South Dakota State Senate elections, 2012
 South Dakota's 2012 elections: • U.S. House • Other executive offices • State Senate • State House • Ballot measures |
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The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections is March 27, 2011. The primary election day will be June 5, 2012.
Majority control
- See also: Partisan composition of state senates
Heading into the November 6 election, the Republican Party holds the majority in the South Dakota State Senate:
| 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 | |
Campaign contributions
This chart shows how many candidates ran for state senate in South Dakota in past years and the cumulative amount of dollars raised in state senate races, including contributions in both primary and general election contests. All figures come from Follow The Money.[1]
| Year | Number of candidates | Total contributions |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 65 | $1,090,800 |
| 2008 | 92 | $2,196,661 |
| 2006 | 89 | $1,811,174 |
| 2004 | 78 | $859,976 |
| 2002 | 63 | $429,255 |
In 2010, the candidates for state senate raised a total of $1,090,800 in campaign contributions. The top 10 donors were: [2]
| Donor | Amount |
|---|---|
| South Dakota Senate Republicans Campaign Cmte | $36,500 |
| South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association | $19,750 |
| Warner PAC | $16,000 |
| South Dakota Education Association | $15,750 |
| South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations | $15,750 |
| South Dakota Republican Party | $15,422 |
| South Dakota Association of Realtors | $14,700 |
| South Dakota Retailers Association | $13,850 |
| Codington County Republican Central Cmte | $11,500 |
| South Dakota Corn Growers Association | $11,250 |
Qualifications
To be eligible to serve in the South Dakota Senate, a candidate must be:[3]
- A U.S. citizen at the time of filing
- 21 years old at the filing deadline time
- A two-year resident of South Dakota at the filing deadline time
- May not have been convicted of bribery, perjury or other infamous crime; may not have illegally taken "public moneys"
- A qualified voter. A qualified voter is someone who is:
- * A U.S. citizen
- * Reside in South Dakota
- * At least 18 years old old on or before the next election
- * Not currently serving a sentence for a felony conviction which included imprisonment, served or suspended, in an adult penitentiary system
- * Not be judged mentally incompetent by a court of law
Term limits
The South Dakota State Senate has been a term-limited state senate since South Dakota voters approved Ballot Issue A in 1992, an initiated constitutional amendment. This amendment became part of Section 6 of Article III of the South Dakota Constitution and limits the amount of time that a South Dakota State Senator can stay in office to no more than four consecutive 2-year terms.
The South Dakota State Legislature has tried on more than one occasion, each time unsuccessfully, to persuade the state's voters to repeal term limits. The most recent such failed attempt was when Amendment J lost in 2008 by 75-25%.
Altogether, there are 35 South Dakota State Senators. In 2012, 3 of them who are current members, or 8.6% of the total senate seats, will be ineligible to run for the senate again in November. Of them, 1 is a Democratic state senator and 2 are Republican state senators.
In addition to the 3 state senators who are leaving office because of term limits, 7 state representatives are also termed-out.
The 3 current members of the state senate who will be ineligible to run in November are:
Democrats (1):
Republicans (2):
Game-changers
- District 3 incumbent Al Novstrup (R) will face H. Paul Dennert (D), currently a member of the State House. Dennert purchased a condominium in District 3 so that he would be eligible to run in a District that represented Aberdeen. Redistricting moved his home into District 1.[1]
List of candidates
District 1
June 5 Democratic primary:
- Jason Frerichs Incumbent Frerichs assumed office in 2010.
June 5 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 2
Note: Incumbent Jim Hundstad (D) is retiring due to term limits.
- June 5 Democratic primary:
- June 5 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
District 3
- June 5 Democratic primary:
- H. Paul Dennert Dennert has represented District 2 in the State House since 2005.[1]
- June 5 GOP primary:
- Al Novstrup Incumbent Novstrup assumed office in 2008.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 4
- June 5 Democratic primary:
- June 5 GOP primary:
- Val Rausch Rausch is the current Speaker of the State House.
