Latest news with #RVers
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
RV Trader and Harvest Hosts Partner to Power the Full RV Journey
Partnership offers smarter tools, upgrades, and curated stays for every kind of RVer VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., June 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Two major names in the RV industry—RV Trader, the top online marketplace for and selling new and used RVs, and Harvest Hosts, the nation's leading RV camping membership network—have announced a strategic partnership aimed at redefining how people buy, sell, and enjoy their RVs. The collaboration is designed to serve RVers across the entire ownership journey—from the moment they start shopping to the miles they travel after purchase. By combining Harvest Hosts' network of curated campsites with RV Trader's robust marketplace and selling tools, the partnership delivers a more connected, frictionless RV experience. "Traveling in an RV represents freedom and possibility," said Roger Dunbar, CMO of RV Trader. "This partnership helps eliminate friction by combining our trusted marketplace with Harvest Hosts' curated accommodations map—helping RVers plan and explore with confidence. It's about making the road ahead feel as limitless as the lifestyle itself." Key Benefits of the Partnership: Integrated Data for Smarter Planning: Through intelligent tools, users will be able to match RV specs to compatible Harvest Hosts campsites. Whether it's length restrictions, hookups, or access requirements, travelers can filter stays that truly fit their rig. Expanded Access to Peer-to-Peer Sales Tools: The partnership brings the power of RV Trader's established consumer-to-consumer marketplace to Harvest Hosts members, making it easier for RV owners to list, promote, and connect directly within a trusted community. Upgrade-Friendly Features for Seasoned Travelers: The integrated experience will allow RVers to seamlessly browse for new rigs based on their travel habits—and find suitable places to stay, creating an easier transition as needs evolve. Curated Lifestyle & Travel Content: Users will also have access to expert travel guides, destination inspiration, how-tos, and setup tips—expanding beyond the vehicle and campsite to support every phase of the journey. "The RV lifestyle continues to grow more dynamic and community-driven," said Joel Holland, Harvest Hosts CEO. "By partnering with RV Trader, we're providing our members with smarter tools and deeper insights so they can travel farther, more confidently, and with a stronger sense of connection to both their rig and their destination." RVers are constantly exploring new ways to make the most of their vehicles, and this partnership taps into that momentum. Driven by digital nomads, remote workers, and retirees seeking flexible travel, RV ownership continues to rise. At the same time, the peer-to-peer RV sales market is gaining momentum—RV Trader has seen a 111% year-over-year increase in used listing search results (SRPi's) and a 27% increase in total used listings (April 2024 vs. April 2025)—highlighting the demand for smarter tools and more transparent platforms. The integrated features will roll out this year on both RV Trader and Harvest Hosts, enabling RVers to browse listings, sell directly to fellow travelers, and plan smarter stays through either platform. To learn more or explore the experience, visit the landing page here. About RV TraderRV Trader is the industry-leading marketplace for buying and selling new and used RVs, including Class A, B, and C vehicles, as well as campers and trailers, with more than 6.5 million monthly visitors. The RV Trader marketplace has thousands of new and used RVs for sale nationwide of all makes and models. Buyers can easily estimate monthly payments, get insurance quotes, browse financing options, and set up price alerts for the RVs they're interested in while they search. Through the RV Trader blog, buyers have access to regularly updated content around the RV lifestyle, travel destinations, tips for buying and selling, and maintenance help. For more information, visit About Harvest HostsHarvest Hosts, the largest private RV camping network in North America, provides a complete network of offerings to streamline the road travel and camping experience – with a collection of companies that includes Escapees RV Club, one of the oldest RV organizations bringing community events, education, discounts and more; Boondockers Welcome, a community of RVers allowing guests to stay overnight on their property for free; CampScanner, an alert service to book sold-out campgrounds; and Brit Stops, a membership connecting motorhome tourists in the UK and Ireland with small businesses for overnight stays. The company's mission is to advance the technology and accessibility of the RVing and campground industry, making traveling while supporting national parks, local small businesses and communities easier than ever. To learn more, visit: download the Harvest Hosts app on iOS here and Android here. View original content: SOURCE RV Trader
