My Congratulatory Email to Rep. Travis Ismay After His Primary Win

Last night, Rep. Travis Ismay (R-House District 28B) defeated challenger Larry Schmaltz in the Republican primary, securing approximately 59% of the vote to Schmaltz’s 41%.

I’ve had strong disagreements with Rep. Ismay — particularly over his sponsorship of legislation aimed at repealing South Dakota’s medical marijuana program. Those disagreements led to some heated emails in the past. Rep. Ismay even posted some of my earlier, less polished messages on his Facebook page, mockingly calling me “the face of marijuana in South Dakota” while including a screenshot of one of my numerous, strikingly handsome, mugshots.

Tonight, I chose a different approach.

Below is the full text of the email I sent to Rep. Ismay shortly after the results came in:

Subject: Sincere congrats on tonight’s earned victory

Mr. Ismay,

Genuine respect and congrats! You’ve performed exceedingly competently in the statehouse. I’m glad.

Regardless of disagreements, you’re a man of honesty and character, and you stood up for what you thought was right, for the sake of doing right. For that you have my gratitude, and respect.

Good luck with your future efforts.

Respectfully yours,

Jason Karimi

Why I Sent It

I still believe Rep. Ismay is wrong on medical marijuana. I believe efforts to repeal a program that helps sick South Dakotans are misguided and harmful. But being wrong on policy doesn’t make someone a bad person.

In a time when politics is increasingly toxic, basic decency still matters. Rep. Ismay won fairly in a tough rural district where his background as a rancher and welder clearly resonated with voters. He earned that victory, and he deserves acknowledgment for it.

This email wasn’t about softening my position on cannabis policy. The fight for medical marijuana patients in South Dakota continues. But it was about recognizing that even our strongest opponents can be decent people acting in good faith as they see it.

I expect Rep. Ismay may post this message as well. If he does, that’s fine. Unlike previous exchanges, this one doesn’t need to be apologized for.

To Rep. Ismay: win or lose on policy, I’ll continue to respect you as a person while vigorously opposing your efforts to repeal medical cannabis access.

That’s how politics should work.

The work goes on.