South Dakota 2012 legislative election results

The tabs below contain analysis of election results in the 2012 legislative elections for South Dakota.

• Senate
• House
• National Partisan Trends

2012 Legislative Election Results
State-by-State Analysis
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Other 2012 Election information
State legislative elections • State legislative election results • Statewide elections, 2012 • State Senate elections • State House elections

South Dakota State Senate Election Results

This page contains macro-level election results and analysis for the South Dakota State Senate 2012 elections. For results in individual contests see our South Dakota State Senate elections, 2012 page. The following is a breakdown of the state senate before and after the election:

South Dakota State Senate
Party		As of November 5, 2012	After the 2012 Election
	Democratic Party	5	7
	Republican Party	30	28
Total		35	35

What You'll See on This Page

This page will display the following lists of candidates

• Incumbents running on November 6
• Defeated incumbents
• Challengers who defeated an incumbent
• Newly elected senators
• List of all winners
• Unopposed candidates
• Third party candidates

State Senate Overview:

• A total of 35 of the state's Senate seats were up for election in 2012.

Incumbents

Incumbents running in November 6

The following is a list of all of the incumbents running on the November 6 general election ballot:

1. Al Novstrup
2. Angie Buhl
3. Arthur Fryslie
4. Billie Sutton
5. Bruce Rampelberg
6. Corey Brown
7. Craig Tieszen
8. Dan Lederman
9. Deb Peters
10. James Bradford
11. Jason Frerichs
12. Jean Hunhoff
13. Kent Juhnke
14. Larry Rhoden
15. Larry Tidemann
16. Mark Johnston
17. Mike Vehle
18. Phyllis Heineman
19. Ried Holien
20. Russell Olson (South Dakota politician)
21. Ryan Maher
22. Shantel Krebs
23. Stanford Adelstein
24. Tim Begalka
25. Timothy Rave

Incumbents defeated

The followings is a list of incumbents defeated in 2012:

General election

Candidate	Party	District
Arthur Fryslie	Republican	South Dakota State Senate District 6
Kent Juhnke	Republican	South Dakota State Senate District 21

Primary election

Candidate	Party	District
Thomas Nelson	Republican	South Dakota State Senate District 31

Challengers who beat an incumbent

The following is a list of challengers who defeated an incumbent in 2012:

General election

Candidate	Party	District
Bob Ewing	Republican	South Dakota State Senate District 31
Chuck Welke	Democratic	South Dakota State Senate District 2
David Omdahl	Republican	South Dakota State Senate District 11
Jim White, South Dakota	Republican	South Dakota State Senate District 22
Larry J. Lucas	Democratic	South Dakota State Senate District 26

Primary election

Results will display after the election on November 6.

New State Senators and General Election Winners

Newly elected senators

The following list will display the newly-elected members of the South Dakota State Senate:

Democratic

1. Chuck Welke
2. Larry J. Lucas
3. Tom Jones (South Dakota)

Republican

1. Bill Van Gerpen
2. Bob Ewing
3. David Omdahl
4. Deb Soholt
5. Ernie Otten
6. Jeff Monroe
7. Jim White, South Dakota
8. Mark Kirkeby
9. Phil Jensen

Open Seat Winners

The following will display a list of candidates who won election in seats where no incumbent was running:

Democratic

1. Tom Jones (South Dakota)

Republican

1. Bill Van Gerpen
2. Deb Soholt
3. Ernie Otten
4. Jeff Monroe
5. Mark Kirkeby
6. Phil Jensen

Candidates who won election

The following will be a list of all candidates elected to the South Dakota State Senate:

Democratic

1. Angie Buhl
2. Billie Sutton
3. Chuck Welke
4. James Bradford
5. Jason Frerichs
6. Larry J. Lucas
7. Tom Jones (South Dakota)

