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Kevin Jensen (South Dakota)

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Kevin Jensen
Image of Kevin Jensen

Republican Party

South Dakota State Senate District 16
Tenure

2025 - Present

Term ends

2027

Years in position

0

Prior offices
South Dakota House of Representatives District 16
Elections and appointments
Last elected

November 5, 2024

Education

Graduate

Sioux Falls Seminary, 2020

Personal
Profession
Inventor/Small Business Owner
Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Personal Facebook

Personal Twitter

Personal LinkedIn

Kevin Jensen (Republican Party) is a member of the South Dakota State Senate, representing District 16. He assumed office on January 14, 2025. His current term ends on January 12, 2027.

Jensen (Republican Party) ran for election to the South Dakota State Senate to represent District 16. He won in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Biography

Kevin Jensen earned a graduate degree from the Sioux Falls Seminary in 2020. His career experience includes working as an inventor/small business owner.[1]

Committee assignments

Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at: editor@ballotpedia.org.

2023-2024

Jensen was assigned to the following committees:

2021-2022

Jensen was assigned to the following committees:

2019-2020

Jensen was assigned to the following committees:

2017 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:

The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.

Elections

2024

See also: South Dakota State Senate elections, 2024

General election

General election for South Dakota State Senate District 16

Kevin Jensen won election in the general election for South Dakota State Senate District 16 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Kevin Jensen
Kevin Jensen (R)
 
100.0
 
9,368

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 9,368
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for South Dakota State Senate District 16

Kevin Jensen defeated Eric Hohman in the Republican primary for South Dakota State Senate District 16 on June 4, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Kevin Jensen
Kevin Jensen
 
65.5
 
1,855
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Eric Hohman
 
34.5
 
979

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 2,834
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Jensen in this election.

Pledges

Jensen signed the following pledges.

  • U.S. Term Limits

2022

See also: South Dakota House of Representatives elections, 2022

General election

General election for South Dakota House of Representatives District 16 (2 seats)

Karla Lems and incumbent Kevin Jensen defeated Matt Ness in the general election for South Dakota House of Representatives District 16 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Karla Lems
Karla Lems (R)
 
41.0
 
5,951
✔
Image of Kevin Jensen
Kevin Jensen (R)
 
40.1
 
5,825
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Matt Ness (D)
 
18.9
 
2,744

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 14,520
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Matt Ness advanced from the Democratic primary for South Dakota House of Representatives District 16.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for South Dakota House of Representatives District 16 (2 seats)

Karla Lems and incumbent Kevin Jensen defeated incumbent Richard Vasgaard in the Republican primary for South Dakota House of Representatives District 16 on June 7, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Karla Lems
Karla Lems
 
35.6
 
1,848
✔
Image of Kevin Jensen
Kevin Jensen
 
33.3
 
1,733
Image of Richard Vasgaard
Richard Vasgaard
 
31.1
 
1,616

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 5,197
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2020

See also: South Dakota House of Representatives elections, 2020

General election

General election for South Dakota House of Representatives District 16 (2 seats)

Incumbent David Anderson and incumbent Kevin Jensen won election in the general election for South Dakota House of Representatives District 16 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of David Anderson
David Anderson (R)
 
56.3
 
8,383
✔
Image of Kevin Jensen
Kevin Jensen (R)
 
43.7
 
6,510

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 14,893
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for South Dakota House of Representatives District 16 (2 seats)

Incumbent Kevin Jensen and incumbent David Anderson defeated William Shorma in the Republican primary for South Dakota House of Representatives District 16 on June 2, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Kevin Jensen
Kevin Jensen
 
38.3
 
1,444
✔
Image of David Anderson
David Anderson
 
33.3
 
1,257
Image of William Shorma
William Shorma
 
28.4
 
1,072

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 3,773
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2018

See also: South Dakota House of Representatives elections, 2018

General election

General election for South Dakota House of Representatives District 16 (2 seats)

Incumbent Kevin Jensen and incumbent David Anderson defeated Chad Skiles and Mike Steinbrecher in the general election for South Dakota House of Representatives District 16 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Kevin Jensen
Kevin Jensen (R)
 
34.7
 
6,121
✔
Image of David Anderson
David Anderson (R)
 
32.5
 
5,739
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Chad Skiles (D)
 
17.0
 
2,995
Image of Mike Steinbrecher
Mike Steinbrecher (D)
 
15.9
 
2,806

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 17,661
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for South Dakota House of Representatives District 16 (2 seats)

Chad Skiles and Mike Steinbrecher advanced from the Democratic primary for South Dakota House of Representatives District 16 on June 5, 2018.

Candidate
✔
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Chad Skiles
✔
Image of Mike Steinbrecher
Mike Steinbrecher

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for South Dakota House of Representatives District 16 (2 seats)

Incumbent David Anderson and incumbent Kevin Jensen advanced from the Republican primary for South Dakota House of Representatives District 16 on June 5, 2018.

Candidate
✔
Image of David Anderson
David Anderson
✔
Image of Kevin Jensen
Kevin Jensen

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2016

See also: South Dakota House of Representatives elections, 2016

Elections for the South Dakota House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election was held on June 7, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was March 29, 2016. Incumbent James Bolin (R) did not seek re-election.

