Joe Donnell

Joe Donnell is an American politician who has served in the South Dakota House of Representatives since 2023.

Not to be confused with Joe Donnelly.
Joe Donnell
Member of the South Dakota House of Representatives
from the 1st district
Assumed office
2023
Serving with Tamara St. John
Preceded byJennifer Healy Keintz
Personal details
CitizenshipUnited States
Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate
Political partyRepublican
ResidenceSisseton, South Dakota
EducationTrinity Bible College and Graduate School (B.A.)
Continental Theological Seminary

Career

Donnell is the founder and director of Warriors Circle, a Christian nonprofit that works with Native Americans to develop leadership skills.[1][2] He has a bachelor of arts degree in church ministries from Trinity Bible College and Graduate School, and a master's degree in theology from Continental Theological Seminary in Belgium.[3]

South Dakota House of Representatives

Donnell first ran for office in June 2022 against incumbent Mike Rohl for the 1st district of the South Dakota Senate and lost the primary election.[4][5] After Logan Manhart withdrew from the District 1 House race,[lower-alpha 1] Donnell was selected as his replacement on the ballot by the South Dakota Republican Party.[1] He went on to win the general election and, alongside Tamara St. John, is one of two Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate tribal citizens who serve in the 2023 legislature.[7] He introduced Governor Kristi Noem at the swearing-in ceremony for her second term.[8]

In an interview with Meri Crouley for the Now Is The Time podcast,[lower-alpha 2] Donnell went viral after he described how he believed God revealed to him that there is a direct ley line from the Mount Rushmore National Memorial to Washington, DC.[10] He suggested that demonic forces use the monument as an "freemason shrine" to practice witchcraft and spread communism.[11] The Mount Rushmore National Memorial declined to comment on Donnell's claims.[9]

Notes
  1. Manhart withdrew from the race after a lawsuit was filed alleging he failed to meet the two year residency requirement to run for the South Dakota House of Representatives.[6]
  2. A podcast covering theories about the alleged American deep state, Covid-19 vaccines, and Donald Trump.[9]

References
  1. Sand, Elisa (July 21, 2022). "Donnell tapped to fill Republican vacancy in District 1 House race". Aberdeen News.
  2. "SD State Legislative Candidate Survey: Joe Donnell". KDLT-TV. 1 June 2023. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  3. "South Dakota State Rep. Joe Donnell - Biography". LegiStorm. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  4. Sand, Elisa (October 20, 2022). "Meet the 4 candidates, all from Sisseton, running for two District 1 House seats". Aberdeen News. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  5. Kulkarni, Kerry; Abrego, Trent (June 8, 2022). "Al Novstrup, Lee Schoenbeck, Fred Deutsch among incumbent Republicans to win primary races". Aberdeen News. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  6. Sand, Elisa (August 4, 2022). "Democrats pick former Roberts Co. state's attorney Nikolas as District 1 House candidate". Aberdeen News. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  7. Sand, Elisa (November 9, 2022). "Rohl, St. John and Donnell are winners in South Dakota Legislative District 1". Aberdeen News. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  8. Mercer, Bob (January 9, 2023). "Noem starts second term with a 'top 10' list". KELO-TV. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  9. Terrall, Gracie (June 28, 2023). "South Dakota lawmaker calls Mount Rushmore demonic portal for communism". The Hill. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  10. Terrall, Gracie (June 27, 2023). "SD Rep calls Mt. Rushmore demonic portal for communism". KELO-TV. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  11. Harper, Blake (June 26, 2023). "South Dakota Republican Claims Mount Rushmore is a Demonic Portal to Communism". The Messenger. Retrieved 2023-06-26.
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