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Taffy Howard

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Taffy Howard
Member of the South Dakota House of Representatives
from the 33rd district
In office
January 10, 2017 – January 10, 2023
Preceded byScott Craig
Jacqueline Sly
Succeeded byCurt Massie
Personal details
Born
Taffy Chewning

(1968-10-03) October 3, 1968 (age 56)
Decatur, Georgia, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseMark Howard
Children2
EducationSouth Dakota State University (BS)
WebsiteCampaign website
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Air Force
Years of service1989–1993

Taffy D. Howard (née Chewning)[1] is an American small business owner and politician who formerly served from 2017 to 2023 as a member of the South Dakota House of Representatives from the 33rd district.[2] A Republican, she has served the district since 2017.[3][4] She unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. House to represent South Dakota's at-large congressional district in 2022.

Early life and education

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Howard was born in Decatur, Georgia. Raised in a military family, she moved to South Dakota as a teenager and graduated from Lincoln High School in Sioux Falls. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from the South Dakota State University.[5]

Career

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Howard served as an officer in the United States Air Force from 1990 to 1994.[5] She was elected to the South Dakota House of Representatives in November 2016 and assumed office on January 10, 2017.[6] Howard also serves as vice chair of the House Committee on Appropriations.[7]

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic in South Dakota, Howard announced her intention to introduce legislation that would prevent private businesses from making vaccination mandatory for employees.[8]

In 2022, Howard supported legislation that would make it legal for doctors to prescribe ivermectin to treat COVID-19. There was no evidence to indicate that the drug was effective in treating COVID and there was nothing that prohibited doctors from prescribing it.[9]

2022 congressional election

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On August 2, 2021, Howard filed a statement of organization with the Federal Elections Commission to form an exploratory committee for the 2022 United States House of Representatives election in South Dakota.[10][11] On October 12, 2021, Howard officially announced that she would challenge U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson in the Republican primary.[12] On June 7, 2021, Johnson defeated Howard, 59%–40%.[13]

Electoral history

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  • In November 2020, Howard was re-elected with 7,902 votes along with Phil Jensen, who received 10,251 votes.[14] In June 2020, Howard received 2,831 votes and Phil Jensen received 2,297 votes to win the primary election defeating Melanie Torno who received 1,620 votes.[15]
  • In November 2018, Howard was re-elected with 5,662 votes along with David Johnson who received 6,094 votes, they defeated Lills Jarding who received 3,537 votes and Nick Reid who received 2,316 votes.[16] In June 2018, Howard received 2,183 votes along with Johnson who received 2,215 votes and they advanced to the general election after defeating Melanie Torno who received 1,212 votes.[17]
  • In November 2016, Howard was elected to the South Dakota House of Representatives with 7,018 votes along with Johnson, who received 8,245 votes and they defeated Jim Hadd who received 3,226 votes and Ethan Marsland who received 2,777 votes.[18] In June 2016, Howard received 1,792 votes and advanced from the primary along with Johnson, who received 2,235 votes and they defeated Mike Buckingham who received 1,099 votes.[19]

References

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  1. ^ "Obituaries for Feb. 12". 11 February 2004.
  2. ^ "Our Campaigns - Candidate - Taffy Howard".
  3. ^ "Representative Taffy Howard — 2018". South Dakota House of Representatives. State of South Dakota. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  4. ^ Hult, John (July 15, 2018). "South Dakota Running Out of Money for Pollution Control". Sioux Falls Argus Leader. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  5. ^ a b Staff, Abby Wargo Journal (13 August 2021). "Rapid City woman considering a run for U.S. House seat". Rapid City Journal Media Group. Retrieved 2021-08-22.
  6. ^ "Taffy Howard". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2021-08-22.
  7. ^ "Representative Taffy Howard - 2021". sdlegislature.gov. Retrieved 2021-08-22.
  8. ^ Nelson, Nick (6 August 2021). "Rep. Taffy Howard calls for defunding businesses with vaccine mandates". blackhillsfox.com. Retrieved 2021-08-22.
  9. ^ "South Dakota House OKs bill saying parasite-killing drug can be prescribed to humans". Grand Forks Herald. 2022-02-14. Retrieved 2022-02-16.
  10. ^ "Taffy Howard for Congress". fec.gov. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  11. ^ Goss, Austin (27 July 2021). "State Rep. Taffy Howard expected to announce bid for US Congress". kotatv.com. Retrieved 2021-08-22.
  12. ^ "South Dakota lawmaker to challenge Johnson's US House seat". Associated Press. October 12, 2021. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
  13. ^ State Canvas Report sdsos.gov
  14. ^ "2020 General State Canvass Final Certificate" (PDF). sdsos.gov. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  15. ^ "2020 Primary State Canvass Report and Certificate" (PDF). sdsos.gov. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  16. ^ "2018 General State Canvass Final Certificate" (PDF). sdsos.gov. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  17. ^ "2018 Primary Election Official Results" (PDF). sdsos.gov. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  18. ^ "2016 General State Canvass Final Certificate" (PDF). sdsos.gov. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  19. ^ "2016 Primary Election Official Results Canvas" (PDF). sdsos.gov. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
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