South Dakota State Senate District 34

South Dakota State Senate District 34 is represented by Taffy Howard (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]
Salary	Per 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]

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 34
until January 9, 2023

Click a district to compare boundaries.

South Dakota State Senate District 34
starting January 10, 2023

Click a district to compare boundaries.

Elections

2024

General election

General election for South Dakota State Senate District 34

Taffy Howard defeated Kehala Two Bulls in the general election for South Dakota State Senate District 34 on November 5, 2024.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Taffy Howard (R)	60.2	7,586
	Kehala Two Bulls (D)	39.8	5,016

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 12,602
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Michael Calabrese (D)

Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Michael Calabrese advanced from the Democratic primary for South Dakota State Senate District 34.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for South Dakota State Senate District 34

Taffy Howard defeated Jason Green in the Republican primary for South Dakota State Senate District 34 on June 4, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Taffy Howard	50.5	1,598
	Submit photo	Jason Green	49.5	1,564

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 3,162
= 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.