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
LAZYDAYS AND GENERAL RV COMPLETE FT. PIERCE, FLORIDA TRANSACTION
TAMPA, Fla., June 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Lazydays Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQCM: GORV) ("Lazydays" or the "Company") announced today that it has closed on the asset sale and real estate sale of its Ft. Pierce, Florida location to General R.V. Center, Inc. ("General RV"). The companies expect to complete the remaining divestiture in Longmont, Colorado in the coming weeks. "We have truly appreciated the work and cooperation demonstrated by the Lazydays team to help us expand our ability to provide premier service to our Fort Pierce customers," said General RV CEO and third-generation family owner Loren Baidas. "When we opened our existing Fort Pierce Supercenter in 2023, we never stopped looking for ways to make it even better for our current and future customers. This acquisition does just that with a large Supercenter facility and easily accessible location on I-95." Ron Fleming, Interim CEO of Lazydays, said, "We have completed our second previously announced sale of our location in Ft. Pierce, Florida to General RV. The closing of the Ft. Pierce sale continues to streamline our operations and right size our dealership footprint, while paying off meaningful debt on our balance sheet and bringing cash to our balance sheet. We are again pleased with the smooth process and look forward to working with General RV to complete the last remaining divestiture." In the past three years, General RV has nearly doubled its number of Supercenters nationwide offering sales and service of thousands of RVs ranging from affordable travel trailers to luxury motorhomes. The third-generation family-owned company currently has more than 20 locations in nine states including Florida, Illinois, Ohio, Virginia, Utah, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Arizona and Michigan, where its corporate offices are located. The most recent addition to the General RV family is the Mesa, Arizona location acquired in May 2025. About Lazydays Lazydays has been a prominent player in the RV industry since our inception in 1976, earning a stellar reputation for delivering exceptional RV sales, service, and ownership experiences. Our commitment to excellence has led to enduring relationships with RVers and their families who rely on us for all of their RV needs. Our wide selection of RV brands from top manufacturers, state-of-the-art service facilities, and an extensive range of accessories and parts ensure that Lazydays is the go-to destination for RV enthusiasts seeking everything they need for their journeys on the road. Whether you're a seasoned RVer or just starting your adventure, our dedicated team is here to provide outstanding support and guidance, making your RV lifestyle truly extraordinary. Lazydays is a publicly listed company on the Nasdaq stock exchange under the ticker "GORV." About General RV Founded in Michigan in 1962, General RV Center is the nation's premier RV dealer. The company operates more than 20 full-service dealerships in Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Virginia, Florida, Utah, North Carolina, Arizona and Pennsylvania. Each location offers the largest selection of RVs for sale, state-of-the-art RV service facilities and retail RV parts and accessories. Visit for more information. Forward Looking Statements This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "Safe-Harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward looking statements include statements regarding our goals, plans, projections and guidance regarding our financial position, results of operations, market position, pending and potential future financing transactions and business strategy, and often contain words such as "project," "outlook," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "estimate," "may," "seek," "would," "should," "likely," "goal," "strategy," "future," "maintain," "continue," "remain," "target" or "will" and similar references to future periods. Examples of forward-looking statements in this press release include, among others, the benefits of the potential transaction described herein and the future financial performance of the Company following such transaction. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events that depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and our actual results of operations, financial condition and liquidity and development of the industry in which we operate may differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking statements in this press release. The risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from estimated or projected results include, without limitation, the ability of the parties to successfully close future transactions referenced herein (i.e. the sale of our Longmont, Colorado dealership assets), future economic and financial conditions (both nationally and locally), changes in customer demand, our relationship with, and the financial and operational stability of, vehicle manufacturers and other