Legislative Update with Chesney

Dusty’s in for Governor; credit unions hold strong in D.C.; and SD Par for the PAC.

by Chesney Garnos, Executive Director of Government Affairs
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Dusty’s In—South Dakota Eyes a Historic Three-Peat
Well, it’s official! Congressman Dusty Johnson is running for Governor of South Dakota. His announcement kicks off what’s shaping up to be a headline-making 2026 race. If Dusty wins, we’d see something rare: a Republican gubernatorial three-peat in South Dakota, following the legacy of Mickelson, Janklow, and Rounds. His run doesn’t just reshape the Governor’s race, it would reshape South Dakota’s whole political landscape.

Dusty enters a GOP primary that’s already heating up, with House Speaker Jon Hansen naming Rep. Karla Lems as his running mate and Aberdeen businessman Toby Doeden drawing support from the Dakota First Action PAC. The PAC wasted no time taking shots, questioning Dusty’s loyalty to former President Trump. Meanwhile, on the Democratic side, 19-year-old college student Robert Arnold has jumped in proving that no one’s too young to shake things up.

If you’ve worked in South Dakota policy or agriculture, you know Dusty. He’s been a reliable champion of rural development, and he’s built lasting relationships with our state’s credit unions. He has also taken time out of his busy schedule to give us his famous night tour of the United States Capitol! We’re grateful for his work and partnerships with our credit union members and credit unions across the state.

Primary day is set for June 2, 2026, so get your ducks in a row, add it to your calendar, and make sure when the time comes around you GOTV!

Credit Unions Hold the Line in D.C.
Meanwhile, in Washington, the Senate passed H.R. 1—the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”—on a razor-thin 51–50 vote, with Vice President J.D. Vance breaking the tie. The massive package includes tax cuts, spending changes, and big energy investments.

And here’s the headline for us: no changes to the credit union tax status. None.

That’s a direct result of your advocacy. Because of your letters, your calls, and your members showing up, we kept our message clear: credit unions are about people over profits, and our tax status reflects that mission.

The bill now heads back to the House to reconcile differences between their version and the Senate’s. We’re keeping a close eye out for any last-minute amendments that could affect credit unions. President Trump is urging Congress to send him a final version by July 4—so we’re not done yet.

You can check out more of what is happening in D.C. by reading our latest federal legislative update here.

Next week: SD Par for the PAC
Thursday, July 10 • Garretson, SD
​Reminder, the SD Par for the PAC golf event is scheduled for Thursday July 10th in Garretson, SD! Today is the last call and final day to register!
 
The Details:
River Ridge Golf Course – 25412 485th Ave, Garretson, SD 57030
9:00 a.m. – Registration
10:00 a.m. – Shotgun Start
2:00 p.m. – Social with live music, food, and drinks
2:30 p.m. – Golf Awards & Legislator Recognition
 
Hotel Block: Stay nearby at the Canopy by Hilton Sioux Falls Downtown. Call 605-275-4120 and mention Dakota Credit Union Group or book online here: DCU Group - Canopy by Hilton Sioux Falls Downtown

​For any questions you can reach me at [email protected].