Amendment L Supporters Issued Cease-and-Desist Letters

Campaign representatives demanded South Dakota broadcasters stop airing ads opposing the constitutional measure.

Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Elections

Bold flat-color editorial illustration featuring a stark, geometric brick facade against a neutral background, conveying institutional formality. — Supporters of South Dakota's Amendment L have issued cease-and-desist letters to local broadcasters, demanding the removal of advertisements they claim contain false financial information. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should political campaigns be allowed to demand that media outlets stop airing opposing advertisements?

Supporters of Amendment L have sent cease-and-desist letters to South Dakota television and radio stations. The campaign contends that advertisements opposing the measure contain false information regarding funding sources.

Why it matters

The dispute centers on claims that opponents have misrepresented the campaign's financial backing. Proponents of the measure, which seeks to set a 60% supermajority threshold for future constitutional amendments, argue the ads mislead voters about the influence of out-of-state donors.

Amendment L mandates a 60% vote threshold to pass future changes to the South Dakota Constitution. The legal request specifically targeted advertisements that alleged the campaign is funded by out-of-state billionaires and lobbyists.

The players

The Redstone Law Firm

This legal entity is representing the proponents of Amendment L and issued the formal requests to broadcasters.

T.J. Nelson

Nelson is a representative involved in the campaign for Amendment L who provided public comments on the matter.

The details

The Redstone Law Firm issued a news release on behalf of the Amendment L campaign, formally requesting that media organizations cease broadcasting opposition commercials. While letters were distributed to various stations, some outlets including KOTA and KNBN did not receive the communication.

T.J. Nelson participated in a phone interview on September 30, 2026.
Supporters distributed a news release to media organizations in October 2026.

Political Context

Opponents of Amendment L have argued that increasing the threshold to amend the South Dakota Constitution limits direct voter influence on state law. This group asserts that the measure serves as a barrier to citizens seeking to bypass the legislature, potentially entrenching current political power structures.

If the measure passes, South Dakota residents will face a higher bar for future constitutional changes, requiring broader consensus to enact reforms. Voters should be aware that the debate currently centers on the integrity of campaign financing disclosures as the election approaches.

The takeaway

Voters should independently verify claims regarding campaign funding as legal disputes between political groups and media outlets intensify. Evaluating the specific impact of the 60% threshold is essential for residents deciding the future of the state's constitutional amendment process.