Big time for S.D. Republicans: Thune vying for GOP leadership, Noem hopes Trump picks her as running mate
South Dakotans could have major roles in shaping government policy in 2025 — if a few chips fall in place.
Sen. Mitch McConnell announced Wednesday that he will end his record tenure as Senate Republican leader at the end of the year. McConnell has served as the top Republican in the upper chamber since 2007, but at 82, his health has been in question. After a fall and hospitalization last year as well as two incidents when he froze and was unable to speak at two press conferences, this decision was not a shock.
Add to that his disagreements with presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald J. Trump — they have not spoken since December 2020 and McConnell has not endorsed him for 2024 — and he is ready to step down as the leader. McConnell did pledge to complete his seventh Senate term, which ends in 2027.
“One of life’s most underappreciated talents is to know when it’s time to move on to life’s next chapter,” he said on the Senate floor. “So I stand before you today ... to say that this will be my last term as Republican leader of the Senate.”
Does that mean Sen. John Thune, the No. 2 ranking Republican, will ease into the leadership role? Not necessarily, since other senators are thirsting for the job, including two other Johns — Cornyn of Texas and Barrasso of Wyoming, who already are part of the GOP leadership.
Thune, 63 and in his fourth term, told reporters that McConnell's departure leaves “big shoes to fill,” but did not campaign for the job. He said Wednesday was a time to “to reflect on his service and honor him for that. And then we’ll go from there.”
Don’t be surprised if a senator more closely identified with Trump decides to make a play for the job. They are well aware the Senate is in play in November, and the Republican leader may become majority leader in 2025.
Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, who made a bid for president that flamed out in the winter cold of Iowa, is being mentioned as a contender. Scott endorsed Trump after dropping out and is seen as a MAGA-type Republican.
Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, the former college football coach turned military promotions obstructionist, told POLITICO on Wednesday as many as eight to 10 candidates might enter the race.
Whoever replaces McConnell will have to deal with the president. Will it be Joe Biden during a second term, or Trump in his second nonconsecutive term? And if, God or the courts forbid, Trump is returned to office, will he bring Gov. Kristi Noem with him as his vice president?
“She’s been a great governor,” he told NBC’s Kristen Welker last fall. “She gave me a very full-throated endorsement, a beautiful endorsement actually. And, you know, it’s been a very good state for me. And certainly she’d be one of the people I’d consider, or for something else maybe. But we have a lot of people. We have a lot of great people in the Republican Party.”
She has sought the job for a long time, and has been listed as a finalist in the game-show politics that Trump favors. Noem (seen above in an image from an official S.D. government page) met with the man with 91 felony charges and no sense of decency this week in Florida, and has said they are in contact on a regular basis.
“I’m not going to share private conversations that I had with the president,” Noem told The Dakota Scout, which always offers a friendly outlet for Republicans. “We did have a good meeting yesterday. … I’ve known Trump for years, we worked together when I was in Congress, he’s come to South Dakota, so it was good to visit with him and talk a little bit about 2024.”
Both Trump and Noem spewed conservative red meat to the haters and assorted crazies at the Conservative Political Action Conference last weekend. Noem drew raves from them because she is just sooo dang cute and she parrots Trump so well. She bragged about her accomplishments as governor, leaving out the spike in Covid deaths, the “We’re on meth” campaign and investigations of her interference with a state official to help her daughter and over her use of state airplanes.
Noem tied with businessman and deranged conspiracy advocate Vivek Ramaswamy as the winners of a straw poll to pick a running mate for Trump. Both got 15%.
“There are two kinds of people in this country right now,” Noem said. “There are people who love America, and there are those who hate America.”
Who decides where people belong? If Trump and Noem decide, only those with a shaky grasp of history and government, little red caps and a heart full of hate need apply.
Noem lowered the rhetorical bar even more in her speech.
“I’m just going to say it: Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, they suck,” she said, eliciting applause and cheers.
That grade-school-level comment is one sign of the difference between Thune, a basically decent man who has allowed his ambition to disguise that, and Noem, who has no business being in charge of a fast-food restaurant, much less a state. Imagining her a heartbeat away from the presidency with an aging, obese man whose mental and physical health are both shaky in front of her is enough to give a sane person nightmares.
But here we are, 2024 in America.
John Thune appears to have the inside track on becoming the Republican leader. He has a quarter-century experience in Congress, knows the ropes and works well with senators and the media. He has no need to worry about running for another term until 2028, and if he does, it would probably be another breeze.
It’s telling that Thune endorsed Trump last week, possibly after McConnell told him of his plans to step aside. Thune and Trump have had a poor relationship in the past, but they both understand power and the need for a short memory.
Noem as VP? She wants the opportunity and is willing to serve as Trump’s attack dog during the campaign, although he is always willing to bark and howl at his enemies. But South Dakota will vote overwhelmingly for Trump this fall, so adding her to the ticket doesn’t deliver any electoral votes in what will be a close election.
There are legitimate questions over how she would handle the national media attention. Noem often ignores reporters and outlets she doesn’t like, but that won’t be an option if she is on the national ticket.
As I said earlier, she is more experienced and capable than Sarah Palin, who flailed in the national spotlight in 2008. Republican nominee John McCain, who considered tapping Thune as his running mate — as he told me during a bus ride to Sturgis with Thune sitting nearby — said he regretted choosing Palin.
If Trump picks Noem, and loses, he would likely find a reason to blame her in part for the defeat. If they win, she has to accept a secondary role while awaiting a chance to run for the White House in 2028. Her ego will take a beating either way. Maybe she can give him another Mount Rushmore toy.
My guess: Thune becomes the Republican leader and Trump runs with Scott. Now, we watch the wheels turn.
Tom Lawrence has written for several newspapers and websites in South Dakota and other states and contributed to The New York Times, NPR, The Telegraph, The Daily Beast and other media outlets. Reprint with permission.
