DALLAS —
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley is the odds-on favorite to represent the Mount Rushmore State in Congress next year, and he trekked down to Dallas for the first-ever Republican National Convention (RNC) to “com[e] together to unite” with Republicans, he told the Washington Reporter in his latest interview.
“President [Donald] Trump’s message was strong,” Jackley said, following Trump’s stemwinder of a speech. “He does what he does best. He makes us proud to be Americans. I have an opportunity to talk to other potentially future congressmen about issues that are important to my state in South Dakota and that are important to our country.”
The Working Families Tax Cuts are one of the signature GOP pieces of legislation that Jackley talks about with voters on the campaign trail. “It’s been hitting strong,” Jackley said of the Trump economic agenda. “It really started with the Working Family Tax Cuts. Certainly we recognize that the deficit and the debt have caused inflation. I like to say in South Dakota. South Dakotans and our South Dakota families aren’t spending too much, but Washington is, and it’s affecting affordability.”
Another issue is Trump Rx, which he said he hears about from voters on the campaign trail. “When I travel the state, what I hear about on the affordability side is the spending issue,” he said. “It’s created the inflation. People are worried about Social Security in 2032. There are some challenges ahead of us, and we need strong leadership, strong Republican leadership, to get past those and to make sure that we protect Social Security.”
Jackley also said that while Democrats are trying to run an independent as their de-facto Senate candidate in South Dakota, Sen. Mike Rounds (R., S.D.) is in good shape for reelection. “The reality is that Mike Rounds has been a strong voice for South Dakota as our governor, and as our senator; he’s in good shape and he’s out earning it,” he said. “Just a couple Fridays ago, he and I just jumped in a pickup, traveled the state, went to coffees, listened to South Dakotans about agriculture, about the importance of the economy, and things that we can be doing in Washington, things that are important to fight for, and he’s going to do really well in that Senate race.”
Jackley sounded optimistic about his own race, as well. “I am running against a Democrat, but it is a good atmosphere for Republicans in South Dakota,” he said. “We want a known, trusted conservative. The issues that are important to us are public safety, energy independence, and of course, affordability. We believe in a strong military and the freedom to make choices. In South Dakota, that message resonates. So much of what we’re hearing at this convention, talking about what Republicans are doing for working families, what we’re doing for public safety, securing the border, is important to us in South Dakota.”
Below is a transcript of our interview with Marty Jackley, lightly edited for clarity.
Washington Reporter:
Attorney General Marty Jackley, you’ve now won your primary. You’re all but heading to Congress in November. What brings you here to the first ever midterm RNC and convention in Texas?
Marty Jackley:
Like all the Republicans, we’re coming together to unite. President Trump’s message was strong. He does what he does best. He makes us proud to be Americans. I have an opportunity to talk to other potentially future congressmen about issues that are important to my state in South Dakota and that are important to our country.
Washington Reporter:
How has the campaign trail changed since we last spoke before your primary to now in the general election? Is there even a Democrat you’re running against?
Marty Jackley:
I am running against a Democrat, but it is a good atmosphere for Republicans in South Dakota. We want a known, trusted conservative. The issues that are important to us are public safety, energy independence, and of course, affordability. We believe in a strong military and the freedom to make choices. In South Dakota, that message resonates. So much of what we’re hearing at this convention, talking about what Republicans are doing for working families, what we’re doing for public safety, securing the border, is important to us in South Dakota.
Washington Reporter:
South Dakota has been interesting this cycle because of your Senate election; in that race, the Democrat running had his house burned down and then he dropped out in favor of an independent. How on earth is that being received?
Marty Jackley:
The reality is that Mike Rounds has been a strong voice for South Dakota as our governor, and as our senator; he’s in good shape and he’s out earning it. Just a couple Fridays ago, he and I just jumped in a pickup, traveled the state, went to coffees, listened to South Dakotans about agriculture, about the importance of the economy, and things that we can be doing in Washington, things that are important to fight for, and he’s going to do really well in that Senate race.
Washington Reporter:
How has the Trump affordability agenda has been hitting in South Dakota?
Marty Jackley:
It’s been hitting strong. It really started with the Working Family Tax Cuts. Certainly we recognize that the deficit and the debt have caused inflation. I like to say in South Dakota. South Dakotans and our South Dakota families aren’t spending too much, but Washington is, and it’s affecting affordability.
Washington Reporter:
We’ve seen Trump talk a lot about Trump Rx on the campaign trail in terms of the affordability agenda? Is that something that you’re seeing affect South Dakota families?
Marty Jackley:
We do. When I travel the state, what I hear about on the affordability side is the spending issue; it’s created the inflation. People are worried about Social Security in 2032. There are some challenges ahead of us, and we need strong leadership, strong Republican leadership, to get past those and to make sure that we protect Social Security.
Washington Reporter:
Marty, thanks as always for chatting.
