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South Dakota State Senate District 17

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South Dakota State Senate District 17
Incumbent
Assumed office: January 10, 2023

South Dakota State Senate District 17 is represented by Sydney Davis (R).

As of the 2020 Census, South Dakota state senators represented an average of 25,365 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 23,422 residents.

About the chamber

Members of the South Dakota State Senate serve two-year terms with term limits.[1] South Dakota legislators assume office the second Tuesday in January after the general election.[2]

Qualifications

See also: State legislature candidate requirements by state

To be eligible to serve in the South Dakota State Legislature, a candidate must meet the following qualifications:[3]

21 years old; 2 years residency; qualified voter; may not have been convicted of bribery, perjury or other infamous crime; may not have illegally taken 'public moneys'[4]


Salaries

See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
State legislative salaries, 2024[5]
SalaryPer diem
$13,436/year$166/day for legislators who reside more than 50 miles away from the capitol

Term limits

See also: State legislatures with term limits

The South Dakota legislature is one of 16 state legislatures with term limits. Voters enacted the South Dakota Term Limits Act in 1992. That initiative said that South Dakota senators are subject to term limits of no more than four consecutive two-year terms, or eight consecutive years. State senators can run again after they have been out of office for a term.[6] The first year that the term limits enacted in 1992 impacted the ability of incumbents to run for office was in 2000.

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%.


Vacancies

See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures

If there is a vacancy in the South Dakota State Legislature, the governor is responsible for appointing a replacement. Under the state constitution, there are no deadlines set in the state constitution requiring when the governor has to fill a vacancy.[7]

DocumentIcon.jpg See sources: South Dakota Const. Art. 3, Sec. 10


District map

Redistricting

2020 redistricting cycle

See also: Redistricting in South Dakota after 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.[8]

Both chambers approved their own versions of the final map on the first day of the special legislative session, which began on November 8, 2021. The House passed its Grouse 2.0 plan by a vote of 48-20, and the Senate approved its plan, known as the Blackbird 2.0 map, in a 20-15 vote. The two proposals mainly differed in their approach to Native American reservations and the rural areas around Rapid City, and the Sparrow addressed both preserving Native American districts and reconfiguring the districts covering Rapid City.[8] These maps took effect for South Dakota's 2022 legislative elections.

How does redistricting in South Dakota work? South Dakota is home to a single at-large congressional district; as such, congressional redistricting is not necessary. State legislative districts are drawn by the state legislature. A simple majority vote in each chamber is required to pass a redistricting plan, which is subject to veto by the governor.[9]

The South Dakota Constitution mandates that state legislative districts be contiguous and compact. State statutes "ask that districts protect communities of interest and respect geographical and political boundaries." Because these latter requirements are statutory, they can be modified by the state legislature at its discretion.[9]

South Dakota State Senate District 17
until January 9, 2023

Click a district to compare boundaries.

South Dakota State Senate District 17
starting January 10, 2023

Click a district to compare boundaries.

Elections

2024

See also: South Dakota State Senate elections, 2024

General election

General election for South Dakota State Senate District 17

Incumbent Sydney Davis won election in the general election for South Dakota State Senate District 17 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Sydney Davis
Sydney Davis (R)
 
100.0
 
7,796

Total votes: 7,796
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for South Dakota State Senate District 17

Incumbent Sydney Davis defeated Jeffrey Church in the Republican primary for South Dakota State Senate District 17 on June 4, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Sydney Davis
Sydney Davis
 
67.0
 
1,316
Image of Jeffrey Church
Jeffrey Church
 
33.0
 
649

Total votes: 1,965
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2022

See also: South Dakota State Senate elections, 2022

General election

General election for South Dakota State Senate District 17

Sydney Davis won election in the general election for South Dakota State Senate District 17 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Sydney Davis
Sydney Davis (R)
 
100.0
 
5,997

Total votes: 5,997
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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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Sydney Davis advanced from the Republican primary for South Dakota State Senate District 17.

Libertarian convention

Libertarian convention for South Dakota State Senate District 17

Greg Baldwin advanced from the Libertarian convention for South Dakota State Senate District 17 on April 23, 2022.

Candidate
Greg Baldwin (L)

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2020

See also: South Dakota State Senate elections, 2020

General election

General election for South Dakota State Senate District 17

Incumbent Arthur Rusch defeated Ailee Johns and Gregory Baldwin in the general election for South Dakota State Senate District 17 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Arthur Rusch
Arthur Rusch (R)
 
63.9
 
6,285
Image of Ailee Johns
Ailee Johns (D) Candidate Connection
 
31.7
 
3,122
Image of Gregory Baldwin
Gregory Baldwin (L)
 
4.4
 
434

Total votes: 9,841
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Ailee Johns advanced from the Democratic primary for South Dakota State Senate District 17.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

Republican primary for South Dakota State Senate District 17

Incumbent Arthur Rusch defeated Nancy Rasmussen in the Republican primary for South Dakota State Senate District 17 on June 2, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Arthur Rusch
Arthur Rusch
 
50.1
 
1,002
Image of Nancy Rasmussen
Nancy Rasmussen
 
49.9
 
998

Total votes: 2,000
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Libertarian convention

Libertarian convention for South Dakota State Senate District 17

Gregory Baldwin advanced from the Libertarian convention for South Dakota State Senate District 17 on May 9, 2020.

