Nominee Susan Wismer announced Wednesday her pick of former state lawmaker Susy Blake of Sioux Falls as her running mate.
"She epitomizes all that is great about South Dakota and is committed to fighting for our state's future," Wismer said.
But Wismer, the first woman to receive a major-party nomination for governor, said Blake's gender was "incidental" to her lieutenant governor choice.
Instead, Wismer said she liked the geographic balance Blake brought to the ticket — Blake is from Sioux Falls, while Wismer is from the northeast part of the state — as well as a contrast in styles.
"I wanted to pick someone from one of the other population centers in the state — either Sioux Falls or Rapid City," Wismer said.
Blake, who originally thought a male running mate would be politically better for Wismer, said she thinks women can make better leaders.
"I think women have a different perspective," Blake said. "For the most part, when women go into public service, they are doing it for a larger cause. They are looking at, what do we need to do for South Dakota — everyone in South Dakota. I don't think that's always true with men."
