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Lance Russell

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Lance Russell
Image of Lance Russell

Candidate, Attorney General of South Dakota

Prior offices
South Dakota House of Representatives District 30

South Dakota State Senate District 30

Elections and appointments
Next election

November 3, 2026

Personal
Profession
Attorney
Contact

Lance Russell (Republican Party) is running for election for Attorney General of South Dakota. He declared candidacy for the 2026 election.[source]

Russell (Republican Party) was a member of the South Dakota State Senate, representing District 30. He assumed office on January 10, 2017. He left office on January 11, 2021.

He is a former Republican member of the South Dakota House of Representatives, representing District 30 from 2009 to 2017.

Biography

Email editor@ballotpedia.org to notify us of updates to this biography.

Russell's professional experience includes working as an attorney.[1]

Committee assignments

2019-2020

Russell was assigned to the following committees:

2017 legislative session

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

South Dakota committee assignments, 2017
Judiciary, Chair
Taxation
Transportation

2015 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Russell served on the following committees:

2013-2014

In the 2013-2014 legislative session, Russell served on the following committees:

2011-2012

In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Russell served on the following committees:

2009-2010

In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Russell 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

2026

See also: South Dakota Attorney General election, 2026

Note: At this time, Ballotpedia is combining all declared candidates for this election into one list under a general election heading. As primary election dates are published, this information will be updated to separate general election candidates from primary candidates as appropriate.

General election

The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.

General election for Attorney General of South Dakota

Lance Russell is running in the general election for Attorney General of South Dakota on November 3, 2026.

Candidate
Image of Lance Russell
Lance Russell (R)

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Endorsements

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2020

See also: South Dakota State Senate elections, 2020

General election

General election for South Dakota State Senate District 30

Julie Frye-Mueller defeated Gideon Oakes in the general election for South Dakota State Senate District 30 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Julie Frye-Mueller
Julie Frye-Mueller (R)
 
71.3
 
10,043
Image of Gideon Oakes
Gideon Oakes (L) Candidate Connection
 
28.7
 
4,046

Total votes: 14,089
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for South Dakota State Senate District 30

Julie Frye-Mueller defeated George Kotti in the Republican primary for South Dakota State Senate District 30 on June 2, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Julie Frye-Mueller
Julie Frye-Mueller
 
51.9
 
2,477
George Kotti
 
48.1
 
2,297

Total votes: 4,774
(100.00% precincts reporting)
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Libertarian convention

Libertarian convention for South Dakota State Senate District 30

Gideon Oakes advanced from the Libertarian convention for South Dakota State Senate District 30 on May 9, 2020.

Candidate
Image of Gideon Oakes
Gideon Oakes (L) Candidate Connection

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2018

See also: South Dakota State Senate elections, 2018

General election

General election for South Dakota State Senate District 30

Incumbent Lance Russell defeated Kristine Winter and Gideon Oakes in the general election for South Dakota State Senate District 30 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Lance Russell
Lance Russell (R)
 
56.7
 
6,652
Kristine Winter (D)
 
25.1
 
2,943
Image of Gideon Oakes
Gideon Oakes (L)
 
18.2
 
2,134

Total votes: 11,729
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for South Dakota State Senate District 30

Kristine Winter advanced from the Democratic primary for South Dakota State Senate District 30 on June 5, 2018.


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Republican primary election

Republican primary for South Dakota State Senate District 30

Incumbent Lance Russell defeated Bruce Rampelberg and Patricia Shiery in the Republican primary for South Dakota State Senate District 30 on June 5, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Lance Russell
Lance Russell
 
58.1
 
2,547
Image of Bruce Rampelberg
Bruce Rampelberg
 
29.3
 
1,283
Patricia Shiery
 
12.7
 
556

Total votes: 4,386
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2016

See also: South Dakota State Senate elections, 2016

Elections for the South Dakota State Senate 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.