Republican

1. Al Novstrup
2. Bill Van Gerpen
3. Bob Ewing
4. Bruce Rampelberg
5. Corey Brown
6. Craig Tieszen
7. Dan Lederman
8. David Omdahl
9. Deb Peters
10. Deb Soholt
11. Ernie Otten
12. Jean Hunhoff
13. Jeff Monroe
14. Jim White, South Dakota
15. Larry Rhoden
16. Larry Tidemann
17. Mark Johnston
18. Mark Kirkeby
19. Mike Vehle
20. Phil Jensen
21. Phyllis Heineman
22. Ried Holien
23. Russell Olson (South Dakota politician)
24. Ryan Maher
25. Shantel Krebs
26. Stanford Adelstein
27. Tim Begalka
28. Timothy Rave

Competitiveness

Unopposed candidates in general election

The following candidates will not face major party competition:

Democratic

1. Angie Buhl
2. James Bradford
3. Jason Frerichs

Republican

1. Bob Ewing
2. Bruce Rampelberg
3. Corey Brown
4. Craig Tieszen
5. Deb Peters
6. Jeff Monroe
7. Larry Rhoden
8. Mark Kirkeby
9. Ried Holien
10. Ryan Maher
11. Stanford Adelstein

Ballot Access

Third party candidates

The following is a list of third party and independent candidates who are running in 2012:

1. Kathy Miles
2. Matt McGrath

2012 Legislative Election Results
State-by-State Analysis
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Other 2012 Election information
State legislative elections • State legislative election results • Statewide elections, 2012 • State Senate elections • State House elections

South Dakota State House Election Results

This page contains macro-level election results and analysis for the South Dakota House of Representatives elections in 2012. For results in individual contests, see our South Dakota House of Representatives elections, 2012. The following is a breakdown of the state house before and after the election:

South Dakota House of Representatives
Party		As of November 5, 2012	After the 2012 Election
	Democratic Party	19	17
	Republican Party	50	53
	Vacancy	1	0
Total		70	70

What You'll See on This Page

This page will display the following lists of candidates

• Incumbents running on November 6
• Defeated incumbents
• Challengers who defeated an incumbent
• Newly elected representatives
• List of all winners
• Unopposed candidates
• Third party candidates

State House Overview

• All 70 of the state's House seats were up for election in 2012.

Incumbency Analysis

Incumbents who ran on November 6

The following is a list of all of the incumbents who are running on the November 6 general election ballot:

1. Bernie Hunhoff
2. Betty Olson
3. Bob Deelstra
4. Brian Gosch
5. Brock Greenfield
6. Burt Tulson
7. Charles Hoffman (South Dakota)
8. Dan Dryden
9. David Lust
10. David Novstrup
11. David Scott (South Dakota)
12. Dean Schrempp
13. Dean Wink
14. Dennis Feickert
15. Don Kopp
16. Fred Romkema
17. Hal Wick
18. Jacqueline Sly
19. James Bolin
20. James Schaefer
21. Jenna Haggar
22. Jon Hansen
23. Justin Cronin
24. Kevin Killer
25. Kristin Conzet
26. Lance Carson
27. Lance Russell
28. Manford Steele
29. Marc Feinstein
30. Melissa Magstadt
31. Mike Verchio
32. Patrick Kirschman
33. Patty Miller
34. Peggy Anne Gibson
35. Roger Solum
36. Scott Munsterman
37. Spencer Hawley
38. Stace Nelson
39. Steve Hickey
40. Susan Wismer
41. Tona Rozum

Incumbents defeated

The followings will display a a list of incumbents defeated in 2012:

General election

Candidate	Party	District
Bob Deelstra	Republican	South Dakota House District 9
David Scott (South Dakota)	Republican	South Dakota House District 21

Primary election

Candidate	Party	District
Mark Venner	Republican	South Dakota House District 24
Mark Willadsen	Republican	South Dakota House District 11
Mitch Fargen	Democratic	South Dakota House District 8
R. Shawn Tornow	Republican	South Dakota House District 14

Challengers who beat an incumbent

The following will display a list of challengers who defeated an incumbent in 2012:

