SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) -- South Dakota District 27 Representative Peri Pourier announced she has shifted her voter registration from Democrat to Republican.

Pourier, who lives in Pine Ridge, represents Bennett, Jackson, Oglala Lakota and Pennington Counties in the legislature.

In a letter, Pourier provided context as to why she shifted political parties, including not wanting to wait to "protect our children, our elders, and our homelands" and to want to ensure voices are prioritized.

"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 said in the letter.

Pourier stated the decision is not about "partisan loyalty," but rat

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