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South Dakota House of Representatives elections, 2022
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| 2022 South Dakota House Elections | |
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| Primary | June 7, 2022 |
| General | November 8, 2022 |
| Past Election Results |
| 2020・2018・2016・2014 2012・2010・2008 |
| 2022 Elections | |
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Elections for the South Dakota House of Representatives took place in 2022. The general election was on November 8, 2022. A primary was scheduled for June 7, 2022. The filing deadline was March 29, 2022.
The South Dakota House of Representatives was one of 88 state legislative chambers with elections in 2022. There are 99 chambers throughout the country.
Party control
| South Dakota House of Representatives | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 8, 2022 | After November 9, 2022 | |
| Democratic Party | 8 | 7 | |
| Republican Party | 62 | 63 | |
| Total | 70 | 70 | |
Candidates
General
South Dakota House of Representatives General Election 2022 |
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| Office |  Democratic |
 Republican |
Other |
| District 1 (2 seats) |
Did not make the ballot: |
Did not make the ballot: |
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| District 2 (2 seats) |
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| District 3 (2 seats) |
Did not make the ballot: |
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| District 4 (2 seats) |
Did not make the ballot: |
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| District 5 (2 seats) |
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| District 6 (2 seats) |
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| District 7 (2 seats) |
Did not make the ballot: |
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| District 8 (2 seats) |
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| District 9 (2 seats) |
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| District 10 (2 seats) |
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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) |
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| District 17 (2 seats) |
Did not make the ballot: |
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| District 18 (2 seats) |
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| District 19 (2 seats) |
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| District 20 (2 seats) |
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| District 21 (2 seats) |
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| District 22 (2 seats) |
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| District 23 (2 seats) |
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| District 24 (2 seats) |
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| District 25 (2 seats) |
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| District 26A |
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| District 26B |
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| District 27 (2 seats) |
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| District 28A |
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| District 28B |
Calvin Reilly (Independent) |
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| District 29 (2 seats) |
Sean Natchke (Libertarian Party) |
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| District 30 (2 seats) |
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| District 31 (2 seats) |
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| District 32 (2 seats) |
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| District 33 (2 seats) |
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| District 34 (2 seats) |
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| District 35 (2 seats) |
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= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate ConnectionPrimary
South Dakota House of Representatives Primary 2022 |
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| Office | Democratic |
Republican |
Other |
| District 1 (2 seats) |
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| District 2 (2 seats) |
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| District 3 (2 seats) |
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| District 4 (2 seats) |
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| District 5 (2 seats) |
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| District 6 (2 seats) |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 7 (2 seats) |
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| District 8 (2 seats) |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
Did not make the ballot: |
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| District 9 (2 seats) |
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| District 10 (2 seats) |
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| District 11 (2 seats) |
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| District 12 (2 seats) |
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| District 13 (2 seats) |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 14 (2 seats) |
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| District 15 (2 seats) |
Did not make the ballot: |
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| District 16 (2 seats) |
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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. |
Caleb Finck (i) |
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| District 20 (2 seats) |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 21 (2 seats) |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 22 (2 seats) |
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| District 23 (2 seats) |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 24 (2 seats) |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 25 (2 seats) |
Did not make the ballot: |
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| District 26A |
Did not make the ballot: |
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| District 26B |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 27 (2 seats) |
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| District 28A |
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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) |
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| District 31 (2 seats) |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 32 (2 seats) |
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| District 33 (2 seats) |
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| District 34 (2 seats) |
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| District 35 (2 seats) |
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Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses
Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. Click a link below to read survey responses from candidates in that district:
- District 1
- District 2
- District 3
- District 4
- District 5
- District 6
- District 7
- District 8
- District 9
- District 10
- District 11
- District 12
- 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 26A
- District 26B
- District 27
- District 28A
- District 28B
- District 29
- District 30
- District 31
- District 32
- District 33
- District 34
- District 35
Incumbents who were not re-elected
Incumbents defeated in general elections
One incumbent lost in the Nov. 8 general election.
| Name | Party | Office |
|---|---|---|
| Ryan Cwach |  Democratic |
House District 18 |
Incumbents defeated in primary elections
Four incumbents lost in the June 7 primaries.
| Name | Party | Office |
|---|---|---|
| Caleb Finck |  Republican |
House District 19 |
| Richard Thomason | Republican |
House District 13 |
| Richard Vasgaard | Republican |
House District 16 |
| Kaleb Weis | Republican |
House District 3 |
Retiring incumbents
Twenty-six incumbents were not on the ballot in 2022.[1] Those incumbents were:
Primary election competitiveness
This section contains data on state legislative primary election competitiveness in South Dakota. These totals include data from all regularly-scheduled House and Senate elections. For more information about Ballotpedia's competitiveness analysis of state legislative elections, please click here.
Post-filing deadline analysis
The following analysis covers all state legislative districts up for election in South Dakota in 2022. Information below was calculated on April 29, 2022, and may differ from information shown in the table above due to candidate replacements and withdrawals after that time.
Of the 71 state legislative incumbents who filed for re-election in South Dakota in 2022, 35—all Republicans—were set to run in contested primaries. That equals a rate of 49%, the highest since 2010.
A contested primary is one where there are more candidates running than there are seats up for election. In South Dakota's Senate, every district has one seat, so a primary is contested if two candidates from the same party file to run. In the House, most districts have two seats, meaning at least three candidates from the same party must file to create a contested primary.
The total number of primaries—including those without incumbents—also reached its highest level since 2010. With 72 districts, there are 144 possible primaries every election cycle. Contested primaries were scheduled in 41 (29%): two Democratic primaries and 39 with Republicans. For Democrats, this was the same number as in 2020. For Republicans, this represented a 44% increase.
Thirty-four of the 105 seats up for election were left open, meaning no incumbents filed to run, the most since 2016, which had 43 open seats.
Thirteen of the open seats in 2022 came as a result of term limits, with incumbents unable to seek re-election by law. South Dakota's term limits are chamber specific, meaning a term-limited senator cannot seek re-election to the Senate but can run in the House. In 2022, four term-limited incumbents filed to run in a new chamber.
- Sen. Gary Cammack (R) filed in House District 29, creating a primary including incumbent Rep. Kirk Chaffee (R) and newcomer Kathy Rice (R), with the top two vote-getters advancing to the general election.
- Rep. Mark Willadsen (R) filed in Senate District 9 against newcomer Brent Hoffman (R).
- Rep. Arch Beal (R) filed in Senate District 12 in an uncontested primary.
- Rep. Shawn Bordeaux (D) filed in Senate District 26 in an uncontested primary.
Additionally, Rep. Steve Haugaard (R) filed to run for governor against incumbent Gov. Kristi Noem (R). As of 2022, no incumbent governor had ever been defeated in a primary when running for a second term in South Dakota.
Overall, 216 major party candidates filed to run in 2022: 53 Democrats and 163 Republicans. That's 2.1 candidates per seat, an increase from the 1.9 candidates per seat in 2020.
Open seats
The table below shows the number and percentage of open seats in the South Dakota House of Representatives from 2010 to 2022.[2] It will be updated as information becomes available following the state’s candidate filing deadline.
| Open Seats in South Dakota House of Representatives elections: 2010 - 2022 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Total seats | Open seats | Seats with incumbents running for re-election |
| 2022 | 70 | 25 (36%) | 45 (64%) |
| 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%) |
Incumbents running in new districts
When an incumbent files to run for re-election in the same chamber but a new district, it leaves his or her original seat open. This may happen for a variety of reasons ranging from redistricting to a change in residences. This may result in instances where multiple incumbents face each other in contested primaries or general elections if the incumbent in the new district also seeks re-election.
In 2022, seven incumbents filed to run for re-election in new districts different from those they represented before the election. Those incumbents were:
| Incumbents running in new districts | ||||||
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| Name | Party | Originally represented ... | Filed in 2022 in ... | New district open? | ||
| Kaleb Weis | Republican |
House District 2 | House District 3 | Yes | ||
| John Mills | Republican |
House District 4 | House District 8 | Yes | ||
| Erin Healy | Democratic |
House District 14 | House District 10 | Yes | ||
| Richard Vasgaard | Republican |
House District 17 | House District 16 | Yes | ||
| Caleb Finck | Republican |
House District 21 | House District 19 | Yes | ||
| Marty Overweg | Republican |
House District 19 | House District 21 | Yes | ||
| Randy Gross | Republican |
House District 8 | House District 25 | Yes | ||
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.[3][4][5]
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.[5][6][7][8]
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.[9]
Qualifications
To be eligible to serve in the South Dakota House of Representatives, a candidate must be:[10]
- 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[11] | |
|---|---|
| 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.[12]
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
2020
- See also: Presidential election, 2020
Presidential election in South Dakota, 2020
Candidate/Running mate |
% |
Popular votes |
Electoral votes |
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| ✔ |
 