Incumbent David Anderson and Kevin Jensen defeated Ann Tornberg and Ted Curry in the South Dakota House of Representatives District 16 general election.[2][3]

South Dakota House of Representatives, District 16 General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.png David Anderson Incumbent 33.14% 6,620
     Republican Green check mark transparent.png Kevin Jensen 29.90% 5,972
     Democratic Ann Tornberg 22.47% 4,489
     Democratic Ted Curry 14.49% 2,895
Total Votes 19,976
Source: South Dakota Secretary of State


Ted Curry and Ann Tornberg were unopposed in the South Dakota House of Representatives District 16 Democratic primary.[4][5]

South Dakota House of Representatives, District 16 Democratic Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Ted Curry
    Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Ann Tornberg


Incumbent David Anderson and Kevin Jensen defeated Bill Shorma in the South Dakota House of Representatives District 16 Republican primary.[4][5][6]

South Dakota House of Representatives, District 16 Republican Primary, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.png David Anderson Incumbent 40.56% 1,164
     Republican Green check mark transparent.png Kevin Jensen 30.38% 872
     Republican Bill Shorma 29.06% 834
Total Votes 2,870

2014

See also: South Dakota House of Representatives elections, 2014

Elections for the South Dakota House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 3, 2014. The general election took place on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 25, 2014. Jim Fedderson and Brian Shanks were unopposed in the Democratic primary. Incumbents David Anderson and Jim Bolin defeated Kevin D. Jensen in the Republican primary. Fedderson and Shanks withdrew after the primary. Anderson and Bolin were unopposed in the general election.[7][8][9]

South Dakota House of Representatives, District 16 Republican Primary, 2014
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngJim Bolin Incumbent 42.1% 1,329
Green check mark transparent.pngDavid Anderson Incumbent 33.2% 1,049
Kevin D. Jensen 24.7% 778
Total Votes 3,156

2012

See also: South Dakota House of Representatives elections, 2012

Jensen ran in the 2012 election for South Dakota House of Representatives District 16. Jensen and Don Lantis were defeated by incumbents James Bolin and Patty Miller in the Republican primary on June 5. Juanita Grewing and Ann Tornberg ran unopposed in the Democratic primary. The general election took place on November 6, 2012.[10][11]

South Dakota House of Representatives District 16 Republican Primary, 2012
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngJames Bolin Incumbent 40.9% 864
Green check mark transparent.pngPatty Miller Incumbent 24.3% 513
Kevin D. Jensen 21.8% 459
Don Lantis 13% 274
Total Votes 2,110

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Kevin Jensen did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

2022

Kevin Jensen did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

2020

Kevin Jensen did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign finance summary

Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

Kevin Jensen campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2024* South Dakota State Senate District 16Won general$16,323 $0
2022South Dakota House of Representatives District 16Won general$21,009 $0
2020South Dakota House of Representatives District 16Won general$9,225 N/A**
2018South Dakota House of Representatives District 16Won general$6,900 N/A**
2016South Dakota House of Representatives, District 16Won $13,692 N/A**
Grand total$67,149 N/A**
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards and State legislative scorecards in South Dakota

A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.

Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.

Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of South Dakota scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.


2024

In 2024, the South Dakota State Legislature was in session from January 9 to March 26.

Legislators are scored on their stances related to the Rapid City business community.
Legislators are scored on their votes related to business.
Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Legislators are scored on bills related to reproductive health issues.


2023


2022


2021


2020


2019


2018


2017





See also

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External links

Candidate

South Dakota State Senate District 16
  • Website
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    		•

    Personal

  • Facebook
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  • LinkedIn
    		•

    Footnotes

    1. ↑ Jensen for Senate 2024, "Get to Know Me," accessed February 27, 2025
    2. ↑ South Dakota Secretary of State, "2016 General Election Candidate List," accessed August 21, 2016
    3. ↑ South Dakota Secretary of State, "2016 General Election Official Results State Canvas," accessed May 2, 2017
    4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 South Dakota Secretary of State, "2016 Primary Election Candidate List," accessed December 18, 2015
    5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 South Dakota Secretary of State, "State primary results," accessed June 7, 2016
    6. ↑ South Dakota Secretary of State, "2016 Primary Election Official State Canvass of Legislative Districts 16 and 30 Recounts," accessed May 2, 2017
    7. ↑ South Dakota Secretary of State, "Current Candidates for Primary Election," May 2, 2014
    8. ↑ South Dakota Secretary of State, "Primary Election - Official Results," accessed June 4, 2014
    9. ↑ South Dakota Secretary of State, "Official General Election Results - November 4, 2014," accessed November 12, 2014
    10. ↑ Office of the South Dakota Secretary of State, "2012 Primary Election Candidate List," accessed April 9, 2012
    11. ↑ South Dakota Secretary of State, "Official Primary Results," June 25, 2012

    Political offices
    Preceded by
    -     		South Dakota State Senate District 16
    2025-Present    		 Succeeded by
    -
    Preceded by
    -     		South Dakota House of Representatives District 16
    2017-2025    		 Succeeded by
    -


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