2026 South Dakota Senate election
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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All 35 seats in the South Dakota Senate 18 seats needed for a majority | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in South Dakota | ||||||||||||||||
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The 2026 South Dakota Senate election will be held on November 3, 2026, alongside the other 2026 United States elections.[1] Voters will elect members of the South Dakota Senate in all 35 of the U.S. state of South Dakota's legislative districts to serve a two-year term.[2]
Democrat
Senators serving continuously since the 2018 general election are ineligible to serve another consecutive term.
- District 15: Jamie Smith is running for mayor of Sioux Falls.
- District 27: Red Dawn Foster is term-limited.[3]
Republican
- District 2: Steve Kolbeck is retiring.
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[4] | Safe R | January 22, 2026 |
Overview
| 2026 South Dakota Senate election results and statistics | ||||||||||||
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| Party | Candidates | Seats won | Aggregate votes | 2024 general | Change | |||||||
| Prim. | Gen. | No. | Percent | Seats won | Vote % | Seats | Vote % | |||||
| Republican | 59 | 34 | TBD | TBD | 32 | 78.65% | TBD | |||||
| Democratic | 11 | 10 | 3 | 19.94% | ||||||||
| Independents | TBD | 0 | 1.41% | |||||||||
| Totals | 70 | TBD | 35 | TBD | 100% | 35 | — | — | — | |||
| Turnout | TBD | — | 69.93% | TBD | ||||||||
| Registered voters | ||||||||||||
Detailed results
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District 1 • District 2 • District 3 • District 4 • District 5 • District 6 • District 7 • District 8 • District 9 • District 10 • District 11 • District 12 • District 13 • District 14 • District 15 • District 16 • District 17 • District 18 • District 19 • District 20 • District 21 • District 22 • District 23 • District 24 • District 25 • District 26 • District 27 • District 28 • District 29 • District 30 • District 31 • District 32 • District 33 • District 34 • District 35 |
District 1
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2028 → | |||
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The incumbent senator for District 1 is Republican Michael Rohl, first elected in 2020. At the 2024 general election, he was re-elected unopposed. He is running for re-election. Should he win another term, he will be ineligible to run in 2028.[3]
Republican primary
Declared
- Michael Rohl, incumbent senator[5]
District 2
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2028 → | |||
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The incumbent senator for District 2 is Republican Steve Kolbeck, first elected in 2022. At the 2024 general election, he was re-elected unopposed. He is retiring.
Republican primary
Declared
- David Kull, state representative from this district (2023–present)[5]
- John Sjaarda, state representative from this district (2023–present)[5]
Withdrawn
- Manuel Luschas (running for state representative)[5]
Declined
- Steve Kolbeck, incumbent senator (running for Republican Precinct Committeman in Minnehaha County)[5]
District 3
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2028 → | |||
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The incumbent senator for District 3 is Republican Carl E. Perry, first elected in 2024 unopposed at the general election. He is running for re-election.
Republican primary
Declared
- Carl E. Perry, incumbent senator[5]
- Katherine Washnok, candidate for this district in 2024[5]
District 4
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2028 → | |||
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The incumbent senator for District 4 is Republican Stephanie Sauder, first elected in 2024 unopposed at the general election. She is running for re-election.
Republican primary
Declared
- Tim Begalka, former senator from this district (2011–2015)[5]
- Stephanie Sauder, incumbent senator[5]
District 5
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2028 → | |||
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The incumbent senator for District 5 is Republican Glen Vilhauer, first elected in 2024 with 71.1 percent of the vote at the general election. He is running for re-election.
Republican primary
Declared
- Josephine Garcia, state representative from this district (2025–present)[5]
- Glen Vilhauer, incumbent senator[5]
District 6
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2028 → | |||
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The incumbent senator for District 6 is Republican Ernie Otten, first elected in 2024 unopposed at the general election, though he has previously served four terms from 2013 to 2021. He is running for re-election.
Republican primary
Declared
- Ernie Otten, incumbent senator[5]
District 7
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2028 → | |||
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The incumbent senator for District 7 is Republican Tim Reed, first elected in 2022. At the 2024 general election, he was re-elected unopposed. He is running for re-election.
Republican primary
Declared
District 8
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2028 → | |||
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The incumbent senator for District 8 is Republican Casey Crabtree, first appointed in 2020. At the 2024 general election, he was re-elected unopposed. He is running for re-election. Should he win another term, he will be ineligible to run in 2028.[3]
Republican primary
Declared
- Casey Crabtree, incumbent senator[5]
- Patricia Shiery[5]
Withdrawn
- Todd Wilkinson (running for state representative)[5]
District 9
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2028 → | |||
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The incumbent senator for District 9 is Republican Joy Hohn, first elected in 2024 unopposed at the general election. She is running for re-election.
Republican primary
Declared
- Daryl Christensen, candidate for state representative from this district in 2024[5]
- Joy Hohn, incumbent senator[5]
District 10
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2028 → | |||
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The incumbent senator for District 10 is Democrat Liz Larson, first elected in 2022. At the 2024 general election, she was re-elected unopposed. She is running for re-election.
