WATERTOWN,, S.D.(KXLG)- South Dakota House Speaker Jon Hansen and Speaker Pro Tempore Karla Lems, running as a Republican ticket for Governor and Lieutenant Governor, made a focused campaign stop in Watertown on Friday, engaging with local Republican community members. Their day included a discussion with the Codington County Republican Women’s group, followed by a public meet and greet, and a show of support for a local family event.
Hansen and Lems stopped by KXLG studios for a short exclusive interview.
The legislative leaders, who have formally launched their gubernatorial campaign, reiterated their platform while talking about their stop in Watertown.
Hansen highlighted their work on issues ranging from private property rights to Amendment G.
Hansen, a resident of Dell Rapids and married with six children, emphasized his long-standing commitment to preserving South Dakota’s “faith, family, and freedom.”
Lems, from Canton, discussed her work in the legislature.
She also shared her recent trip to Washington, D.C. with Hansen to advocate for South Dakota’s property rights law (HB 1052) against potential federal overreach.
When asked about what sets their campaign apart from other declared candidates, Hansen reiterated their “track record” and “authenticity.”
A key point of their platform, discussed by Hansen, is reducing the power of the Governor’s office.
Hansen criticized the existing “slush fund” that allows the governor to allocate money to businesses, citing examples like the “True Shrimp” company in Madison, which received millions in taxpayer money but never materialized.
The issue of property taxes was another focus of their message. Hansen described the current property tax system as “flawed,” arguing it taxes “unrealized gains” and creates a feeling of never truly owning one’s property.
He announced the creation of a legislative task force, which recently held its first meeting in Sioux Falls, with a “minimum goal” to deliver a “50 percent property tax cut for owner-occupied property owners in South Dakota.”
Lems echoed the importance of property taxes and property rights, listing them as top issues she hears about from citizens across the state. She also highlighted the need for greater “government transparency” and accountability.
Both candidates concluded their remarks by urging voters to support their campaign. They directed interested individuals to their website, hansenlems2026.com, and their social media platforms for more information, which we have pasted below:
https://www.facebook.com/hansenlems2026 (Facebook)
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