suppliers, risks associated with our indebtedness (including our ability to obtain further waivers or amendments to credit agreements, the actions or inactions of our lenders, available borrowing capacity, our compliance with financial covenants and our ability to refinance or repay indebtedness on terms acceptable to us), acts of God or other incidents which may adversely impact our operations and financial performance, government regulations, legislation and others set forth throughout under the headers "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Risk Factors" and in the notes to our financial statements, in our most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, Annual Report on Form 10-K and from time to time in our other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. We urge you to carefully consider this information and not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. We undertake no duty to update our forward-looking statements, which are made as of the date of this release. Contactinvestors@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Lazydays RV Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten Melden Sie sich an, um Ihr Portfolio aufzurufen. Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
FIREDISC Cookers® – The Leader in Outdoor Portable Cooking – Appoints Rockcliffe Capital as Exclusive Advisor to Lead Strategic Equity Raise and Accelerate North American Expansion
Rockcliffe Capital Guides FIREDISC Cookers in Unlocking Growth Potential Through Equity Financing HOUSTON, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In a grill market filled with disposable imports and overhyped gadgets, FIREDISC Cookers stands apart. Today, the Texas-based outdoor cooking innovator announced the appointment of Rockcliffe Capital as its exclusive advisor to lead a strategic equity raise that will fuel growth in retail distribution, product development, and brand expansion across North America. FIREDISC Cookers, founded in 2010 by brothers Griff Jaggard and Hunter Jaggard, was born out of frustration with underbuilt barbeque grills that couldn't keep up with rugged outdoor adventures. Drawing from the South Texas discada, they engineered a modern propane cooker: durable, powerful, portable, and built for the outdoors. The result is a full line of outdoor gas grills, portable griddles, disk cookers, and disco-style systems powered by high- output gas burners and designed for flavor, function, and freedom. The flagship FIREDISC 380 features a 15,000-BTU propane burner and a 380-square-inch cooking surface, perfect for camp, tailgate, or backyard BBQ. 'This started with a simple goal: cook great food anywhere,' said Griff Jaggard, co-founder and CEO of FIREDISC Cookers. 'What began in a barn became a brand embraced by overlanders, RVers, college fans, and chefs who care about quality gear. This raise helps us build that community and scale even faster.' With demand surging at retailers like Ace Hardware and online, FIREDISC is expanding its U.S.-based manufacturing and launching new SKUs, including foldable cookers, overland-ready editions, and bundled grill accessories. The brand's rugged systems are backed by an accessory ecosystem of propane regulators, hard lids, wind guards, spatulas, fuel, and cleaning kits, driving strong repeat business across the retail distribution and DTC channels. Rockcliffe Capital, known for advising premium consumer and lifestyle brands, will lead the equity raise, already attracting interest from outdoor-focused investors and strategic funds. 'What FIREDISC has built is rare: premium performance, authentic roots, and a loyal tribe,' said Campbell Ohrlis, President of Revenue Operations at Rockcliffe Capital. 'This isn't just a BBQ grill. It's a lifestyle. It's a movement. It's a cooker people talk about, share recipes on, and take from tailgate to elk camp.' What Makes FIREDISC Different? Outdoor cooking built tough: high-output gas burners, zero moving parts, and collapsible legs From trails to tailgates: fits every adventure, from backyard BBQs to overlanding expeditions Deep retail traction: DTC and retail distribution success at Ace Hardware and beyond Passionate community: thousands of 5-star reviews, viral user recipes, and influencer-driven content Complete gear lineup: from grill accessories and propane regulators to branded disco and griddle gear Fueling the Next Phase of Growth Funds will support: National retail distribution and channel expansion Scaled U.S. production of new FIREDISC cookers and accessories Strategic co-branded outdoor partnerships Content partnerships featuring FIREDISC recipes and real-world outdoor cooking Whether it's fajitas on the ranch, tacos on the portable griddle, or fish at the lake, FIREDISC Cookers is the only barbeque grill people bring everywhere and brag about. About FIREDISC® Cookers Headquartered in Katy, Texas, FIREDISC® Cookers is a leading national brand specializing in the design, manufacturing, distribution, and retail of innovative outdoor cooking products. Founded by Texas brothers, including co-founder Griff Jaggard, FIREDISC