Lance Russell defeated Karla R. LaRive in the South Dakota State Senate District 30 general election.[2][3]

South Dakota State Senate, District 30 General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.png Lance Russell 71.53% 9,176
     Democratic Karla R. LaRive 28.47% 3,653
Total Votes 12,829
Source: South Dakota Secretary of State


Karla R. LaRive ran unopposed in the South Dakota State Senate District 30 Democratic primary.[4][5]

South Dakota State Senate, District 30 Democratic Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Karla R. LaRive  (unopposed)


Lance Russell defeated incumbent Bruce Rampelberg in the South Dakota State Senate District 30 Republican primary.[4][5]

South Dakota State Senate, District 30 Republican Primary, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.png Lance Russell 59.20% 2,396
     Republican Bruce Rampelberg Incumbent 40.80% 1,651
Total Votes 4,047

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. Incumbents Mike Verchio and Lance Russell defeated Julie Frye-Mueller in the Republican primary. Gardner Gray ran as an independent candidate. Russell and Verchio defeated Gray in the general election.[6][7][8]

South Dakota House of Representatives, District 30, General Election, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngMike Verchio Incumbent 39.5% 5,775
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngLance Russell Incumbent 36.9% 5,384
     Independent Gardner Gray 23.6% 3,443
Total Votes 14,602
Source: South Dakota Secretary of State
South Dakota House of Representatives, District 30 Republican Primary, 2014
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngLance Russell Incumbent 36.7% 2,420
Green check mark transparent.pngMike Verchio Incumbent 32.7% 2,159
Julie Frye-Mueller 30.6% 2,019
Total Votes 6,598

2012

See also: South Dakota House of Representatives elections, 2012

Russell won re-election in the 2012 election for South Dakota House of Representatives District 30. Russell and fellow incumbent Mike Verchio defeated Tim Behlings, Travis L. Bies, and Florence K. Thompson in the Republican primary on June 5. No Democratic candidates filed for election. Russell and Verchio ran in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[9][10]

South Dakota House of Representatives District 30 Republican Primary, 2012
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngMike Verchio Incumbent 30.1% 1,716
Green check mark transparent.pngLance Russell Incumbent 25.2% 1,433
Tim Behlings 20.9% 1,192
Travis L. Bies 13.2% 752
Florence K. Thompson 10.6% 601
Total Votes 5,694

2010

See also: South Dakota House of Representatives elections, 2010

Russell ran for re-election to District 30 of the South Dakota House of Representatives. Russell and Mike Verchio (incumbent) both ran unopposed in the June 8 Republican primary.[11] Russell and Verchio defeated Kathleen Ann (D) in the general election on November 2, 2010.[12]

South Dakota State House, District 30 (2010)
Candidates Votes Percent
Green check mark transparent.png Mike Verchio (R) 7,439 44.10%
Green check mark transparent.png Lance Russell (R) 5,829 34.55%
Kathleen Ann (D) 3,601 21.35%

Campaign themes

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses

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Candidate Connection

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2020

Lance Russell 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.


Lance Russell campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2018South Dakota State Senate District 30Won general$20,580 N/A**
2016South Dakota State Senate, District 30Won $20,094 N/A**
2014South Dakota House of Representatives, District 30Won $13,625 N/A**
2012South Dakota House of Representatives, District 30Won $4,698 N/A**
2010South Dakota House of Representatives, District 30Won $6,595 N/A**
2008South Dakota House of Representatives, District 30Won $12,317 N/A**
** 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.






2020

In 2020, the South Dakota State Legislature was in session from January 14 to March 30.

Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Legislators are scored on their votes on bills supported or opposed by the organization.
Legislators are scored on bills related to reproductive health issues.
Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.


