South Dakota's at-large congressional district

South Dakota's at-large congressional district is the sole congressional district for the state of South Dakota. Based on area, it is the fourth largest congressional district in the nation.

Representative

Dusty Johnson
R–Mitchell

Area75,885 mi² (196,540 km²)

Distribution

55.8% urban
44.2% rural

Population (2024)924,669^[1]

Quick facts Representative, Area ...

South Dakota's at-large congressional district

Representative	Dusty Johnson R–Mitchell
Area	75,885 mi² (196,540 km²)
Distribution	55.8% urban 44.2% rural
Population (2024)	924,669^[1]
Median household income	$76,881^[1]
Ethnicity	79.6% White 8.4% Native American 4.4% Hispanic 3.9% Two or more races 2.0% Black 1.5% Asian 0.3% other
Cook PVI	R+15^[2]

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The district is currently represented by Dusty Johnson.

History

The district was created when South Dakota achieved statehood on November 2, 1889, as one of two for the new state. Following the 1910 United States census South Dakota gained a third seat. The third district was eliminated after the 1930 census. During the redistricting cycle after the 1980 census, the second seat was eliminated, leaving the single at-large district that the state has had since.

Voter registration

More information Party, Total voters ...

Voter registration and party enrollment as of 2024
Party		Total voters	Percentage
	Democratic	146,090	23.37%
	Republican	317,117	50.71%
	Libertarian	2,981	0.48%
	Independent/NPA	158,991	25.43%
Total		597,069	100%

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Statewide election results

More information Year, Office ...

Year	Office	Results
2000	President	Bush 60% - Gore 38%
2004	President	Bush 60% - Kerry 38%
2008	President	McCain 53% - Obama 45%
2012	President	Romney 58% - Obama 40%
2016	President	Trump 62% - Clinton 32%
2020	President	Trump 62% - Biden 36%
2024	President	Trump 63% - Harris 34%

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Election history

2004 special

Incumbent U.S. Representative Bill Janklow resigned the seat on January 20, 2004, after he was convicted of second-degree manslaughter, triggering a special election. Democrat Stephanie Herseth was selected as the Democratic nominee for this special election and she defeated Republican Larry Diedrich with 51 percent of the vote in a close-fought election on June 1, 2004. Herseth's victory briefly gave the state its first all-Democratic congressional delegation since 1937.

2004 general

In the November general election, Herseth was elected to a full term with 53.4 percent of the vote, an increase of a few percentage points compared with the even closer June special elections. Herseth's vote margin in June was about 3,000 votes, but by November it had grown to over 29,000.

Herseth thereby became the first woman in state history to win a full term in the U.S. Congress.

Both elections were hard-fought and close compared to many House races in the rest of the United States, and the special election was watched closely by a national audience. The general election was also viewed as one of the most competitive in the country, but was overshadowed in the state by the highly competitive U.S. Senate race between Democrat Tom Daschle and Republican John Thune, which Thune narrowly won.