Cookers has redefined how America cooks outdoors. From portable propane cookers, rugged griddles, and disco-style cookers to high-performance grills and durable grill accessories, FIREDISC delivers unmatched performance and portability for adventurers, tailgaters, and backyard chefs alike. Whether you're cooking fajitas on a griddle, deep-frying in a disco cooker, or searing steaks on one of FIREDISC's iconic propane grills, FIREDISC Cookers makes outdoor cooking accessible, effortless, and memorable. Engineered with precision and built for the outdoors, every FIREDISC® product—from cookers to accessories—is designed to turn good food into great memories. Created for those who value freedom, flavor, and function, FIREDISC Cookers are as at home in elk camp as they are on a patio. Whether you're firing up a quick dinner in the backyard or preparing a feast in the wild, FIREDISC is the trusted tool of choice. With a loyal and growing nationwide fanbase, FIREDISC Cookers is more than just gear. It's a movement fueled by innovation, quality, and the vision of Griff Jaggard and his team. Since its launch in 2017, the family-owned, Texas- based company has earned its place as a category leader in outdoor cooking. Their commitment to quality, durability, and superior customer service has made FIREDISC Cookers a household name among outdoor enthusiasts, weekend warriors, and grill masters. As FIREDISC looks ahead, the brand remains committed to raising the bar in propane-powered outdoor cooking with new innovations in cookers, griddles, grills, and disco-style solutions built to go wherever flavor leads. Fire it Up and Gather 'Round. Learn more at About Rockcliffe Capital Rockcliffe Capital is a boutique investment bank focused on advising high-growth companies in consumer, lifestyle, and specialty manufacturing sectors. With a founder-first mindset and a deep network of capital partners, Rockcliffe helps visionary brands raise, scale, and exit with intention. CONTACT: Media & Investor Inquiries Communications Office Email: press@ Rockcliffe CapitalError in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
Grounded Travel is Trending for Summer 2025 - Harvest Hosts' Travel Trends Survey Reveals Americans are Cutting Costs
Summer vacation isn't cancelled, but it's taking a detour, as Americans explore different modes of travel, closer destinations, and low-frill nature to save VAIL, Colo., May 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Harvest Hosts, a membership program offering RVers access to 9,000+ unique RV camping locations, today reveals its latest travel trends survey showing the current state of the summer vacation and how different generations are approaching travel amid economic uncertainty, air travel chaos and National Park staffing cuts. The survey sees a return to domestic vacations, nature and outdoor activities as consumers prepare to cut back, maximize their budgets and swap luxe experiences for cost-effective fun. "During the pandemic, we saw a massive rise in outdoor activities. Now, as the travel industry braces for another chaotic season and potential economic downturn, we're seeing COVID-level upticks in demand for road travel and outdoor excursions," says Joel Holland, CEO of Harvest Hosts. "Americans are getting creative and looking to stretch their budgets this summer, from driving instead of flying to hiking instead of scuba diving, we can expect to see cost-cutting shifts in how people travel over the next few months." Boots on the Ground – Literally, as Many Choose to Stay Stateside and Support Local LandmarksWith potential tariffs causing turmoil between the U.S. and other countries, Americans are concerned about backlash during their travels - deterring travel abroad this year. Instead, Americans are staying close to home to support their local businesses and explore national and state parks. In fact, 59% of Americans are concerned about the perception of Americans while traveling abroad. Of those who have changed their air travel plans in the last six months, 74% cite concerns about perception of Americans. The result? 55% say they are considering more domestic travel this year in comparison to past years. This holds even more true for younger generations with 64% (Gen Z) and 63% (Millennials) looking to travel domestic, while 78% of all Americans who have changed their air travel plans in the last six months are now looking to travel domestic instead. Of the 44% of Americans planning to visit National Parks in the U.S. this summer, 53% are considering an RV rental. With that, 71% say it's moderately important to extremely important to support American local businesses during their summer travels. Regarding the status of National Parks, the top concerns of Americans who are booking campgrounds are: Overcrowding (41%), Safety (37%), Campground availability (25%), Trail maintenance (18%) Meanwhile 43% are moderately concerned to extremely concerned about the impact of staffing on National Parks. Trading Wings for Wheels Amid Air Travel ChaosSo far, this year has seen a string of flight incidents, causing massive delays and