2019


2018


2017


2016


2015


2014


2013


2012


2011

2016 Republican National Convention

See also: Republican National Convention, 2016
Lance Russell
Republican National Convention, 2016
Status:Delegate
State:South Dakota
Bound to:Donald Trump
Delegates to the RNC 2016
Calendar and delegate rules overviewTypes of delegatesDelegate rules by stateState election law and delegatesDelegates by state

Russell was a delegate to the 2016 Republican National Convention from South Dakota. All 29 delegates from South Dakota were bound by state party rules to support Donald Trump at the convention.[14] As of July 13, 2016, Trump had approximately 1,542 delegates. The winner of the Republican nomination needed the support of 1,237 delegates. Trump formally won the nomination on July 19, 2016.

Delegate rules

See also: RNC delegate guidelines from South Dakota, 2016 and Republican delegates from South Dakota, 2016

Delegates from South Dakota to the 2016 Republican National Convention were elected at a state convention in March 2016 and allocated after the South Dakota presidential primary election on June 7, 2016. All delegates from South Dakota were bound by state party rules on the first ballot at the national convention to support the candidate to whom they were allocated.

South Dakota primary results

See also: Presidential election in South Dakota, 2016
South Dakota Republican Primary, 2016
Candidate Vote % Votes Delegates
Green check mark transparent.pngDonald Trump 67.1% 44,867 29
Ted Cruz 17% 11,352 0
John Kasich 15.9% 10,660 0
Totals 66,879 29
Source: The New York Times and South Dakota Secretary of State

Delegate allocation

See also: 2016 presidential nominations: calendar and delegate rules
Logo-GOP.png

South Dakota had 29 delegates at the 2016 Republican National Convention. Of this total, three were district-level delegates (representing the state's single congressional district) and 23 served as at-large delegates. South Dakota's district and at-large delegates were allocated on a winner-take-all basis; the plurality winner of the statewide primary vote received all of the state's district and at-large delegates.[15][16]

In addition, three national party leaders (identified on the chart below as RNC delegates) served as bound delegates to the Republican National Convention. The RNC delegates were required to pledge their support to the winner of the state's primary.[15][16]

See also


External links

Footnotes

  1. Project Vote Smart, "Lance Russell's Biography," accessed July 1, 2017
  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, "Current Candidates for Primary Election," May 2, 2014
  7. South Dakota Secretary of State, "Primary Election - Official Results," accessed June 4, 2014
  8. South Dakota Secretary of State, "Official General Election Results - November 4, 2014," accessed November 12, 2014
  9. South Dakota Secretary of State, "Official election results for 2012," accessed March 11, 2014
  10. South Dakota Secretary of State, "Official Primary Results," June 25, 2012
  11. South Dakota Secretary of State, "Official results," June 25, 2018
  12. South Dakota House of Representatives, "Official General Election Results, 2010," accessed March 11, 2014
  13. American Clarion, "South Dakota Freedom Index 2012," accessed August 14, 2014
  14. South Dakota GOP, "SDGOP elects Delegates and Alternates for the Republican National Convention," March 21, 2016
  15. 15.0 15.1 Republican National Committee, "2016 Presidential Nominating Process," accessed October 6, 2015
  16. 16.0 16.1 CNN.com, "Republican National Convention roll call vote," accessed July 20, 2016 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "rollcallvote" defined multiple times with different content
Political offices
Preceded by
Bruce Rampelberg (R)
South Dakota State Senate District 30
2017 - 2021
Succeeded by
Julie Frye-Mueller (R)
Preceded by
-
South Dakota House of Representatives District 30
2009–2017
Succeeded by
Tim Goodwin (R)


Current members of the South Dakota State Senate
Leadership
Majority Leader:Jim Mehlhaff
Minority Leader:Liz Larson
Senators
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
District 7
Tim Reed (R)
District 8
District 9
Joy Hohn (R)
District 10
District 11
District 12
Arch Beal (R)
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
J. Marty (R)
District 29
District 30
District 31
District 32
District 33
District 34
District 35
Republican Party (32)
Democratic Party (3)