Tom Crash, Correspondent 05.JUN.08
PINE RIDGE - Theresa Two Bulls, the two term incumbent, defeated challenger Jim Bradford 1,179 to 1,153 for the Democratic nomination for the District 27 State Senate slot.Two Bulls will face Craig Hanrahan of Phillip in the November election. Legislative District 27 includes all of Shannon County and portions of Haakon, Jackson and Bennett counties.
In the state House of Representatives race, Kevin Killer with 917 votes and Edward Iron Cloud III with 912 won the two Democratic nominations over Joseph White Bear Claws with 691 and Robert Fogg Jr. with 478. Larry Lucas, the incumbent in District 26A won handily with 914 over Paul Joseph's 302 and Calvin Jones with 239. Dean Schrempp, manager of the Eagle Butte Airport, defeated Richard Zacher 878-441 for the District 28A democratic nomination.
"This is one step of the way, I really want to work hard to make sure our voice is heard in the state legislature," said Ed Iron Cloud III, "if I make it this the fall, it will be an honor and a privilege to serve the people of District 27.
Senator Two Bulls has just completed her second term in the State Senate. She served as Secretary and Vice President of the Oglala Sioux Tribe before running for state office and currently works as a prosecutor in the Oglala Sioux Tribal Court. Bradford, a retired educator, completed four terms as a State Representative before challenging Two Bulls for the Senate nomination; Bradford was unable to run again for the Representative position because of term limits.
Senator Hillary Clinton defeated Senator Barrack Obama in the South Dakota Democratic primary 54,014 to 43,574; earlier in the day on Tuesday, Senator Obama picked up the necessary delegates to win the Democratic nomination for President.
The long Democratic presidential primary brought Senator Clinton and her husband President bill Clinton to South Dakota and Pine Ridge reservation 30 times over the last month.
Clinton came to Pine Ridge as President in 1999.
Senator Obama visited a number of communities across the state and inspired hundreds of young volunteers to get new voters registered on reservations across the state.
In county tallies, in Shannon County, Obama had a 52 percent win over Clinton; in Todd County, Obama had a 63 percent win Clinton; in Jackson County, Clinton had a 58 percent win over Obama's 42 percent and in Bennett County, Obama had 53 percent with Clinton at 46 percent.
National Native News reported the native voter turnout was exceptional high in Montana and South Dakota this election.
The Crow Tribe, which usually has a voter turnout of 20 to 25 percent eligible voters had an increase of 40 percent voter turnout this election.
Joel Dykstra easily won the Republican nomination for U.S. senate over Sam Kephart and Charles Ganyo 34,472 to 13,025 for Kephart and 4,968 for Ganyo. Dykstra will face two time incumbent, Senator Tim Johnson in the November election.wo Bulls defeats Bradford, Killer and Iron Cloud pick up primary