cancellations in some cases. As confidence in air travel wanes, many are looking to the road as a more reliable means to get them from point A to point B. Nearly one-third (32%) of Americans say flight delays / cancellations are their greatest travel annoyance. About half of Gen Z (51%) and Millennials (45%) have changed or reconsidered air travel plans in the last six months – citing cost (37%) and safety (32%) concerns as the top reasons. The micro trip is back, with over half (52%) of Americans planning to take multiple smaller, closer trips rather than one, big trip this year. When it comes to road trips, 35% of Americans are willing to drive 11-30 miles out of their way to visit a lesser known, less crowded destination - skipping the overcrowded tourist traps. Americans Stretch their Budgets and Shrink their Destination Amid Economic UncertaintyWith fears around a potential economic downturn, many Americans are preemptively scaling back their travel plans. They're tightening spending and looking for more cost-effective modes of travel or closer destinations. They are grounding themselves, with 43% cutting travel costs by choosing to drive instead of fly. Meanwhile, 39% are citing cost as the reason they are reconsidering air travel plans this summer. What's more, 64% of Americans say they are changing their travel plans in some way due to economic uncertainty - with 27% opting for lower cost trips, 14% taking less trips and 12% deciding not to travel at all. Millennials are most concerned, with 72% altering plans due to the economy, whereas Boomers' experience has them less shaken by the economic outlook with only 48% altering plans. Of the Americans taking multiple smaller, closer trips, 40% cite cost as the top reason for recent changes to their travel plans. Still, signs show only moderate caution. In 2022, 51% of Americans were padding their travel budget anticipating inflation or higher costs post-pandemic - in comparison to 36% in 2025. While Millennials Reel It In, Gen Z Is Getting In The SaddleLooking to relieve stress and cut costs, it's not uncommon for people to turn to the great outdoors when the economy is down. Travelers across generations are heading outside and dabbling with new nature-related hobbies. The survey found 60% are considering more travel outdoors compared to city travel this year. Millennials in particular are looking to get outside with nearly three-quarters (74%) booking nature destinations over city vacations. Across generations, hiking (36%) is the top travel experience, but while Millennials are jumping into fisherman core with 37% wanting to fish, Gen Z is staying the course with cowboy core as 27% trot to the stables for some horseback riding. Compared to the last two years, Americans have an increased interest in camping (34%) and RVing (33%) – with Millennials and Gen Z in particular exploring camping (47%) and RVing (43%) at higher rates. This increased interest is largely driven by cost / affordability and the desire to be in nature and travel outdoors. For Millennials with families, there is an additional benefit that this mode of travel is easier to take their kids (34%) or pets (25%) along. Cutting the "Cord" on Vacation - No Kids, No Pets, No Responsibilities (No Problems)People are looking to vacate - not just from their homes and jobs - but also their responsibilities, with most preferring vacations without kids or pets. Results found that 44% of Americans are looking for child-free or adult-only travel experiences or accommodations. Child-free travelers are most interested in the following experiences: Hiking - 37% Fishing - 32% Wellness retreat - 27% Spa day - 26% Cooking class - 20% While pets are often thought to be popular travel companions, as it turns out Americans would rather have zero responsibility on vacation with 46% preferring not to take kids (under the age of 16) or pets on vacation with them. This is sharp contrast from the post-COVID puppy boom – when 52% of Americans were basing their travel plans on accommodating their pets. Grandparents are also tapping out, 74% of Boomers would not want to take kids (under the age of 16) or their pets on vacation. With the pandemic still fresh in people's minds, many travelers are jumping back into the penny-pinching mindset as the economy dips, Grounding themselves for summer 2025. Consumers are largely price-driven, especially when it comes to travel, so any opportunity to cut costs is driving vacation season plans. About Harvest Hosts Harvest Hosts, the largest private RV camping network in North America, provides a complete network of offerings to streamline the road travel and camping experience – with a collection of companies that includes Escapees RV Club, one of the oldest RV organizations bringing community events, education, discounts and more; Boondockers Welcome, a community of RVers allowing guests to stay overnight on their property for free; CampScanner, an alert service to book sold-out campgrounds; and Brit Stops, a membership connecting motorhome tourists in the UK and Ireland with small businesses for overnight stays. The company's mission is to advance the technology and accessibility of the RVing and campground industry, making traveling while supporting national parks, local small businesses and communities easier than ever. To learn more, visit: download the Harvest Hosts app on iOS here and Android here. Media Contact: sbaber@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Harvest Hosts Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Republican purge of RV voters could shift Sioux Falls district more Democratic
