South Dakota Factions Clash Over Ad Claims in Amendment L Fight
Backers and opponents of South Dakota's Amendment L traded accusations this week over campaign ads linking the measure to "out-of-state billionaires." Amendment L, on the Nov. 3 general election ballot, would require 60% voter approval for future constitutional amendments, though it would not change thresholds for citizen-initiated laws or referendums. Supporter Rep. John Hughes sent a cease-and-desist letter to media outlets airing opposition ads, calling them defamatory, while opponents say the ads illustrate how costly ballot campaigns would become under a higher threshold. The measure is the third such attempt in South Dakota since 2018, following past efforts that included constitutional ballot measures on Medicaid expansion and marijuana legalization.