Crabtree: South Dakota in recession, Pierre a shit hole

The #sdleg might be rushing to give #tax incentives to #datacenters but Deuel County residents are not convinced that rapid industrialization is the right move https://t.co/GgpiZPLs7O?

— Dakota Rural Action (@DakotaRural) January 19, 2026

Editor's note: Earth hater Casey Crabtree wants to live in DC because South Dakota is a failed state.

The 2026 Legislative kicked off in Pierre last week, and improving South Dakota’s economy needs to be the top issue for my colleagues and I, otherwise our economy will fall behind our neighbors, our kids will leave the state, and everyday South Dakotans will hurt. Getting South Dakota back on track requires bold leadership and vision, because the time is now to make an impact.

Moody’s has flagged South Dakota as a state in or near a recession. At home, sales tax revenue fell 0.6% last fiscal year—only the third time in 30 years for South Dakota. Families feel it. Roughly one in five South Dakotans is delinquent on a credit card payment. People are buying fewer groceries and cutting back. When South Dakotans are asked what matters most, inflation and affordability top the list.

That’s the backdrop for every debate in Pierre. Serious problems demand serious legislators and serious solutions.

Driving home through whiteout conditions Friday, I kept thinking about my kids and their future. I don’t want a South Dakota where the next generation has to leave to build a life because they can’t find opportunities here. We like to say we’re “open for opportunity” in South Dakota, but it can’t be just a slogan. It has to be a commitment shared by the governor, the Legislature, local leaders, and every South Dakotan. The status quo won’t keep our towns alive. Closing our doors won’t either.

That’s why I’ve been in the middle of the big fights—housing and infrastructure funding to keep housing costs low, standing up for biofuels so our farm families can compete globally, and pushing for opportunities that make a real impact across our state. I don’t shy away from a fight because it’s hard. I’d rather stand strong with courage on a hill than be found hiding in a bunker in fear.

The big fight of 2026 is economic development and data centers. South Dakota needs to strengthen its economy, and we can do so in a thoughtful way that benefits hard-working South Dakotans and carefully balances concerns. Data centers play a pivotal role in our national security, provide new high-paying jobs, generate a steady stream of property and sales tax revenue, diversify our economy, and give the state and local communities a more reliable, predictable revenue base. This will increase property tax revenue that can fund our schools and roads in the future and keep more money in your pockets. This discussion is taking place at the federal level as well, with President Trump championing these data centers, while folks like Bernie Sanders lead the opposition.

America First means securing our energy, building critical infrastructure here, and competing to win. South Dakota Always means doing it with clear rules, strong oversight, and built-in local benefits—no blank checks, no sweetheart deals, and no cost-shifting onto local families. If we get it right, we bring investment, expand the tax base, and create high-paying jobs for electricians, plumbers, HVAC workers, and cybersecurity grads who can live in places like Agar, Toronto, Sioux Falls, Rapid City, and communities across the entire state.

As I always say: the best solutions aren’t found in Pierre, they come from folks at home that tackle real challenges every day. So, reach out with your ideas and solutions. If you’ll be in Pierre, let me know, I’d love to visit and recognize you on the Senate floor. Thank you. It’s an honor to serve District 8.