Rep. Tony Kayser, R-Sioux Falls, center, speaks with Rep. Greg Jamison, R-Sioux Falls, and other lawmakers on the South Dakota House floor on Dec. 3, 2024. Kayser sponsored bills during the 2025 legislative session that would restrict the voting rights of full-time travelers. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) A Republican-led effort to limit the voting influence of full-time travelers, such as RVers, could tilt a South Dakota legislative district more safely into Democratic hands. If Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden signs House Bill 1066 into law, a person would need to have spent 30 consecutive days at some point in their life in a single physical location in South Dakota to be legally eligible to vote in the state. If he also signs House Bill 1208, however, it would open up one avenue for RV voters. Under that bill, people with a mailbox address in South Dakota — but no physical abode in the state or proof they'd ever had one for 30 consecutive days — could apply to register for a federal-only absentee ballot limited to candidates for president, U.S. senator and U.S. representative. 'You can't have it both ways': RVers bemoan state's welcome of their money, but not their votes If Rhoden signs 1066 and not 1208, full-time travelers with South Dakota vehicle registrations and driver's licenses wouldn't be legally eligible for any kind of absentee ballot from the state without proof of a 30-day, single-location stay. The bills target full-time travelers, drawn for decades to establish residency in South Dakota by the state's lack of an income tax and the relative ease of securing on-paper residency. In many cases, they register with mailbox forwarding businesses. Those voters tend to be Republicans. In one district in Sioux Falls, they nearly tipped a local legislative race away from a Democratic candidate. Rep. Tony Kayser, the Sioux Falls Republican who sponsored the bills, wasn't surprised to hear that. He knew the party skew of the voters he'd targeted but he said he doesn't care. Out-of-staters who vote in state or local races, he reasons, cancel out the votes of locals that might swing the other way. 'What's right is right, what's wrong is wrong, and that was wrong,' Kayser said. Kayser's bills were among a spate of 'election integrity' reforms backed by GOP lawmakers who said they're responding to constituent concerns about, among other issues, undue influence from out-of-state elements in South Dakota elections. The GOP slant of the voters doing the alleged influencing wasn't front-and-center during most debates on how to change their access to local ballots, but it came up at least once. Sioux Falls Democratic Sen. Jamie Smith talked about it on the state Senate floor moments before he voted to pass HB 1208. 'A friend of mine over in the House won by nine votes, OK?' Smith said. 'You take out the mailboxes, and he wins by hundreds of votes. Hundreds.' He was referring to the spread in the race between his fellow District 15 Democratic lawmaker, Erik Muckey of Sioux Falls, and Republican Joni Tschetter. Muckey won after a recount. Smith also claimed the race was competitive by design. He and Muckey's constituency grew by thousands of full-time travelers in the last round of legislative redistricting because, he implied, the state's Republican lawmakers wanted to dilute the voting power of Sioux Falls Democrats. 'I'm not naive as to why they did that,' Smith said. Redistricting is a process that follows each U.S. census, undertaken to more or less equalize district boundaries by population. Republicans involved in the 2021 redistricting efforts that moved a mail forwarding company called Dakota Post into District 15 disputed claims of willful political scale-tipping in interviews with South Dakota Searchlight. A Searchlight analysis of voting data from District 15, however, shows that Smith is correct about the impact of Dakota Post voters in 2024. District 15 voters were allowed to select up to two candidates in the 2024 state House race. The options were Democrats Muckey and Kadyn Wittman, and Republicans Joni Tschetter and Brad Lindwurm. Both Democrats won in eight of the district's 12 precincts, often with lopsided results. The Democrats won a combined 60% of the votes in the central Sioux Falls precinct that's home to the Cathedral of St. Joseph, for example. The opposite was true in three precincts, two of which were added in the 2021 redistricting. One other precinct delivered a split for Republicans – the precinct where Tschetter lives. She finished in the top two, but Lindwurm didn't. The largest GOP margins in the House race came in the precinct where the only physical address belongs to Dakota Post. There are 4,742 voters registered there, according to voter roll data purchased by South Dakota Searchlight through the Minnehaha County Auditor's office. Of those, 1,759 cast ballots in the 2024 general election, and most of them voted in the District 15 state House race. The Republican candidates earned a combined 60% of the votes from Dakota Post. 