Democratic primary
Declared
- Liz Larson, incumbent senator[5]
Republican primary
Declared
- Michael Dupic (initial candidacy successfully challenged, but successfully petitioned again)[5]
District 11
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2028 → | |||
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The incumbent senator for District 11 is Republican Chris Karr, first elected in 2024 with 58.9 percent of the vote at the general election. He is running for re-election.
Republican primary
Declared
- Chris Karr, incumbent senator[5]
- Graham Oey, attorney[5]
Democratic primary
Declared
- Aaron Matson, nominee for state representative from this district in 2024 and nominee for Treasurer in 2018[5]
District 12
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2028 → | |||
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The incumbent senator for District 12 is Republican Arch Beal, first elected in 2022. He was re-elected in 2024 with 55.7 percent of the vote at the general election. He is running for re-election.
Republican primary
Declared
- Arch Beal, incumbent senator[5]
- Kari Shanard-Koenders, executive director of the state Board of Pharmacy[5]
District 13
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2028 → | |||
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The incumbent senator for District 13 is Republican Sue Peterson, first elected in 2024 with 58.5 percent of the vote at the general election. She is running for re-election.
Republican primary
Declared
- Dan Kippley[5]
- Sue Peterson, incumbent senator[5]
District 14
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2028 → | |||
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The incumbent senator for District 14 is Republican Larry Zikmund, first elected in 2020. He was re-elected in 2024 with 54.6 percent of the vote at the general election. He is running for re-election. Should he win another term, he will be ineligible to run in 2028.[3]
Republican primary
Declared
- R. Shawn Tornow, former state representative from this district (2011–2013)[5]
- Larry Zikmund, incumbent senator[5]
District 15
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2028 → | |||
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The incumbent senator for District 15 is Democrat Jamie Smith, first elected in 2024 with 52.4 percent of the vote at the general election. He is retiring.
Democratic primary
Declared
- Erik Muckey, state representative from this district (2025–present)[5]
Declined
- Jamie Smith, incumbent senator (running for mayor of Sioux Falls)[5]
District 16
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2028 → | |||
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The incumbent senator for District 16 is Republican Kevin D. Jensen, first elected in 2024 unopposed at the general election. He is running for re-election.
Republican primary
Declared
- Kevin D. Jensen, incumbent senator[5]
District 17
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2028 → | |||
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The incumbent senator for District 17 is Republican Sydney Davis, first elected in 2022. She was re-elected in 2024 unopposed at the general election. She is running for re-election.
Republican primary
Declared
- Sydney Davis, incumbent senator[5]
- Jeffrey Church[5]
District 18
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2028 → | |||
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The incumbent senator for District 18 is Republican Lauren Nelson, first elected in 2024 with 57.2 percent of the vote at the general election. She is running for re-election, facing a primary bid from former senator Jean Hunhoff, who she had narrowly beat in the 2024 Republican primary with 52.0 percent of the vote.
Republican primary
Declared
- Jean Hunhoff, former senator from this district (2021–2025)[5]
- Lauren Nelson, incumbent senator[5]
Democratic primary
Declared
- Kay Swihart[5]
District 19
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2028 → | |||
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The incumbent senator for District 19 is Republican Kyle Schoenfish, first elected in 2020. He was re-elected in 2024 with 77.2 percent of the vote at the general election. He is running for re-election. Should he win another term, he will be ineligible to run in 2028.[3]
Republican primary
Declared
- Donna Olson[5]
- Kyle Schoenfish, incumbent senator[5]
Democratic primary
Declared
- Russell Graeff, nominee for this district in 2022 and 2016[5]
District 20
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2028 → | |||
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The incumbent senator for District 20 is Republican Paul Miskimins, first elected in 2024 unopposed at the general election. He is running for re-election.
Republican primary
Declared
- Paul Miskimins, incumbent senator[5]
District 21
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2028 → | |||
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The incumbent senator for District 21 is Republican Mykala Voita, first elected in 2024 with 77.1 percent of the vote at the general election. She is running for re-election, facing a primary bid from former senator Erin Tobin, who she had narrowly beat in the 2024 Republican primary with 50.7 percent of the vote.
Republican primary
Declared
- Erin Tobin, former senator from this district (2021–2025)[5]
- Mykala Voita, incumbent senator[5]
District 22
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2028 → | |||
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The incumbent senator for District 22 is Republican Brandon Wipf, first appointed in 2025. He replaced Republican David Wheeler, who was re-elected in 2024 with 73.2 percent of the vote at the general election. Wipf is running for re-election.
Republican primary
Declared
- Brandon Wipf, incumbent senator[5]
District 23
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2028 → | |||
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The incumbent senator for District 23 is Republican Mark Lapka, first elected in 2024 unopposed at the general election. He is running for re-election.
Republican primary
Declared
- Mark Lapka, incumbent senator[5]
District 24
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2028 → | |||
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The incumbent senator for District 24 is Republican Jim Mehlhaff, first elected in 2022. He was re-elected in 2024 unopposed at the general election. He is running for re-election.
