South Dakota House of Representatives elections, 2020
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| 2020 South Dakota House Elections | |
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| General | November 3, 2020 |
| Primary | June 2, 2020 |
| Primary runoff | August 11, 2020 |
| Past Election Results |
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| 2020 Elections | |
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Republicans gained seats in the 2020 elections for South Dakota House of Representatives, preserving their supermajority. All 70 seats in the chamber were up for election in 2020. Heading into the election, Republicans held 59 seats and Democrats held 11. Republicans gained a net three seats and expanded their majority to 62-8.
The South Dakota House of Representatives was one of 86 state legislative chambers with elections in 2020. All 70 House seats were up for election in 2020. There are 99 chambers throughout the country. In 2018, 87 out of 99 legislative chambers held elections.
South Dakota's 2020 state legislative elections affected partisan control of redistricting following the 2020 census. In South Dakota, the state legislature is responsible for redistricting. District maps are subject to gubernatorial veto.
Election procedure changes in 2020
Ballotpedia provided comprehensive coverage of how election dates and procedures changed in 2020. While the majority of changes occurred as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, some changes occurred for other reasons.
South Dakota did not modify any procedures for the November 3, 2020, general election.
For a full timeline about election modifications made in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, click here.
Party control
| South Dakota House of Representatives | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 3, 2020 | After November 4, 2020 | |
| Democratic Party | 11 | 8 | |
| Republican Party | 59 | 62 | |
| Total | 70 | 70 | |
Candidates
General election
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection
Primary election
South Dakota House of Representatives primary election |
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| Office |  Democratic |
 Republican |
Other |
| District 1 (2 seats) |
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| District 2 (2 seats) |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 3 (2 seats) |
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| District 4 (2 seats) |
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| District 5 (2 seats) |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 6 (2 seats) |
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| District 7 (2 seats) |
Doug Post (i) |
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| District 8 (2 seats) |
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| District 9 (2 seats) |
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| District 10 (2 seats) |
Did not make the ballot: |
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| District 11 (2 seats) |
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| District 12 (2 seats) |
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| District 13 (2 seats) |
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| District 14 (2 seats) |
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| District 15 (2 seats) |
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| District 16 (2 seats) |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 17 (2 seats) |
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| District 18 (2 seats) |
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| District 19 (2 seats) |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 20 (2 seats) |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 21 (2 seats) |
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| District 22 (2 seats) |
Did not make the ballot: |
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| District 23 (2 seats) |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 24 (2 seats) |
Noel Chicoine |
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| District 25 (2 seats) |
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| District 26A |
The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| District 26B |
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| District 27 (2 seats) |
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| District 28A |
The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| District 28B |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 29 (2 seats) |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 30 (2 seats) |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
Did not make the ballot: |
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| District 31 (2 seats) |
Dayle Hammock (i) |
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| District 32 (2 seats) |
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| District 33 (2 seats) |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 34 (2 seats) |
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| District 35 (2 seats) |
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Incumbents who were not re-elected
Incumbents defeated in the general election
Three incumbents lost in the Nov. 3 general election. Those incumbents were:
| Name | Party | Office |
|---|---|---|
| Steven McCleerey |  Democratic |
House District 1 |
| Michael Saba | Democratic |
House District 9 |
| Kelly Sullivan | Democratic |
House District 13 |
Incumbents defeated in primary elections
Four incumbents lost in the June 2 primaries, making 2020 the first year since 2012 that an incumbent Representative was defeated in a primary. That year, Rep. Mark Willadsen (R) lost to challengers Jim Stalzer (R) and Christine M. Erickson (R) in District 11.
Two of the defeated incumbents—James Wangsness and Dayle Hammock—were seeking their first full terms after being appointed by Gov. Kristi Noem (R).
| Name | Party | Office |
|---|---|---|
| Doug Post |  Republican |
House District 7 |
| James Wangsness | Republican |
House District 23 |
| Thomas Brunner | Republican |
House District 29 |
| Dayle Hammock | Republican |
House District 31 |
Retiring incumbents
There were 16 open seats where the incumbent legislator did not file for re-election in 2020.[1] Those incumbents were:
| Name | Party | Current Office |
|---|---|---|
| Herman Otten | Republican |
House District 6 |
| Isaac Latterell | Republican |
House District 6 |
| Manford Steele | Republican |
House District 12 |
| Larry P. Zikmund | Republican |
House District 14 |
| Nancy Rasmussen | Republican |
House District 17 |
| Ray Ring | Democratic |
House District 17 |
| Jean Hunhoff | Republican |
House District 18 |
| Lee Qualm | Republican |
House District 21 |
| Mary Duvall | Republican |
House District 24 |
| Tim Rounds | Republican |
House District 24 |
| Steve Livermont | Republican |
House District 27 |
| Julie Frye-Mueller | Republican |
House District 30 |
| Timothy Johns | Republican |
House District 31 |
| Scyller Borglum | Republican |
House District 32 |
| David Johnson | Republican |
House District 33 |
| Michael Diedrich | Republican |
House District 34 |
The 16 seats left open in 2020 represented the lowest number of open seats within the preceding decade. The table below shows the number of open seats in each election held between 2010 and 2020.
