Donald Trump endorses South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem's reelection bid

Donald Trump wants Kristi Noem leading South Dakota for another four years.

The 45th president of the United States issued a formal endorsement Tuesday for the South Dakota governor, who is facing a trio of challengers vying for her place at the state Capitol in Pierre during this year's gubernatorial race.

"Kristi Noem has done a great job as governor of South Dakota," read a statement issued by Trump's presidential campaign team. "She is strong on borders, the Second Amendment, preserving land and energy dominance, medical freedom, and kept South Dakota open during COVID."

The endorsement makes official Trump's long-held support for Noem, the 50-year-old Republican who served in the U.S. House of Representatives during Trump's first two years in the White House.

More:South Dakota GOP senators back Gov. Kristi Noem's vaccine exemption bill

And the alliance build with Trump as a Congresswomen continued after Noem transitioned to the Governor's Mansion in Pierre. During the early portion of the COVID-19 pandemic, Noem garnered national attention by not only refusing to institute restrictive coronavirus mitigation measures adopted in other states, but also for hosting Trump for an Independence Day celebration in the Black Hills.

Trump had even called for Noem to challenge South Dakota's senior U.S. Sen. John Thune in his re-election bid this year after the powerful Republican refused to question the validity of President Joe Biden's 2020 election victory. Noem, however, was quick to downplay that possibility.

Noem said Tuesday she's "honored and humbled" to receive Trump's endorsement in the gubernatorial race.

"Since being elected Governor, I have worked to bring President Trump's America First agenda to the state level in South Dakota by cutting burdensome regulations, keeping government out of the way of South Dakota small business owners and job creators, and supporting South Dakota law enforcement," she said. "I look forward to continuing to fight for our shared agenda if elected to serve a second term as Governor of the great state of South Dakota."

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jamie Smith, the state House minority leader from Sioux Falls, declined to comment for this article. Noem's challenger in the GOP primary election, state Rep. Steve Haugaard, R-Sioux Falls, however, said national endorsements like Trump's are indicative of where the governor's priorities are.

"I have the utmost respect for President Trump’s accomplishments, but he has seen Gov. Noem much more over the last two years than the citizens of South Dakota," he said. "She’s been very busy campaigning outside the state and laying the groundwork for her national ambitions, while I continue to be focused on the people of South Dakota and the work that needs to be done here.” 

The South Dakota primary election in June 7.