- Tim Begalka Incumbent Begalka assumed office in 2010.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 5
- June 5 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 5 GOP primary:
- Ried Holien Incumbent Holien assumed office in 2010.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 6
Note: Incumbent Arthur Fryslie (R) is running for re-election in District 2.
- June 5 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 5 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
District 7
- June 5 Democratic primary:
- June 5 GOP primary:
- Larry Tidemann Incumbent Tidemann assumed office in 2010.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 8
- June 5 Democratic primary:
- Russell Olson Incumbent Olson assumed office in 2008.
- June 5 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 9
- June 5 Democratic primary:
- June 5 GOP primary:
- Lora Hubbel
- Deb Peters Incumbent Peters assumed office in 2010.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 10
- June 5 Democratic primary:
- June 5 GOP primary:
- Shantel Krebs Incumbent Krebs assumed office in 2010.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 11
- June 5 Democratic primary:
- June 5 GOP primary:
- Todd Schlekeway Incumbent Schlekeway assumed office in 2010.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 12
- June 5 Democratic primary:
- June 5 GOP primary:
- Scott Bartlett
- Mark Johnston Incumbent Johnston assumed office in 2010.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 13
- June 5 Democratic primary:
- June 5 GOP primary:
- Phyllis M. Heineman Incumbent Heineman assumed office in 2010.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 14
Note: Incumbent Joni Cutler (R) is not running for re-election.
- June 5 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 5 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
District 15
- June 5 Democratic primary:
- Angie Buhl Incumbent Buhl assumed office in 2010.
- June 5 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 16
- June 5 Democratic primary:
- June 5 GOP primary:
- Dan Lederman Incumbent Lederman assumed office in 2010.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 17
Note: Incumbent Eldon Nygaard (R) is not running for re-election.
- June 5 Democratic primary:
- June 5 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
District 18
- June 5 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 5 GOP primary:
- Jean Hunhoff Incumbent Hunhoff assumed office in 2006.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 19
Note: Incumbent J.E. Putnam (R) is not running for re-election.
- June 5 Democratic primary:
- June 5 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
District 20
- June 5 Democratic primary:
- June 5 GOP primary:
- Steve Sibson
- Mike Vehle Incumbent Vehle assumed office in 2008.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 21
Note: Incumbent Kent Juhnke (R) is running for re-election in District 26.
- June 5 Democratic primary:
- June 5 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
District 22
Note: Incumbent Tom Hansen (R) is retiring due to term limits.
- June 5 Democratic primary:
- June 5 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
District 23
- June 5 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 5 GOP primary:
- Corey Brown Incumbent Brown assumed office in 2008.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 24
Note: Incumbent Bob Gray (R) is retiring due to term limits.
- June 5 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 5 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
District 25
- June 5 Democratic primary:
- June 5 GOP primary:
- Tim Rave Incumbent Rave assumed office in 2010.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 26
Note: Incumbent Billie Sutton (D) is running for re-election in District 21.
- June 5 Democratic primary:
- June 5 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
District 27
- June 5 Democratic primary:
- James Bradford Incumbent Bradford assumed office in 2008.
- June 5 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 28
- June 5 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 5 GOP primary:
- Ryan M. Maher Incumbent Maher assumed office in 2006.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 29
- June 5 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 5 GOP primary:
- Larry Rhoden Incumbent Rhoden assumed office in 2008.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 30
- June 5 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 5 GOP primary:
- George Ferebee
- Bruce Rampelberg Incumbent Rampelberg assumed office in 2010.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 31
- June 5 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 5 GOP primary:
- Bob Ewing
- Thomas Nelson Incumbent Nelson assumed office in 2008.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 32
- June 5 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 5 GOP primary:
- Stan Adelstein Incumbent Adelstein assumed office in 2008.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 33
Note: Incumbent Elizabeth Kraus (R) is not running for re-election.
- June 5 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 5 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
District 34
- June 5 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 5 GOP primary:
- Craig Tieszen Incumbent Tieszen assumed office in 2008.
- Stacey Wollman
November 6 General election candidates:
District 35
Note: Incumbent Jeffrey Haverly (R) is not running for re-election.
- June 5 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- June 5 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
See also
External links
References
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