| Open Seats in South Dakota House of Representatives elections: 2010 - 2020 | |||
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| Year | Total seats | Open seats | Seats with incumbents running for re-election |
| 2020 | 70 | 16 (23%) | 54 (77%) |
| 2018 | 70 | 18 (26%) | 52 (74%) |
| 2016 | 70 | 28 (40%) | 42 (60%) |
| 2014 | 70 | 22 (31%) | 48 (69%) |
| 2012 | 70 | 24 (34%) | 46 (66%) |
| 2010 | 70 | 22 (31%) | 48 (69%) |
Process to become a candidate
See statutes: Title 19, Chapter 12-6, Title 19, Chapter 12-7 of South Dakota Codified Law
For primary candidates
A primary election candidate must file a petition no earlier than January 1 and no later than the last Tuesday of March at 5 p.m., prior to the primary election. The petition must contain the required signatures and a declaration of candidacy. The declaration of candidacy must be completed before the candidate collects signatures. The declaration must be completed in the presence of an authorized notary public. A petition for a statewide or federal office must be signed by no less than 1 percent of the number of voters who supported the most recent winning gubernatorial candidate. For a state legislative candidate or candidate for county office, the petition must be signed by the lesser of 50 voters or 1 percent of the party's total registered members in that district or county. Any state legislative candidate must be a resident of the district for which he or she is a candidate at the time he or she signs the declaration of candidacy.[2][3][4]
For independent candidates
Any candidate for nonjudicial public office who is not nominated by a primary election may be nominated as an independent candidate by filing with the South Dakota Secretary of State or county auditor. Filing must be completed no earlier than January 1 and no later than the last Tuesday of April at 5:00 p.m., prior to the election. An independent candidate's certificate of nomination must be signed by registered voters within the applicable district or political subdivision. The number of signatures required may not be less than 1 percent of the total combined vote cast for governor at the last certified gubernatorial election within the district or political subdivision. Registered party members cannot sign petitions for independent candidates. No petition or certificate of nomination may be circulated prior to January 1 of the year in which the election will be held. Primary election candidates are prohibited from filing as independent candidates for the same office in the same year. No candidate can file a certificate of nomination for an office for which he or she has been a candidate in the primary election of the same year. Any candidate for office in the state legislature must be a resident of the district for which he or she is a candidate.[4][5][6][7]
For write-in candidates
The relevant statutes do not stipulate that a candidate may run as a write-in candidate. Write-in candidates for president are expressly prohibited.[8]
2020 ballot access requirements
The table below details filing requirements for South Dakota House of Representatives candidates in the 2020 election cycle.
| Filing requirements for state legislative candidates, 2020 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chamber name | Party | Signatures required | Filing fee | Filing deadline | Source |
| South Dakota House of Representatives | Qualified party | Varies by party and district | N/A | 3/31/2020 | Source |
| South Dakota House of Representatives | Unaffiliated | 1% of total votes cast for governor in the district in the last election | N/A | 4/28/2020 | Source |
Qualifications
To be eligible to serve in the South Dakota House of Representatives, a candidate must be:[9]
- 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
- * Not have served 4 consecutive terms
Salaries and per diem
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
| State legislative salaries, 2025[10] | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $16,348/year | $178/day for legislators who reside more than 50 miles away from the Capitol. |
When sworn in
South Dakota legislators assume office the second Tuesday in January after the general election.[11]
South Dakota political history
Trifectas
A state government trifecta is a term that describes single-party government, when one political party holds the governor's office and has majorities in both chambers of the legislature in a state government.
South Dakota Party Control: 1992-2025
No Democratic trifectas • Thirty-two years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.
| Year | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Senate | R | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| House | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
Presidential politics in South Dakota
2016 Presidential election results
| U.S. presidential election, South Dakota, 2016 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | Electoral votes | |
| Democratic | Hillary Clinton/Tim Kaine | 31.7% | 117,458 | 0 | |
| Republican |  Donald Trump/Mike Pence |
61.5% | 227,721 | 3 | |
| Libertarian | Gary Johnson/Bill Weld | 5.6% | 20,850 | 0 | |
| Constitution | Darrell Lane Castle/Scott Bradley | 1.1% | 4,064 | 0 | |
| Total Votes | 370,093 | 3 | |||
| Election results via: Federal Election Commission | |||||
Voter information
How the primary works
A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. South Dakota law allows parties to choose whether to let unaffiliated voters vote in their elections. For more information on recognized political parties in South Dakota and their primary policies, see here.[12]
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.