Candidate
Image of Gregory Baldwin
Gregory Baldwin (L)

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2018

See also: South Dakota State Senate elections, 2018

General election

General election for South Dakota State Senate District 17

Incumbent Arthur Rusch defeated Howard Grinager in the general election for South Dakota State Senate District 17 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Arthur Rusch
Arthur Rusch (R)
 
61.2
 
4,953
Howard Grinager (D)
 
38.8
 
3,145

Total votes: 8,098
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for South Dakota State Senate District 17

Howard Grinager advanced from the Democratic primary for South Dakota State Senate District 17 on June 5, 2018.


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 State Senate District 17

Incumbent Arthur Rusch advanced from the Republican primary for South Dakota State Senate District 17 on June 5, 2018.

Candidate
Image of Arthur Rusch
Arthur Rusch

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 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.

Incumbent Arthur Rusch defeated Shane Merrill in the South Dakota State Senate District 17 general election.[10][11]

South Dakota State Senate, District 17 General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.png Arthur Rusch Incumbent 55.89% 5,023
     Democratic Shane Merrill 44.11% 3,965
Total Votes 8,988
Source: South Dakota Secretary of State


Shane Merrill ran unopposed in the South Dakota State Senate District 17 Democratic primary.[12][13]

South Dakota State Senate, District 17 Democratic Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Shane Merrill  (unopposed)


Incumbent Arthur Rusch ran unopposed in the South Dakota State Senate District 17 Republican primary.[12][13]

South Dakota State Senate, District 17 Republican Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Republican Green check mark transparent.png Arthur Rusch Incumbent (unopposed)

2014

See also: South Dakota State Senate elections, 2014

The general elections for the office of South Dakota State Senate took place on November 4, 2014. A primary election took place on June 3, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 25, 2014. Michelle Maloney ran unopposed in the Democratic primary, while Arthur Rusch was unopposed in the Republican primary. Rusch defeated Maloney in the general election.[14][15][16]

South Dakota State Senate, District 17, General Election, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngArthur Rusch 58.1% 3,873
     Democratic Michelle Maloney 41.9% 2,798
Total Votes 6,671
Source: South Dakota Secretary of State

2012

See also: South Dakota State Senate elections, 2012

Elections for the office of South Dakota State Senate consisted of a primary election on June 5, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 27, 2011. Tom Jones (D) defeated John S. Chicoine (R) in the general election. Neither candidate faced opposition in their primary.[17][18]

South Dakota State Senate, District 17, General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngTom Jones 52.4% 4,754
     Republican John Chicoine 47.6% 4,311
Total Votes 9,065

Campaign contributions

From 2000 to 2024, candidates for South Dakota State Senate District 17 raised a total of $444,250. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $16,454 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money

Campaign contributions, South Dakota State Senate District 17
Year Amount Candidates Average
2024 $61,680 2 $30,840
2022 $19,914 1 $19,914
2020 $29,038 3 $9,679
2018 $16,654 2 $8,327
2016 $29,941 2 $14,971
2014 $43,373 2 $21,687
2012 $33,956 2 $16,978
2010 $20,556 2 $10,278
2008 $95,271 2 $47,636
2006 $14,184 2 $7,092
2004 $26,569 3 $8,856
2002 $21,317 2 $10,659
2000 $31,797 2 $15,899
Total $444,250 27 $16,454


See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. termlimits.org, "List of state legislative term limits," accessed December 18, 2013
  2. South Dakota Constitution, "Article 3, Section 7," accessed February 16, 2021
  3. South Dakota Secretary of State, "Qualification to Hold Office & Term Limitations," accessed May 23, 2205
  4. Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  5. National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
  6. South Dakota State Legislature, "Legislative Terms of Office," accessed February 16, 2021
  7. South Dakota Legislature, "South Dakota Constitution Article III, Section 10," accessed February 3, 2023
  8. 8.0 8.1 Black Hills Fox, "South Dakota lawmakers compromise on redistricting map in special session," November 10, 2021
  9. 9.0 9.1 All About Redistricting, "South Dakota," accessed April 23, 2015
  10. South Dakota Secretary of State, "2016 General Election Candidate List," accessed August 21, 2016
  11. South Dakota Secretary of State, "2016 General Election Official Results State Canvas," accessed May 2, 2017
  12. 12.0 12.1 South Dakota Secretary of State, "2016 Primary Election Candidate List," accessed December 18, 2015
  13. 13.0 13.1 South Dakota Secretary of State, "State primary results," accessed June 7, 2016
  14. South Dakota Secretary of State, "Primary Election - Official Results," accessed June 4, 2014
  15. South Dakota Secretary of State, "Official General Election Results - November 4, 2014," accessed November 12, 2014
  16. South Dakota Secretary of State, "Current Candidates for Primary Election," accessed May 2, 2014
  17. "South Dakota Secretary of State - Official General Election Results," accessed October 29, 2013
  18. South Dakota Secretary of State, "Official Primary Results," June 12, 2012


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)