2008 State Legislative Elections
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Elections for the South Dakota State Senate consisted of a primary election on June 3, 2008, and a general election on November 4, 2008 .
Qualifications
To be eligible to serve in the South Dakota Senate , a candidate must be:[1]
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
Campaign contributions
During the 2008 election, the total contributions to Senate candidates amounted to $2,196,661. The top 10 contributors were:[2]
2008 Donors, South Dakota State Senate
Donor
Amount
South Dakota Republican Party
$169,874
Senate Republican Campaign Cmte Of South Dakota
$97,500
Adelstein, Stanford M
$60,783
South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association
$47,000
South Dakota Education Association
$39,800
GPS PAC
$21,000
South Dakota Association Of Realtors
$18,850
South Dakota Association Of Healthcare Organizations
$18,750
Heineman, Phyllis M
$17,500
Nemec, Nicholas
$17,071
List of candidates
District 1
June 3 Democratic primary:
Gary D. Hanson a
June 3 GOP primary:
Lucas Lentsch a
November 4 General election candidates:
Gary D. Hanson: 5,165
Lucas Lentsch: 4,459
District 2
June 3 Democratic primary:
Jim Hundstad a
June 3 GOP primary:
Hjalmer Tschetter a
November 4 General election candidates:
Jim Hundstad: 5,876
Hjalmer Tschetter: 3,866
District 3
June 3 Democratic primary:
Alan C. Hoerth a
June 3 GOP primary:
Al Novstrup a
November 4 General election candidates:
Alan C. Hoerth: 4,811
Al Novstrup: 5,872
District 4
June 3 Democratic primary:
Jim Peterson a
June 3 GOP primary:
No candidates filed for election.
November 4 General election candidates:
Jim Peterson: 7,118
District 5
June 3 Democratic primary:
Nancy Turbak Berry a
June 3 GOP primary:
Al Koistinen a
November 4 General election candidates:
Nancy Turbak Berry: 5,651
Al Koistinen: 4,803
District 6
June 3 Democratic primary:
Dennis Nemmers a
June 3 GOP primary:
Art Fryslie a
November 4 General election candidates:
Dennis Nemmers: 3,431
Art Fryslie: 5,847
District 7
June 3 Democratic primary:
Pam Merchant: 1,128 a
Craig A. Tschetter: 1,040
June 3 GOP primary:
Pat Powers: 402
Orville B. Smidt: 1,015 a
November 4 General election candidates:
Pam Merchant: 4,940
Orville B. Smidt: 4,716
District 8
June 3 Democratic primary:
Scott Parsley a
June 3 GOP primary:
Russell Olson a
November 4 General election candidates:
Scott Parsley: 4,690
Russell Olson: 5,804
District 9
June 3 Democratic primary:
Paul Nielson a
June 3 GOP primary:
No candidates filed for election.
Independent candidate:
Tom Dempster a
November 4 General election candidates:
Paul Nielson: 4,660
Tom Dempster: 5,109
District 10
June 3 Democratic primary:
Clara Saeni Hart a
June 3 GOP primary:
Gene G. Abdallah a
November 4 General election candidates:
Clara Saeni Hart: 5,261
Gene G. Abdallah: 10,873
District 11
June 3 Democratic primary:
Nate Welch a
June 3 GOP primary:
Jason M. Gant a
Constitution Party candidate:
D. Scott Bartlett a
November 4 General election candidates:
Nate Welch: 5,632
Jason M. Gant: 6,845
D. Scott Bartlett: 512
District 12
June 3 Democratic primary:
Sandy Jerstad a
June 3 GOP primary:
Hal Wick a
November 4 General election candidates:
Sandy Jerstad: 7,233
Hal Wick: 6,513
District 13
June 3 Democratic primary:
Scott Heidepriem a
June 3 GOP primary:
Phyllis M. Heineman a
November 4 General election candidates:
Scott Heidepriem: 5,720
Phyllis M. Heineman: 5,167
District 14
June 3 Democratic primary:
Bob Stevens a
June 3 GOP primary:
David Knudson a
