Austin Goss

It's hard to think of a place where politics is more personal than South Dakota. With under a million people occupying the state–one of the smallest by that metric in the country–you’re never more than a couple degrees removed from the guy on the yard sign, or the lady flashing across that billboard.

Yet despite this, our politics are impersonal. We–understandably–mute the television when a somewhat familiar smiling politician flashes across it, throw away the mailers that hit our mailbox, and try to tune ourselves out of what is happening around us, despite the impact office-seekers will and do have on our lives.

As we enter the peak of political apathy season and with early voting started, I want to tell you about one of the greatest men I know, Jon Hansen.

If you weren’t already familiar with Jon because of his lifelong roots in South Dakota or the extensive work he’s done in the public eye, you may have come to know him during his ongoing bid to be the next Governor of South Dakota. But let me tell you about the man I’ve come to know behind all of that—and why I believe he’s the right person to be governor of such a great state.

Jon is one of the most giving people I’ve ever met, particularly in how he gives his time.

Even though I no longer live in South Dakota, we still talk regularly. Within the last several weeks, he called me while rushing from a political event—riding as a passenger with someone else, which in itself says something in South Dakota politics—trying to make it to band practice with his Catholic church well after the sun had gone down.

Before long, he had to cut the call short—not because he was necessarily busy, but because he wanted to be able to phone in to his wife in time to pray with his six kids before bed, a tradition that I have not seen him violate once over five years of knowing him, regardless of the circumstances.

Jon is the exact same in showing up for his friends, and in my experience, me and my family during our most challenging times.

Over much of 2025, I was on active duty for the South Dakota National Guard, spending time across the country. When I wanted to fly home, it was no easy undertaking. It almost always had to be in the evening, and I lived in Fort Pierre–not noted for its late night air service.

There was one person who I could always depend on getting me to and from the airport, and ultimately to Pierre when I needed – Jon Hansen. It did not matter the hour, the occasion, or what else he had going on, Jon was there when my family and I needed him the most, and I cannot say with confidence that my much awaited return trips would have been possible without him. All the while, and only did I find out later, that Jon’s amazing wife Sheila continuously checked on my wife while I was away, offering to come help with our two kids if my wife ever needed it.

Jon is the kind of person who you can call at any hour, from anywhere, with any situation going on, and know that you are going to get whatever help he can give. I am not unique in my experiences–almost anyone who has spent any time with Jon would likely tell you the same, even his political enemies! He is loyal, empathetic, an honest friend, and a faithful Christian.

I’ll be the first to say there are many good people in this race—even those who I find to have atrocious political records and positions. Public service is supposed to attract men and women who care deeply about their communities, and I believe there are several candidates for whom that’s true—policy aside.

But I know this: not all leadership is the same. And neither is all character.

When Jon first told me he was thinking about running for governor, I’ll admit—I challenged him on it. I’ve seen up close what that job demands, and I saw how this campaign was shaking out. I know what politics takes from a person and their family, especially a family of eight.

I also wanted to know something simple: could he win? And what was his path? Despite his character, was he truly the right person for the job at this time, at the infant political age of 40?

Time (and polling) has clearly revealed that Jon Hansen is the best suited conservative to win, and what I have seen over the years remains equally true–the qualities that make Jon the kind of man one can trust in their own life are the same qualities that make him the kind of leader the state would greatly benefit from.

I’ve seen Jon at his lows, too. Like in 2022, when he lost his election to serve as Speaker of the House.

Many people would have folded, coasted through, or given up after such a public defeat. Not Jon.

Just a couple years later, he helped reorganize a conservative movement on the brink of collapse–and turned it into a wave that swept across South Dakota. The consequences of that were felt by all South Dakotans, it lead to the ballot box defeat of Senate Bill 201, and ultimately, protections for landowners from attempts to abuse eminent domain. That was just one of many issues conservatives won on, in large part because of Jon's leadership.

I’ve seen who he is when there’s nothing to gain, no political chips to be won, showing up to speak to local Knights of Columbus chapters and volunteering to play the guitar at nonprofit events.

There is no problem too big, no situation too small, where Jon won’t show up—not for recognition, not for politics, but because that’s who he is.

South Dakota doesn’t need another typical politician or smoothtalker. It needs a governor who will show up—consistently, faithfully, and without hesitation—for the people they serve.

Knowing how Jon shows up for the people in his life, I have no doubt that’s how he’ll show up for the people of the state. In a state where politics is still personal, that matters.

That’s why I am proud to support my friend Jon Hansen. And that’s why I always will.