South Dakota’s three members of Congress scored poorly on a watchdog group’s new Democracy Scorecard, which evaluates congressional positions on democracy-related bills and resolutions.

Common Cause is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization in Washington, D.C. It was founded in 1970 by Republican John W. Gardner, “the father of campaign finance reform” and President Lyndon Johnson’s secretary of health, education and welfare. 

The organization’s 2024 scorecard gave South Dakota’s Republican Senators John Thune and Mike Rounds zeros out of 10 — zero meaning they took no pro-democracy positions on legislation analyzed by the organization— and Republican Rep. Dusty Johnson one out of 13.

Johnson’s one point reflects his vote to expel Rep. George Santos, R-New York. Common Cause said removing the representative for ethical violations was pro-democracy because it upheld accountability and integrity within the legislative body, ensuring trust in U.S. institutions.

None of the spokespeople for South Dakota’s congressional delegation offered a comment on the scorecard when contacted by South Dakota Searchlight. 

No Republican scored greater than a two on the scorecard, and no Democrat received less than a seven. 

Common Cause is critical of the 118th Congress, calling it one of the most dysfunctional in U.S. history, with many pro-democracy bills failing to move forward due to partisan gridlock.

The scorecard highlights how in January 2023, the House of Representatives took four days and 15 votes to elect Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-California, as speaker. Nine months later, the House made history by removing McCarthy, remaining at a standstill for three weeks before electing Rep. Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, as the new speaker.

Shortly after, the House expelled Santos. Then, this summer, Sen. Bob Menendez, D-New Jersey, became the first sitting member of Congress to face charges of conspiracy to act as a foreign agent. He was subsequently convicted and resigned.

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BROOKINGS, S.D. (AP) — Amar Johnson ran for 126 yards on 17 carries and scored a touchdown and top-ranked FCS South Dakota State beat Augustana 24-3 on Saturday.

The Vikings, from Sioux Falls, S.D., entered ranked No. 18 at the Division II level and took a 3-0 lead on its first drive of the game on a 32-yard field goal from Jake Pecina.

South Dakota State (2-1) responded with a three-minute, six-play, 60-yard drive capped by Mark Gronowski nine-yard run. Johnson had a 1-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter and Gronowsku had a 1-yard plunge midway through the third.

It was the first meeting between the two teams since 2004 in a series that dates back to 1931.

The two programs were once longtime members of the North Central Conference until the Jackrabbits moved to FCS Division I in 2004.

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Scheduled to play each other Saturday, Portland State and South Dakota have called off their game due to unusual, unfortunate circumstances.

The Vikings and Coyotes cancelled their contest due to a whooping cough outbreak in the Portland State program, the Oregon university announced Saturday.

“A case of pertussis (whooping cough) got into the Viking team two days ago. Pertussis is a highly contagious disease that affects the lungs. As a result, many team members have been exposed to the disease,” the Vikings said in a statement. “It was determined by Portland State that the game would not be played in the interest of the health of the student-athletes.”

Pertussis—vaccine-preventable and relatively uncommon in the industrialized world—generally begins with symptoms similar to the common cold, before escalating into a lengthy period of violent coughing.

Portland State said in its statement that none of its players “are seriously ill at this time.” The Vikings are scheduled to play Boise State on Sept. 21; the Broncos indicated in a statement that they are monitoring the situation.