According to Conservativebrief, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem is set to endorse former President Donald Trump during a campaign rally in her state, marking a shift in her position following the 2022 midterm elections. Initially, Noem was not convinced that Trump was the best candidate to lead the Republican Party into the 2024 presidential elections. However, her upcoming endorsement has fueled speculation about her potential role in Trump’s third bid for the White House.
Once considered a potential 2024 candidate herself, Noem had previously stated that she would not run for president and would focus on her role as the governor of South Dakota. Nevertheless, in recent months, she has increased her national profile and sparked conversations about the possibility of becoming Trump’s running mate.
Noem has maintained a positive relationship with the former president and has remained in contact with him. She also has a connection to Trump through Corey Lewandowski, Trump’s former campaign manager, who has been advising Noem since 2020. Lewandowski’s relationship with Trump has stabilized in recent times, and he regularly communicates with the former president.
While other GOP governors have yet to endorse Trump, Noem’s endorsement could signal her potential role in Trump’s political orbit in the future. When asked about the possibility of being Trump’s running mate, she stated that she would consider it.
Noem has harbored political aspirations for some time. In 2016, she underwent vetting for the position of Trump’s Secretary of Agriculture but ultimately decided against pursuing it. During her 2022 re-election campaign, she strategically ran digital campaign advertisements in crucial early-voting states like Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina, which are influential in presidential elections. Noem has also contemplated a bid for the U.S. Senate in 2022, particularly when it appeared that GOP Senator John Thune might not seek re-election.
As Noem’s political profile continues to rise, her endorsement of Trump and the possibility of her playing a significant role in his political endeavors will be closely watched by political observers and voters alike in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election.
