The South Dakota Democratic Party has a new executive director. Berk Ehrmantraut who’s originally from Aberdeen worked on some of his first political campaigns when he was in high school.
After attending American University, Ehrmantraut worked on the Billy Sutton gubernatorial campaign in 2018.He said the experience working for Sutton gave him the knowledge of issues that matter to state residents.
“What brings us together is so much stronger than the things that divide us and I saw that there are important issues that all South Dakotans know are important like healthcare, education, and an economy that works for everyone,” Ehrmantraut said.
“So, I’m excited to bring what I’ve learned to the South Dakota Democratic Party.”
Ehrmantraut said their priorities include improving education and providing more accessible healthcare for South Dakotans.
“We’ve seen that [Governor Kristi Noem’s] style of leadership has been difficult for South Dakota and I think people are looking for something new,” he said.
Ehrmantraut is optimistic about the future of a Democratic candidate for governor in the 2022 election.
This story comes from a recent interview on SDPB's weekday radio program, "In the Moment." Listen to the full interview below.