Noem departs Pierre, headed to Washington to serve in Trump's cabinet. She leaves behind a rocky record

Kristi Noem’s tenure as South Dakota’s 33rd governor ended shortly before noon Saturday.

Noem resigned to accept the post as secretary of Homeland Security in the Trump administration. She was at the start of her seventh year as governor after being elected in 2018 and 2022.

Noem’s political career began in her native Hamlin County. She was elected twice to serve in the South Dakota House of Representatives before running for Congress in 2010.

Noem defeated Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, the last Democrat to serve in Congress from South Dakota. An internal battle by liberals who were angry with Herseth Sandlin softened her up for the fall campaign.

After that, Noem won three more terms. Her accomplishments in Washington, D.C., were meager.

She ran for governor in 2018 after Gov. Dennis Daugaard ended his eight-year run in Pierre. Noem was in a tough contest with former state Sen. Billie Sutton before a late push from Sen. John Thune, Vice President Mike Pence and Trump helped her to a narrow win.

Her time at the helm of state government brought about mixed results, with many Republicans complaining she was difficult to work with. That was also the case in her office, as Noem went through several chiefs of staff.

The governor tried to pressure a state official to give her daughter a real estate appraiser license, which ended up with a $200,000 settlement.

Numerous cases of fiscal impropriety have occurred in state government during her six-plus years in office. Millions were stolen.

Noem was also an enemy of open government, despite a promise in 2018 to assure government transparency. Her relationship with the state media has been frosty to downright frozen.

Noem’s use of state planes and extensive travel across the country also raised eyebrows.

She repeatedly clashed with tribal officials, earning bans from reservations. In 2024, Noem accused some tribal leaders of “personally benefiting” from drug cartel activity on the reservations. As director of Homeland Security, she will have to forge better relationships with Native Americans.

Noem won a second term in 2022 but was already eyeing a bigger job, either a Senate seat or a run for the White House. But she decided to pass on challenging Trump for the 2024 Republican nomination and instead remained an ardent cheerleader.

Now, Noem is headed back to D.C., this time as a cabinet secretary. She and Trump are on the same page on many issues. 

The South Dakota Democratic Party said Noem has consistently put her personal agenda ahead of the needs of everyday South Dakotans.

“Now, she will be tasked with one of our country’s largest agencies managing border security and natural disasters,” a release states. “Noem’s tenure as Governor of South Dakota has shown she lacks the ability to manage such an agency. It has been marred by high turnover, a lack of transparency and corruption.

It also pointed to her use of the S.D. National Guard at the southern border. Despite the rhetoric, it was unable to act as border security because federal law prohibited it.

“When South Dakotans needed her assistance during the recent flood, Noem refused to send the SD National Guard because it would be ‘extremely expensive’ and that the National Guard should only be used for a ‘crisis situation,’” the release states.

"Good leadership builds bridges that bring people together. Noem has spent her tenure as governor tearing people down and sowing division in our state,” said SDDP Executive Director Dan Ahlers. “She has specifically targeted and marginalized those she does not agree with or understand. Good leadership also builds a team that will help them do a better job serving the people. Noem's administration has been a revolving door of people whose exit coincides when their opinions and advice don't align. Noem had the opportunity to do many great things for South Dakota, but squandered it for her own personal gain.”

Ahlers said Democrats look forward to working with incoming Gov. Larry Rhoden.

“His common-sense approach to government will be appreciated,” he said. “Hopefully, we can get back to focusing on real issues that matter to South Dakotans.”

Fourth-generation South Dakotan Tom Lawrence has written for several newspapers and websites in South Dakota and other states for four decades. He has contributed to The New York Times, NPR, The London Telegraph, The Daily Beast and other media outlets. Do not republish without permission.

Photo: 2017 public domain image, wikimedia commons