Poll times
In South Dakota, all polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time. South Dakota is divided between Central and Mountain time zones. Anyone in line when the polls close must be allowed to vote.[13]
Registration requirements
- Check your voter registration status here.
To register to vote in South Dakota, an applicant must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of South Dakota, at least 18 years old by the day of the next election, not currently serving a sentence for a felony conviction, and not be judged mentally incompetent by a court of law.[14]
The deadline to register to vote is 15 days before the next election. To register, an applicant may submit a voter registration form to the county auditor. Prospective voters can also register in person at the county auditor's office, city finance offices, driver's license stations, Department of Human Services offices, certain public assistance agencies, or military recruitment offices.[14]
Automatic registration
- See also: Automatic voter registration
South Dakota does not practice automatic voter registration.[15]
Online registration
- See also: Online voter registration
South Dakota does not permit online voter registration.
Same-day registration
- See also: Same-day voter registration
South Dakota does not allow same-day voter registration.[16]
Residency requirements
To register to vote in South Dakota, you must be a resident of the state "for at least thirty consecutive days."[17][14]
Verification of citizenship
South Dakota does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual applying to register to vote must attest that they are a U.S. citizen under penalty of perjury.[18]
All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[19] Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. One state, Ohio, requires proof of citizenship only when registering to vote at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles facility. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.
Verifying your registration
The South Dakota Secretary of State’s office allows residents to check their voter registration status online by visiting the Voter Information Portal.
Voter ID requirements
South Dakota requires voters to present photo identification while voting.[20]
The following were accepted forms of identification as of October 2025. Click here for the South Dakota Secretary of State's page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.
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If a voter does not have a photo ID, he or she can sign a personal identification affidavit. The voter will then be given a regular ballot.[20]
Early voting
South Dakota permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.
Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.
Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting.
Absentee voting
All voters are eligible for absentee/mail-in voting in South Dakota and there are no special eligibility requirements.[22][23]
An absentee/mail-in ballot application must be received by county election officials before 5 p.m. or the close of business the day before the election, whichever is later. A completed absentee/mail-in ballot must then be received by election officials by the close of polls on Election Day.[22]
See also
- South Dakota House of Representatives
- South Dakota State Legislature
- State legislative elections, 2020
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Ballotpedia defines an incumbent as retiring if the incumbent did not file for office or filed for office but withdrew, was disqualified, or otherwise left a race in a manner other than losing the primary, primary runoff, or convention. If an incumbent runs as a write-in candidate, Ballotpedia does not consider them to be retiring. If an incumbent runs in the same chamber for a different seat, Ballotpedia does not consider them to be retiring.
- ↑ South Dakota Codified Law, "Title 12-6-4," accessed March 28, 2025
- ↑ South Dakota Secretary of State, "Download a petition," accessed March 28, 2025
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 South Dakota Codified Law, "Title 12-7-6," accessed March 28, 2025
- ↑ South Dakota Codified Law, "Title 12-7-1," accessed March 28, 2025
- ↑ South Dakota Codified Law, "Title 12-7-1.1," accessed March 28, 2025
- ↑ South Dakota Codified Law, "Title 12-7-5," accessed March 28, 2025
- ↑ South Dakota Codified Law, "Title 12-20-21.2," accessed March 28, 2025
- ↑ South Dakota Secretary of State, "Qualification to Hold Office & Term Limitations," accessed December 18, 2013
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2025 Legislator Compensation," December 2, 2025
- ↑ South Dakota Constitution, "Article 3, Section 7," accessed November 20, 2012
- ↑ South Dakota Legislature Legislative Research Council, "S.D. Codified Laws Ann. § 12–6–26," accessed October 30, 2025
- ↑ South Dakota Secretary of State, “General Voting Information,” accessed October 30, 2025
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 South Dakota Secretary of State, “Register to Vote, Update Voter Registration or Cancel Voter Registration,” accessed October 30, 2025
- ↑ NCSL, "Automatic Voter Registration," accessed October 30, 2025
- ↑ NCSL, "Same-Day Voter Registration," accessed October 30, 2025
- ↑ 2025 South Dakota Legislature, "HB 1066," accessed October 30, 2025
- ↑ South Dakota Secretary of State, "South Dakota Voter Registration Form," accessed October 30, 2025
- ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 South Dakota Secretary of State, "General Voting Information," accessed October 30, 2025
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 South Dakota Secretary of State, "Voting by Absentee Ballot," accessed October 30, 2025
- ↑ South Dakota Legislature Legislative Research Council, "S.D. Codified Laws Ann. §12-19-1," accessed October 30, 2025
