SD Dem state lawmaker Rep. Peri Pouier switches from Democrat to Republican

South Dakota State Representative Peri Pouier has announced she has switched parties from Democrat to Republican. She announced the decision just one day before the legislature will convene for a special session. Pourier is an Oglala Lakota tribal member representing District 27. That means there are now 97 Republicans to just eight Democrats, the largest power imbalance in the state legislature since 1953 when there was just two Democrats. Pourier talked about her decision in a Facebook post saying the Republican party tenets of decentralized government, economic prosperity, low energy costs, self determination and public safety better fits with tribal sovereignty. Pourier was a registered Democrat last session, but did not caucus with the Democrats. South Dakota Democratic Party Executive Director Dan Ahlers called the decision disappointing.