SD senator accused of filing party forms for people who didn't know they were running
State Sen. Tom Pischke, R-Dell Rapids, was charged June 23, 2026 with two felony counts of offering a false or forged instrument for filing. Court records cited by South Dakota Searchlight say 16 nominating forms for Minnehaha County Republican precinct committee posts arrived at the county auditor's office March 30; 12 of the people named said they had no idea, and none of 15 checked signatures matched. Investigators traced a mailing to a car registered to Pischke, and the state forensic lab found DNA consistent with his on the envelopes. None of the candidates reached the June 2 ballot. Pischke denied signing the forms and pleaded not guilty. He ended his reelection campaign in July but remains a senator; a jury trial was set for Dec. 7. The charges are allegations.
The charges filed against Pischke on Tuesday are linked to 16 fraudulent nominating forms for precinct committeeman and precinct committeewoman, according to a Minnehaha County Sheriff's office report in Pischke's criminal case file.
The investigation uncovered DNA evidence matching Pischke on envelopes containing the forms
ended his reelection campaign in July
His lawyer said Pischke is cooperating with the investigation and had no further comment; he pleaded not guilty.
No outcome recorded yet.