Kristi Noem paid $20,000 for horse rental in Mount Rushmore ad, filings show

Campaign filings show Kristi Noem's campaign paid $20,000 to rent a horse for a televised Mount Rushmore advertisement, plus expenses for hair, makeup and travel. The disclosure lays out specific production costs for a high-profile political ad. Separately, the Senate confirmed Markwayne Mullin as the new Homeland Security secretary, replacing Noem. The combination matters because it highlights campaign spending choices at the same time Noem left a cabinet-level role, shaping political and leadership optics.