Kristi Noem's attempt to override the recreational marijuana referenda from 2020 is successful. Local activists managed to paint her as antidemocratic, and when combined with a series of stumbles as governor, her local popularity tumbles.
Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, as the last Democratic member of the US House from South Dakota, Noem's predecessor, senses weakness. She launches a campaign for Governor in 2022, and manages to beat Noem 50.1% to 49.9%, becoming the first Democrat to become Governor of South Dakota since the 1974 race.
Gov. Herseth Sandlin's win is the only silver lining on an otherwise disastrous midterm for the Democrats, and the party panics. Biden, sensing a tough race, decides to retire.
The 2024 primary ends up wide open, and Gov. Herseth Sandlin makes the case that she's the best placed to reach out to the parts of America that feel abandoned by the Democratic Party.
Herseth Sandlin wins the primary and beats the GOP ticket in a close race.
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Melinda Gates
Joe Biden decides not to seek reelection leaving an open in the democratic primaries. Kamala Harris runs as the Biden continuation. The economic recovery slows in 2023 with high inflation. Melinda Gates decides to run a high tech economic focused campaign. On a change theme and revival platform she narrowly beats Harris in the primary. She goes on to beat Ted Cruz and his running mate Marjorie Taylor Greene in the general election.
Hillary Clinton-
