SDDP’s Olson: Positive response at State Fair indicates Democrats are gaining support across state
How times have changed!
During the 2024 South Dakota State Fair, the Democratic Party Building (party volunteers are seen standing in front in the above image, posted on X) welcomed a large number of enthusiastic visitors, all brimming with excitement about the upcoming elections. The atmosphere was uplifting and reminiscent of the enthusiasm we felt during President Obama’s campaign in 2008.
Many visitors registered to vote and signed up to volunteer, eager to know how they could help. They expressed a desire to build on the achievements of the Biden administration and conveyed their support for the Harris/Walz ticket, which they felt genuinely represented everyday Americans.
We ran out of 750 Democratic buttons as well as Harris/Walz tees and sweatshirts. We also handed out yard signs for Harris/Walz, Sheryl Johnson for Congress and Forrest Wilson for Public Utilities Commission.
This is compared to the 2021 State Fair, where the Democratic Party Building faced constant harassment from pro-Trump supporters, whose sole aim was to intimidate volunteers who were there to welcome and engage with fellow South Dakotans.
Many of these individuals donned Trump apparel and Republican candidate memorabilia, while some carried Trump and Confederate flags. They even filmed their disruptive actions, taking political items from the building to shred and scatter across the fairgrounds. Overnight, we found Republican stickers and derogatory signs plastered on the Democratic building.
In response, I visited the State Fair Republican Building to report the behavior and share photos of the damage.
The two Republican legislators at the booth dismissed the issue, claiming they were unaware, despite all the materials coming from their building. I then brought the incident to the attention of the State Fair manager and fair security. They posted signs at our building stating that bullying and misconduct would not be tolerated and would be reported, with potential consequences including bans and expulsions from the fairgrounds.
The next year, incidents of harassment at the Democratic Building noticeably decreased. This year, we experienced only one incident involving three men harassing a female volunteer, who handled the situation with grace and effectively diffused it.
It’s clear that we have come full circle since 2021, and the momentum is undoubtedly on our side. We had truly meaningful conversations with people from across the political spectrum that were civil and open-minded. That’s the kind of politics we need to get back to and be done with the hatred and division.
We are so thankful to the volunteers who stepped up to make this an amazing State Fair that was filled with excitement and joy. We look forward to continuing that energy throughout this election.
Dennis Olson of Huron is a South Dakota Democratic national committeeman.
