South Dakota Republican Gov. Kristi Noem, who has said she’ll seek a second term as next year, reported raising nearly $1 million in the fourth quarter of 2020.
Noem became the darling of conservatives with her strong support of President Trump and her mostly hands-off, no lockdown, no mask mandate approach to COVID-19 and it brought in a lot of cash.
The former congresswoman reported raising about $966,000 and spending just under $400,000 for a year-end balance of about $1.4 million dollars in cash.
Trump urged Noem to challenge U-S Senator John Thune in next year’s GOP primary, but she has said she won’t. Trump was angry at Thune’s remarks on his election loss.
Noem defeated Democrat Billie Sutton by less than 4% in 2018 despite Trump winning the state by 28% in 2016 and 26% last year.