PIERRE, S.D. (Dakota News Now) - South Dakota Rep. Peri Pourier has officially announced her change in party from a Democrat to a Republican, according to a post from the Representative's Facebook page.
"Leaders who fail to adapt will leave their communities vulnerable. I refuse to be passive." Pourier said in her Facebook post. "I will not wait for permission to protect our children, our elders, and our homelands. I will be present where decisions are made -- to ensure our voices are not just heard but prioritized."
Pourier is the State Representative for District 27 in South Dakota, representing Bennett, Haakon, Jackson, Oglala Lakota, and Pennington counties.
"The core tenets of the Republican Party - decentralized government, self-determination, economic prosperity, lower energy costs, and robust public safety - align with the principle of tribal sovereignty." Pourier continued.