'If you limit those mailbox voters, my election doesn't have a recount,' Muckey said. Yet he voted against both of the Kayser bills. The mailbox voters may have nearly swung the election against Muckey, but 'at the end of the day, they're my constituents,' he said, and he didn't want to cast ballots to limit their rights. The precinct boundaries in District 15 were determined by a Republican, Minnehaha County Auditor Leah Anderson. County auditors can't redraw legislative districts, but they do have the authority to define voting precincts within those districts. Anderson put every voter registered to Dakota Post into one precinct. Voters registered at central Sioux Falls' Your Best Address, who were part of District 15 both prior to and after the 2021 redistricting, were also drawn into their own precinct. As a result, the 2024 primary and general elections were the first for which votes from those addresses could be sorted from others within District 15. Legislature seeks tighter limits on voter qualifications with host of 'election integrity' bills The move was inspired in part, Anderson said, by Pennington County, which long ago moved all the voters registered to a mail forwarding company called America's Mailbox in Box Elder, near Rapid City, to their own precinct. Anderson supported HB 1208 and HB 1066, and testified for them in Pierre. She was in the Senate gallery when Smith made the claim about Muckey's race. She ran the recount that upheld the nine-vote margin. She doesn't buy the notion that the addition of mailbox voters helped Republicans in District 15. She sees changing demographics and an increase in independent voters as equally important factors. But she doesn't dispute that voters with mailboxes but no physical address lean Republican. 'Before I came into office, some of the legislators would tell me not to mess with this issue, because we get Republican votes out of those folks,' Anderson said. 'We don't need to do what benefits a certain party or benefits the state financially. It just needs to be what's right.' Mailbox-only voters have been an issue for Democrats for years, according to the party's executive director, Dan Ahlers. Voters drawn to South Dakota for low taxes have always skewed right, he argued, which is why most lawmakers didn't worry much about them until 'election integrity' came into vogue for pockets of the state's political right. 'Now that Republicans are interested, now it's an issue,' Ahlers said. The claim that the state's last redistricting work drew lines in the GOP's favor in District 15 sounds correct to Democratic former lawmaker Troy Heinert, of Mission, who was among the lawmakers who worked on the 2021 redistricting. 'We knew that was going to become an issue in the Sioux Falls districts,' said Heinert. He doesn't like the term 'mailbox voter,' at least not as a statewide term. Like many tribal-area residents, Heinert himself didn't always register to vote using his physical address (he says his rural home didn't even have one for years), opting instead for a post office box. The problem, he said, is 'nonresident voters' who don't have a place to lay their head in the state but claim residency for tax reasons. If the Republicans involved in redistricting claim they didn't know they were adding thousands of those voters to District 15, Heinert said, 'I don't see how they couldn't have.' Which is not to say that all Democrats have been fully engaged with the issue, however. Democratic former Sen. Reynold Nesiba, of District 15, told South Dakota Searchlight that Dakota Post wasn't top of mind until after his first post-redistricting election in 2022. 'I was shocked at how many thousands of people were registered at those places,' Nesiba said. Republican former lawmakers Mary Duvall and Jim Bolin, chair and vice chair of the state Senate Committee on Redistricting in 2021, denied that the mailbox moves were partisan. Duvall, of Pierre, said specific addresses were not discussed by the committee. 'That is not a conversation that I engaged in at all,' said Duvall, who added that she was surprised to hear Smith's claim on the Senate floor. Bolin, of Canton, doesn't accept any claims about gerrymandering. District 10, also in Sioux Falls, added more Democrats and improved that party's chances. District 32's redistricting added North Rapid, a heavily Native American area in Rapid City, which was a move Heinert pushed for to avoid diluting that community's say. Democrat Nicole Uhre-Balk won a seat in District 32 in 2024. 'The current maps never could have passed without the support of the Democrats,' Bolin said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