Republican primary
Declared
- Jim Mehlhaff, incumbent senator[5]
- Brian Murphy[5]
- Mark Nelson[5]
District 25
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2028 → | |||
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The incumbent senator for District 25 is Republican Tom Pischke, first elected in 2022. He was re-elected in 2024 with 72.7 of the vote at the general election. He is running for re-election.
Republican primary
Declared
- Tom Pischke, incumbent senator[5]
District 26
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2028 → | |||
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The incumbent senator for District 26 is Republican Tamara Grove, first elected in 2024 with 57.3 of the vote at the general election. She is running for re-election.
Republican primary
Declared
- Tamara Grove, incumbent senator[5]
- Rebecca Reimer, state representative from District 26B (2018–present)[5]
Democratic primary
Declared
- Shawn Bordeaux, former senator from this district (2023–2025)[5]
- Luke Lunderman, candidate for state representative from District 26A in 2018[5]
District 27
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2028 → | |||
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The incumbent senator for District 27 is Democrat Red Dawn Foster, first elected in 2018. She was re-elected in 2024 with 52.0 of the vote at the general election. She ineligible for a fifth consecutive term.[3]
Democratic primary
Declared
- Celestine Stadnick, principal of Little Wound School[5]
Term-limited
- Red Dawn Foster, incumbent senator[3]
Republican primary
Declared
- Anthony Kathol, nominee for this district in 2024[5]
District 28
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2028 → | |||
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The incumbent senator for District 28 is Republican J. Sam Marty, first elected in 2024 with 64.1 of the vote at the general election. He is running for re-election.
Republican primary
Declared
- J. Sam Marty, incumbent senator[5]
- Ryan Maher, former senator from this district (2007–2015, 2017–2025)[5]
District 29
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2028 → | |||
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The incumbent senator for District 29 is Republican John Carley, first elected in 2024 unopposed at the general election. He is running for re-election.
Republican primary
Declared
- John Carley, incumbent senator[5]
- William J. Meirose, U.S. Army veteran and pastor[5]
District 30
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2028 → | |||
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The incumbent senator for District 30 is Republican Amber Hulse, first elected in with 74.4 of the vote at the general election. She is running for re-election, facing a primary bid from former senator Julie Frye-Mueller, who she had narrowly beat in the 2024 Republican primary with 45.9 percent of the vote.
Republican primary
Declared
- Amber Hulse, incumbent senator[5]
- Julie Frye-Mueller, former senator from this district (2021–2023, 2023–2025)[5]
District 31
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2028 → | |||
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The incumbent senator for District 31 is Republican Randy Deibert, first elected in 2022. He was re-elected in 2024 unopposed at the general election. He is running for re-election.
Republican primary
Declared
- Randy Deibert, incumbent senator[5]
- John E. Teupel, former state representative from this district[6][5]
District 32
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2028 → | |||
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The incumbent senator for District 32 is Republican Helene Duhamel, first appointed in 2019. She was re-elected in 2024 with 60.0 percent of the vote at the general election. She is running for re-election. Should she win another term, she will be ineligible to run in 2028.[3]
Republican primary
Declared
- Helene Duhamel, incumbent senator[5]
- Karen McNeal, independent candidate for this district in 2024[5]
Democratic primary
Declared
- Jeff Shelton, archaeologist[5]
District 33
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2028 → | |||
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The incumbent senator for District 33 is Republican Curt Voight, first elected in 2024 unopposed at the general election. He is running for re-election, facing a primary bid from former senator David Johnson, who he had beat in the 2024 Republican primary with 55.8 percent of the vote.
Republican primary
Declared
- Curt Voight, incumbent senator[5]
- David Johnson, former senator from this district (2021–2025)[5]
Democratic primary
Declared
- Christopher Baumgartner[5]
District 34
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2028 → | |||
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The incumbent senator for District 34 is Republican Taffy Howard, first elected in 2024 with 60.2 percent of the vote at the general election. She is running for re-election.
Republican primary
Declared
- Jason E. Green, candidate for this district in 2024[5]
- Taffy Howard, incumbent senator[5]
Democratic primary
Declared
- Michael Calabrese, nominee for the 32nd district in 2020[5]
District 35
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2028 → | |||
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The incumbent senator for District 35 is Republican Greg Blanc, first elected in 2024 unopposed at the general election. He is running for re-election.
Republican primary
Declared
- Greg Blanc, incumbent senator[5]
- Nicole Mitzel[5]
References
- ↑ Booker, Brakkton (2025-07-29). "The 2026 midterms are officially underway". POLITICO. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
- ↑ "South Dakota State Senate elections, 2026". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2025-08-10.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Legislative Terms of Office" (PDF). SD Legislature. Retrieved 31 March 2026.
- ↑ Jacobson, Louis (January 22, 2026). "Handicapping The 2026 State Legislative Map: A First Look". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 "2026 Primary Election Candidate List". SD SOS. Retrieved 31 March 2026.
- ↑ "John E. Teupel". SD Legislature. Retrieved 31 March 2026.