Pro-tip: if you're gonna run for office you shouldn't say things like this on Twitter.
A South Dakota Democrat who announced plans to run for Congress on Wednesday dropped out a day later, after his old Twitter posts came to light and raised eyebrows—and then some—in the prairie state.
Ryan Ryder, who planned to challenge GOP Rep. Dusty Johnson, emailed a statement announcing he was leaving the race after a single day. He apologized for the posts, which included fantasizing about creating a cartoon video of killing Johnson’s family, another one wishing Jan. 6, 2021, rioters had gotten their hands on the Republican congressman, and a third alluding to his masturbating to a photo of Gov. Kristi Noem.
It’s the latest bizarro setback for a state Democratic Party that has found itself in the wilderness in recent years.
On Nov. 17, 2021, Ryder—whose LinkedIn describes him as a dad and attorney—tweeted a post suggesting he might create an animated video of him murdering Johnson’s family.
Ryder also criticized Johnson, a Republican in his second term, for describing the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol as a “dark day” while also saying he would not vote to impeach President Donald Trump.
“You are a complete and utter fraud,” Ryder tweeted. “It’s too bad that the Trump rioters that you continue to support didn’t get you that day.”
Ryder also commented on a tweet showing Gov. Kristi Noem in a typical pose: carrying a flag while riding a horse. He criticized her spokesman, Ian Fury, for posting it, sarcastically saying it was something he could masturbate to while believing “any load of crap he throws my way.”
By Wednesday night, Ryder had deleted his Twitter account. But at first, South Dakota Democratic Party Executive Director Berk Ehrmantraut said the party still supported Ryder.
“Ryan’s lifetime of service and commitment to his community speaks louder than some poorly-worded tweets,” Ehrmantraut said. “I expect Ryan to be the Democratic nominee for Congress.”
By Thursday afternoon, the state party had reversed itself.