Kristi Noem was previously considering her own run for president
South Dakota Republican Gov. Kristi Noem plans to endorse former President Donald Trump for a 2024 White House campaign at a rally in her home state on Friday, multiple sources have confirmed.
According to another source cited by Fox, Trump appears to have less incentive to visit South Dakota than to secure Noem’s endorsement. That’s because South Dakota is a staunchly Republican state that doesn’t play a significant role in early primary contests and isn’t typically a competitive state in general elections.
“The question is not whether Donald Trump will win South Dakota; the question is how big his margin of victory is,” the source commented.
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Gov. Christy Noem, who has risen to national prominence in recent years, has previously been considered a possible White House run but appears to have decided against entering the already crowded GOP primary field. Her name has also been mentioned as a possible nominee for the post of Vice President.
She now joins the list of other Republican governors who have endorsed Donald Trump several months before primary and caucus voting. The group includes South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, West Virginia Governor Jim Justice, and Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy.
In June, Noem refrained from endorsing a specific presidential candidate, but suggested at the time that anyone other than Donald Trump had a limited “path to victory.”
Governor Noem revealed in an interview that he had discussions with North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, a presidential candidate, about the 2024 election. She noted that Governor Burgum had sought her support and described him as a “good man” who was doing significant work.
It’s worth noting that Noem’s endorsement of Donald Trump is just the latest in a string of high-profile endorsements he’s received, even after his fourth and most recent conviction on criminal charges. Trump surrendered to the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta, Georgia last month on charges of trying to manipulate the state’s 2020 election results.