Searchlight Report

How governor candidate Dusty Johnson says he would ‘strike the right balance’ on data centers

In this special edition of the Searchlight Report, host Meghan O’Brien interviews U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson [https://southdakotasearchlight.com/tag/dusty-johnson/], one of four people running for the Republican nomination for governor of South Dakota. In a series of four episodes [https://southdakotasearchlight.com/tag/2026-gop-governor-primary-interviews/], O’Brien asked all four candidates [https://southdakotasearchlight.com/voter-guides/contests/2026-republican-gubernatorial-primary/] the same set of questions on topics including abortion, relationships with tribal nations, climate change, taxes and Medicaid. She also asked each candidate to share a “big idea” for South Dakota. South Dakota’s primary election [https://southdakotasearchlight.com/voter-guides/2026-primary-election/] is June 2.

Governor candidate Jon Hansen calls state’s approach to economic development a ‘breeding ground of corruption’

In this special edition of the Searchlight Report, host Meghan O’Brien interviews Jon Hansen [https://southdakotasearchlight.com/tag/jon-hansen/], speaker of the state House and one of four people running [https://southdakotasearchlight.com/voter-guides/contests/2026-republican-gubernatorial-primary/] for the Republican nomination for governor of South Dakota. In a series of four episodes, O’Brien asked all four candidates the same set of questions on topics including abortion, relationships with tribal nations, climate change, taxes and Medicaid. She also asked each candidate to share a “big idea” for South Dakota. South Dakota’s primary election is June 2. EDITOR'S NOTE: Hansen's campaign said a noticeable irregularity in the quality of his voice during this episode was due to "minor technical difficulties."

‘We owe it to society’ to rehabilitate inmates, Gov. Larry Rhoden says amid campaign debates about prisons

In this special edition of the Searchlight Report, host Meghan O’Brien interviews Gov. Larry Rhoden [https://southdakotasearchlight.com/tag/larry-rhoden/], one of four people [https://southdakotasearchlight.com/voter-guides/contests/2026-republican-gubernatorial-primary/] running for the Republican nomination for governor of South Dakota. In a series of four episodes, O’Brien asked all four candidates the same set of questions on topics including abortion, relationships with tribal nations, climate change, taxes and Medicaid. She also asked each candidate to share a “big idea” for South Dakota. South Dakota’s primary election is June 2.

How governor candidate Toby Doeden says he’ll phase out property taxes

In this special edition of the Searchlight Report, host Meghan O’Brien interviews Toby Doeden [https://southdakotasearchlight.com/tag/toby-doeden/], an Aberdeen businessman and one of four Republicans [https://southdakotasearchlight.com/voter-guides/contests/2026-republican-gubernatorial-primary/] running for their party's nomination for governor of South Dakota. In a series of four episodes, O’Brien asked all four candidates the same set of questions on topics including abortion, relationships with tribal nations, climate change, taxes and Medicaid. She also asked each candidate to share a “big idea” for South Dakota. South Dakota’s primary election is June 2.

Higher sales taxes for lower property taxes: How South Dakotans will be affected

This week’s episode of Searchlight Report features Reporters Joshua Haiar and Makenzie Huber and Editor Seth Tupper in conversation with host Meghan O’Brien about their series [https://southdakotasearchlight.com/tag/sales-taxes-up-and-property-taxes-down-what-it-means-for-you/] on how and when South Dakotans will be impacted by new laws that use higher sales taxes to reduce property taxes.