| Donald Trump/Mike Pence (R) |
61.8
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261,043 | 3 |
 
| Joe Biden/Kamala D. Harris (D) |
35.6
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150,471 | 0 | |
 
| Jo Jorgensen/Spike Cohen (L) |
2.6
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11,095 | 0 | |
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Total votes: 422,609 |
2016
- See also: Presidential election, 2016
| 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 | |||||
South Dakota presidential election results (1900-2024)
- 3 Democratic wins
- 28 Republican wins
- 1 other win
| Year | 1900 | 1904 | 1908 | 1912 | 1916 | 1920 | 1924 | 1928 | 1932 | 1936 | 1940 | 1944 | 1948 | 1952 | 1956 | 1960 | 1964 | 1968 | 1972 | 1976 | 1980 | 1984 | 1988 | 1992 | 1996 | 2000 | 2004 | 2008 | 2012 | 2016 | 2020 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winning Party | R | R | R | P[13] | R | R | R | R | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
Voting information
- See also: Voting in South Dakota
Redistricting following the 2020 census
South Dakota enacted new state legislative districts after the legislature approved a compromise between two competing proposals. Both chambers voted to approve the final proposal, known as the Sparrow map, on November 10, 2021. The House approved the new districts in a 37-31 vote and the Senate by a vote of 30-2. Gov. Kristi Noem (R) signed the proposal into law later that night.[14]
Below is the state House map in effect before and after the 2020 redistricting cycle.
South Dakota State House Districts
until January 9, 2023
Click a district to compare boundaries.
South Dakota State House Districts
starting January 10, 2023
Click a district to compare boundaries.
See also
| South Dakota | State Legislative Elections | News and Analysis |
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2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 |
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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.
- ↑ Ballotpedia defines a seat as open if the incumbent did not file to run for re-election or filed but withdrew and did not appear on any ballot for his or her seat. If the incumbent withdrew from or did not participate in the primary but later chose to seek re-election to his or her seat as a third party or independent candidate, the seat would not be counted as open. If the incumbent retired or ran for a different seat in the same chamber, his or her original seat would be counted as open unless another incumbent from the same chamber filed to run for that seat, in which case it would not be counted as open due to the presence of an incumbent.
- ↑ South Dakota Codified Law, "Title 12-6-4," accessed March 28, 2025
- ↑ South Dakota Secretary of State, "Download a petition," accessed March 28, 2025
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 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
- ↑ Progressive Party
- ↑ Black Hills Fox, "South Dakota lawmakers compromise on redistricting map in special session," November 10, 2021