General election

Candidate	Party	District
Anne Hajek	Republican	South Dakota House of Representatives District 14
Blaine Campbell	Republican	South Dakota House of Representatives District 35
Christine Erickson	Republican	South Dakota House of Representatives District 11
Daniel Kaiser	Republican	South Dakota House of Representatives District 3
Dick Werner	Republican	South Dakota House of Representatives District 22
Don Haggar	Republican	South Dakota House of Representatives District 10
Elizabeth May	Republican	South Dakota House of Representatives District 27
Gary Cammack	Republican	South Dakota House of Representatives District 29
Jim Stalzer	Republican	South Dakota House of Representatives District 11
Karen Soli	Democratic	South Dakota House of Representatives District 15
Kyle Schoenfish	Republican	South Dakota House of Representatives District 19
Lee Qualm	Republican	South Dakota House of Representatives District 21
Leslie Heinemann	Republican	South Dakota House of Representatives District 8
Mark Mickelson	Republican	South Dakota House of Representatives District 13
Mary Duvall	Republican	South Dakota House of Representatives District 24
Mike Stevens	Republican	South Dakota House of Representatives District 18
Paula Hawks	Democratic	South Dakota House District 9
Scott Ecklund	Republican	South Dakota House of Representatives District 25
Scott Parsley	Democratic	South Dakota House of Representatives District 8
Scott W. Craig	Republican	South Dakota House of Representatives District 33
Steve Westra	Republican	South Dakota House of Representatives District 13
Tim Rounds	Republican	South Dakota House of Representatives District 24
Timothy Johns	Republican	South Dakota House of Representatives District 31

Primary election

No candidates have been added to this category yet.

New Representatives and General Election Winners

Newly elected representatives

The following will list the newly-elected members of the South Dakota House of Representatives:

Democratic

1. Jim Peterson (South Dakota)
2. Karen Soli
3. Kathy Tyler
4. Paula Hawks
5. Ray Ring
6. Scott Parsley
7. Troy Heinert

Republican

1. Anne Hajek
2. Blaine Campbell
3. Christine Erickson
4. Daniel Kaiser
5. Dick Werner
6. Don Haggar
7. Elizabeth May
8. Gary Cammack
9. Herman Otten
10. Isaac Latterell
11. Jim Stalzer
12. Kyle Schoenfish
13. Lee Qualm
14. Leslie Heinemann
15. Mark Mickelson
16. Mary Duvall
17. Mike Stevens
18. Nancy Rasmussen
19. Scott Ecklund
20. Scott W. Craig
21. Steve Westra
22. Tim Rounds
23. Timothy Johns

Open Seat Winners

The following will list candidates who won election in seats where no incumbent was running:

Democratic

1. Jim Peterson (South Dakota)
2. Kathy Tyler
3. Ray Ring
4. Troy Heinert

Republican

1. Herman Otten
2. Isaac Latterell
3. Nancy Rasmussen

Candidates who won election

The following will list all candidates elected to the South Dakota House of Representatives in 2012:

Democratic

1. Bernie Hunhoff
2. Dean Schrempp
3. Dennis Feickert
4. Jim Peterson (South Dakota)
5. Karen Soli
6. Kathy Tyler
7. Kevin Killer
8. Marc Feinstein
9. Patrick Kirschman
10. Paula Hawks
11. Peggy Anne Gibson
12. Ray Ring
13. Scott Parsley
14. Spencer Hawley
15. Susan Wismer
16. Troy Heinert

