South Dakota Democrats nominate former U.S. Attorney for legal post
Tatewin Means
Tatewin Means was live.
ICT editorial team
Mark Trahant
Indian Country Today
South Dakota Democrats voted by a two-thirds margin to nominate former U.S. Attorney Randy Seiler as their candidate for Attorney General.
At the party convention, Tatewin Means gave a rousing speech, earned a standing ovation, and then was passed over for the establishment candidate.
Seiler told delegates: "I am confident that I am the most qualified candidate in this race. I am confident that I can win this race."
The experience argument has been his theme throughout the campaign.
Means Means is a citizen of the Sisseton Wahpeton Dakota and she is Oglala Lakota. On Facebook, Means wrote: "Thank you South Dakota Democratic Party for your standing ovation after my delegate remarks. #HelpTateWIN"
She told the delegates that she was a candidate for those who have been silenced or ignored for far too long. "South Dakota deserves honest, trustworthy and inclusive leadership," she said. "I come from marginalized and disenfranchised communities ..." and she hopes to make South Dakota a true, representative democracy.
South Dakota Democrats also nominated:
- Lieutenant governor: Michelle Lavallee. (Lavallee was controversial because she's a former Republican.)
- Commissioner of School and Public Lands: Woody Houser
- Public Utilities Commissioner: Wayne Frederick
- State Auditor: Tom Cool
- State Treasurer: Aaron Matson
- And no candidate was selected for Secretary of State.
Mark Trahant is editor of Indian Country Today. He is a member of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes. Follow him on Twitter - @TrahantReports