November 4 General election candidates:
Bob Stevens: 4,668
Dave Knudson: 7,160
District 15
June 3 Democratic primary:
Kathy Miles a
June 3 GOP primary:
Tracy Saboe a
Constitution Party candidate:
Steve Willis a
November 4 General election candidates:
Kathy Miles: 3,664
Tracy Saboe: 1,881
Steve Willis: 356
District 16
June 3 Democratic primary:
Margaret V. Gillespie a
June 3 GOP primary:
Kenneth D. Albers a
November 4 General election candidates:
Margaret V. Gillespie: 5,931
Kenneth D. Albers: 5,813
District 17
June 3 Democratic primary:
Ben Nesselhuf a
June 3 GOP primary:
Jerad Higman a
November 4 General election candidates:
Ben Nesselhuf: 5,389
Jerad Higman: 3,686
District 18
June 3 Democratic primary:
William "Bill" Kerr a
June 3 GOP primary:
Jean M. Hunhoff a
November 4 General election candidates:
William "Bill" Kerr: 3,223
Jean M. Hunhoff: 6,525
District 19
June 3 Democratic primary:
Frank J. Kloucek a
June 3 GOP primary:
D.E. Gene Cordes a
November 4 General election candidates:
Frank J. Kloucek: 5,588
D.E. Gene Cordes: 3,425
District 20
June 3 Democratic primary:
Jack Mortenson a
June 3 GOP primary:
Mike Vehle a
November 4 General election candidates:
Jack Mortenson: 3,123
Mike Vehle: 6,320
District 21
June 3 Democratic primary:
Charon Asetoyer a
June 3 GOP primary:
Cooper Garnos a
November 4 General election candidates:
Charon Asetoyer: 2,385
Cooper Garnos: 6,428
District 22
June 3 Democratic primary:
Dale Hargens a
June 3 GOP primary:
Tom Hansen a
November 4 General election candidates:
Dale Hargens: 4,840
Tom Hansen: 5,026
District 23
June 3 Democratic primary:
Nicholas Nemec a
June 3 GOP primary:
Corey Brown: 2,116 a
Tom Hackl: 1,423
November 4 General election candidates:
Nicholas Nemec: 3,360
Corey Brown: 5,988
District 24
June 3 Democratic primary:
Kim Sargent a
June 3 GOP primary:
Bob Gray a
November 4 General election candidates:
Kim Sargent: 3,295
Bob Gray: 7,105
District 25
June 3 Democratic primary:
Dan Ahlers a
June 3 GOP primary:
L. Paul Jensen a
November 4 General election candidates:
Dan Ahlers: 6,502
L. Paul Jensen: 4,613
District 26
June 3 Democratic primary:
Julie Bartling a
June 3 GOP primary:
John Koskan a
November 4 General election candidates:
Julie Bartling: 5,403
John Koskan: 3,174
District 27
June 3 Democratic primary:
Jim Bradford: 1,155
Theresa B. Two Bulls: 1,183 a
June 3 GOP primary:
No candidates filed for election.
November 4 General election candidates:
Theresa B. Two Bulls: 3,155
Jim Bradford: 3,427
District 28
June 3 Democratic primary:
Ryan M. Maher a
June 3 GOP primary:
Les Wolff a
November 4 General election candidates:
Ryan M. Maher: 5,134
Les Wolff: 3,101
District 29
June 3 Democratic primary:
Dennis Levin a
June 3 GOP primary:
Larry Rhoden: 1,876 a
Nick Trask: 1,072
November 4 General election candidates:
Dennis Levin: 3,775
Larry Rhoden: 7,307
District 30
June 3 Democratic primary:
David Melmer a
June 3 GOP primary:
Gordon Howie: 2,250 a
Gordon D. Pederson: 1,360
November 4 General election candidates:
David Melmer: 4,422
Gordon Howie: 8,063
District 31
June 3 Democratic primary:
Nyla Griffith a
June 3 GOP primary:
Tom Hills: 804
Thomas R. Nelson: 1,171 a
John E. Teupel: 1,082
November 4 General election candidates:
Nyla Griffith: 5,202
Thomas R. Nelson: 6,159
District 32
June 3 Democratic primary:
Thomas M. Katus a
June 3 GOP primary:
Stan Adelstein a
Independent candidate:
Elli Schwiesow a
November 4 General election candidates:
Thomas M. Katus: 3,464
Stan Adelstein: 3,834
Elli Schwiesow: 3,683
District 33
June 3 Democratic primary:
Dennis W. