21/01/2026
A scientific poll found that Noem’s personal favorability was just 39%, down about 13 points from 2020, while nearly half (48%) of South Dakotans said they had an unfavorable view of Noem. Nearly 60% opposed her being chosen as a national candidate (including a majority of Republicans in the poll). Over her six years as governor, South Dakota taxpayers covered more than $640,000 in travel-related costs for Noem’s office — including state-funded security for trips that critics said were largely personal or political rather than state business (e.g., campaign stops, breathing expensive trips). An AP investigation found that at least $150,000 of that was tied to political and personal travel that Noem initially declined to explain publicly. Noem allegedly intervened with state officials to reverse a denial of her daughter’s real estate appraiser license. Shortly afterward, the agency head was forced out and later there was a $200,000 taxpayer-funded settlement following an age discrimination complaint related to the incident. An ethics complaint was filed alleging malfeasance and conflict of interest, with sufficient evidence noted by the state’s Government Accountability Board. Reports from watchdog groups and investigative journalism allege undisclosed payments and complications in financial transparency:
• She allegedly received roughly $80,000 from a political nonprofit while governor that she did not disclose on ethics forms. 
• Critics claim some payouts were routed through her personal LLC from organizations tied to her political fundraising. 👎👎👎👎👎
