HURON – Democratic candidates for the state Legislature can improve their chances for success in November if they begin their campaigns early and get involved in their local communities throughout the year, the executive director of the South Dakota Democratic Party said.
Too often, candidates for House and Senate seats in Pierre have waited until August to actively campaign and too often that has been a losing strategy, Sam Parkinson said Thursday.
“In 2018, we have a great opportunity in this state that we haven’t seen in a long time,” the University of South Dakota political science graduate said at the District 22 Democratic Forum.
With gubernatorial candidate Billie Sutton and U.S. House candidate Tim Bjorkman at the top of the ticket for Democrats, a state party focus is also to elect more Democrats to Pierre, Parkinson said.
“I think what happens in Pierre and what happens in your home town has more of a daily impact on you than what happens in Washington,” he said.
South Dakota has just one voice in the 435-member House of Representatives, but in the 40 days legislators are in session each winter a lot gets done that impacts the state for years, Parkinson said.
Executive director since June, he joined the state party staff in 2015 after graduating from USD. He has also served as the finance and events director.
Legislative candidates are being encouraged to get involved in their community and attend and participate in local events instead of just coming around when looking for support at election time, Parkinson said.
ROGER LARSEN/PLAINSMAN
State Democratic executive director Sam Parkinson was the speaker at the District 22 Democratic forum on Thursday.