Republican

1. Anne Hajek
2. Betty Olson
3. Blaine Campbell
4. Brian Gosch
5. Brock Greenfield
6. Burt Tulson
7. Charles Hoffman (South Dakota)
8. Christine Erickson
9. Dan Dryden
10. Daniel Kaiser
11. David Lust
12. David Novstrup
13. Dean Wink
14. Dick Werner
15. Don Haggar
16. Don Kopp
17. Elizabeth May
18. Fred Romkema
19. Gary Cammack
20. Hal Wick
21. Herman Otten
22. Isaac Latterell
23. Jacqueline Sly
24. James Bolin
25. James Schaefer
26. Jenna Haggar
27. Jim Stalzer
28. Jon Hansen
29. Justin Cronin
30. Kristin Conzet
31. Kyle Schoenfish
32. Lance Carson
33. Lance Russell
34. Lee Qualm
35. Leslie Heinemann
36. Manford Steele
37. Mark Mickelson
38. Mary Duvall
39. Melissa Magstadt
40. Mike Stevens
41. Mike Verchio
42. Nancy Rasmussen
43. Patty Miller
44. Roger Solum
45. Scott Ecklund
46. Scott Munsterman
47. Scott W. Craig
48. Stace Nelson
49. Steve Hickey
50. Steve Westra
51. Tim Rounds
52. Timothy Johns
53. Tona Rozum

Competitiveness

Unopposed candidates in general election

The following candidates will not face major party competition:

Democratic

1. Dean Schrempp
2. Dennis Feickert
3. Karen Soli
4. Kevin Killer
5. Patrick Kirschman
6. Susan Wismer
7. Troy Heinert

Republican

1. Betty Olson
2. Charles Hoffman (South Dakota)
3. Dean Wink
4. Elizabeth May
5. Fred Romkema
6. Gary Cammack
7. James Schaefer
8. Justin Cronin
9. Lance Russell
10. Mark Mickelson
11. Mary Duvall
12. Mike Verchio
13. Steve Westra
14. Tim Rounds
15. Timothy Johns

Ballot Access

Third party candidates

The following is a list of third party and independent candidates running in 2012:

1. Jay Pond
2. Kathleen Ann
3. Mike Reardon

2012 Legislative Election Results
State-by-State Analysis
Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Maine Massachusetts • Michigan• Minnesota • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming
Other 2012 Election information
State legislative elections • State legislative election results • Statewide elections, 2012 • State Senate elections • State House elections

National Partisan Trends

The following tables will detail the partisan breakdown of national election results.

Incumbents who were defeated in the general election

In the 44 states with elections, there were 4,534 incumbents who ran in the general election. The following is a breakdown of incumbent defeats in the 2012 general election:

Incumbents defeated in 2012 legislative general election
Party	Senate	House	Total
Democratic	21	49	70
Republican	37	182	219
Third Party	2	3	5
TOTALS	60	234	294

Total new legislators elected

In total, 1,707 (28.4%) new legislators were elected in 2012. Of these 1,707, 849 (50.0%) were Republicans and 854 (50.0%) were Democrats.

The following is the breakdown of new legislators.

New Legislators after the 2012 legislative elections
Party	Senate	House	Total
Democratic	165	684	849
Republican	202	652	854
Independent	0	4	4
TOTALS	367	1,340	1,707

Winners of Open Seats

Open seats contests made up 705 (11.7%) of the 6,015 seats in 2012. Of these 705 open seats, Republicans won 401 (56.9%) while Democrats won 304 (43.1%). Going into the election, the number of open seats formerly held by each party was quite similar. Estimates prior to the election suggested that approximately 52% of the open seats were previously held by Republicans and 48% were held by Democrats.

The following is the breakdown of open seat winners.

Open Seat Winners in 2012 legislative elections
Party	Senate	House	Total
Democratic	82	220	302
Republican	105	296	401
Third Party	0	0	0
TOTALS	187	516	703

Impact on legislative majorities

See also: Partisan balance of state legislatures

Partisan Balance of Chambers with 2012 Elections
	Pre-election				Post-election
Legislative chamber
State senates	17	24	1	1	18	24	0	1
State houses	15	27	1	0	19	24	0	0
Totals:	32	51	2	1	37	48	0	1

Partisan Balance of All 99 Chambers Before and After 2012 Elections
	Pre-election				Post-election
Legislative chamber
State senates	19	28	2	1	20	28	1	1
State houses	17	31	1	0	21	28	0	0
Totals:	35	60	3	1	41	56	1	1