🏫 The Hall Pass

📝 Pop Quiz: What Happens When Democracy Shows Up?

📚 Syllabus

A few days ago, I had the opportunity to participate in a candidate forum, answering questions from South Dakotans about education, ethics, property taxes, water, reproductive rights, tribal relations, housing, and just about everything in between.

Now that I’ve had a little time to reflect, I’ll let you in on a little secret.

I was nervous.

Not because I don’t know what I believe, but because I care about getting it right. When someone asks how you’ll represent them, that’s not a game. It’s a responsibility.

There were moments I felt really good about. There were moments I wish I could hop into a time machine and tighten up an answer. (Looking at you, ethics question.)

That’s okay.

Democracy isn’t about perfection.

It’s about showing up.

I almost didn’t tell you I was nervous. Campaigns often make us think candidates are supposed to have all the answers and never second-guess themselves. But I don’t think authenticity is a weakness—I think it’s how trust is built.

🚶 Hallway Conversations

As I’ve reflected on the forum over the past few days, one thing has really stuck with me.

Nobody asked “gotcha” questions.

People asked about things that affect their everyday lives.

Can my kids get a good education?

Will I be able to afford a home?

Is my property tax bill going to keep climbing?

Will there be enough clean water?

Can I trust my elected officials?

Those aren’t Democratic questions.

Those aren’t Republican questions.

Those are South Dakota questions.

And they deserve honest answers.

🎓 Civics Class

There was one question I was secretly hoping would be fielded to me during the forum:

“Can you provide an example of how you would work with people who strongly disagree with you?”

Not because I wanted more time to speak, but because I already knew exactly what I wanted to say. I didn’t get a chance to share in the forum but I’d love to share with you now.

Years ago, while earning my master’s degree at Hawaiʻi Pacific University, I took a mediation and conflict resolution course taught by attorney Tom DiGrazia.

One lesson from that class has stayed with me ever since.

Tom told the story of two sisters arguing over the last orange in the kitchen.

Each insisted they needed the whole orange.

Eventually, someone suggested the obvious compromise: cut it in half.

Fair… right?

Not quite.

A parent finally asked each sister a simple question:

“Why do you want the orange?”

One wanted the juice to drink.

The other wanted the peel to bake with.

Neither actually needed the whole orange.

The conflict disappeared the moment someone stopped asking what they wanted and started asking why.

That lesson has shaped the way I approach disagreements ever since.

Too often, politics gets stuck arguing over positions.

We spend all of our energy defending what we want instead of understanding why someone wants it.

That doesn’t mean we’ll always agree.

It doesn’t mean we should compromise our values.

But it does mean we should be curious enough to ask one more question before deciding someone is our enemy.

I’ve carried that lesson with me through education, nonprofit leadership, community advocacy, and now this campaign.

If I’m fortunate enough to serve in Pierre, that’s exactly how I hope to lead.

Because real leadership isn’t about winning every argument.

It’s about solving the problem that’s sitting in the middle of the table.

🏛️ Principal’s Office

Politics has become really good at rewarding whoever can yell the loudest.

I’d rather reward whoever shows up prepared.

Who listens.

Who admits when they don’t know something.

Who does the homework.

Who remembers they’re there to serve the people—not themselves.

That’s the kind of representative I’m trying to be.

📺 Progress Report

If you missed the forum, the full recording is still available online, and I hope you’ll take the time to watch it.

Watch the candidate forum here

Not because every answer was perfect.

But because democracy works best when voters hear candidates answer real questions in real time—not through carefully edited clips or 30-second attack ads.

I’ve had a chance to watch parts of it myself, and, like anyone who has ever watched themselves speak in public, I found a few answers I’d probably polish today.

But I’m still proud that I showed up, answered every question honestly, and shared the values that brought me into this race in the first place.

If you do watch it, I’d love to hear what stood out to you.

✏️ Homework

Campaigns shouldn’t be about who has the best one-liner.

They should be about who is willing to listen.

Who is willing to learn.

Who is willing to show up.

South Dakotans deserve leaders who are honest enough to admit they don’t have every answer—but committed enough to keep asking the right questions.

That’s how trust is built.

That’s how communities grow stronger.

And that’s how democracy is supposed to work.

Because that’s what Democrats do. 💙

Until next time,

Kari Hall