spent $10,162 on contributions to candidates or committees.

Total income for the party in the pre-primary period was $20,097.65.

Their starting balance before income and expenditures was $107,722.58, and their ending balance at the end of the pre-primary period was $88,514.66.

When asked about contributions to the party recently, Wiik said he’d like to see more given, but conceded that in state with a Republican supermajority, the urgency by GOP voters may be low.

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