Mellissa Heermann is Republican state representative from District 7.

I’ve had the opportunity to visit with many different groups and share a post-legislative update. The most common questions I hear are: “What happened?” and “What made this session different from last year?” I’ve been reflecting on those questions and wanted to share a few thoughts with you — both to inform and to encourage thoughtful reflection on this past session.

The first year of a new term always comes with some bumps. A large group of new legislators are still learning the process and finding their footing. I remember my own first session as a steep learning curve. This year, we also saw a nearly complete change in leadership in both chambers, which inevitably impacted the session. And finally, I’d like to address what I believe many of us felt: the hostile culture that emerged during this session.

I share this with you not only as your representative, but as your advocate — someone who listens to your voices, weighs the needs of our community, researches the issues, and makes thoughtful decisions that serve District 7 and South Dakota — not special interest groups or out-of-state entities. This session, more than ever, we saw a rise in strong-arm tactics aimed at coercing legislators into voting a certain way. But what’s best for other districts is not always what’s best for us. District 7 is diverse and unique, and it deserves thoughtful representation.

Some special interest groups, out-of-state entities, and other politically motivated organizations have employed tools such as negative scorecards and shame-based postcards and texts, sent directly to our districts — tools not designed to inform, but to manipulate. In many cases, these tools are about controlling legislators. They are meant to make lawmakers second-guess their votes, not based on what is best for their constituents, but out of the fear of being shamed in front of their friends and family and losing the next election.

I have thought a lot about what kind of leadership that I want and respect in a public servant. I don’t want public servants who vote a certain way just to ger re-elected. I want public servants who vote to do what’s right. I want leaders who take the time to research, to reflect, and to make decisions based on what’s best for their communities and their state — not based on who shouts the loudest or applies the most pressure.

I work for you. My duty is to District 7 —the families, businesses, and individuals who call this district home. My responsibility is to make decisions that reflect our values and our shared vision for South Dakota. I will not cave to this pressure, no matter how loud or coordinated it may be. More than once we had individuals come into our committee meetings and tell us during testimony that they would be recording our votes on certain issues. What they are saying is you better vote the way we want you to, or there will be consequences.

I also want to clarify that not every bill is what it seems. Some bills are introduced not with the expectation they’ll pass, but simply to force a recorded vote. This tactic allows groups to weaponize those votes in the next election, distorting a legislator’s record for political gain. That’s not policymaking — that’s political theater. It’s disrespectful to the process and a waste of time and resources.

As your representative, I take this role seriously. The words we write into state law matter. Precision, clarity, and good policy matter. I won’t vote for a flawed bill just because it sounds noble. I will always push for better solutions, not just easy ones. Our legislative process must not be hijacked by those seeking control through fear or manipulation.

I understand that standing firm will come with consequences. I know some will try to distort my record or turn me into a target. But I’m prepared for that, because my loyalty is to you — not to those trying to undermine our democratic process. My commitment remains clear: I will continue to put District 7 first. I will not allow outside forces to dictate decisions that belong to the people of South Dakota. Thank you for your trust, your support, and your belief in principled, thoughtful leadership. If you have questions about any of the bills from this past session, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me here.