The Jefferson County Republican Party has canceled a fundraiser scheduled for Saturday with South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem.
Noem has faced extensive criticism this week for her account of shooting an unruly dog, a detail included in her forthcoming book, according to The Guardian. However, the county GOP stated that “safety concerns” led to the cancelation of the event because protesters were expected to show up.
Noem was set to headline the county GOP’s fundraiser at the Marriott Denver West hotel.
In a May 3 statement, Jeffco GOP Chair Nancy Pallozzi described inviting Noem to the fundraiser in January and receiving confirmation in early April. Pallozzi said she didn’t know the contents of the forthcoming book, and her organization “is not taking a position on the public outcry” surrounding it.
However, once the story broke nationwide, she said the county GOP received numerous threats.
Yesterday, the parties involved in the event mutually agreed to cancel the appearance to protect the safety of all involved, Pallozzi said.
“It is very sad that standing up and expressing our First Amendment rights in this current political culture has brought us to this point,” she continued.
Pallozzi thanked all those who bought tickets to the fundraisers, saying the organization will plan another fundraising event in the near future.
The dog, which Noem shot and reportedly described as a working dog, was 14 months old. According to NBC News, Noem has defended her decision, claiming it had “massacred” a neighbor’s livestock, and she considered it a risk to her family’s safety.
Noem is reportedly on former President Donald Trump’s shortlist for running mate in this November’s election. She was elected South Dakota’s first female governor in 2018 and re-elected in 2022.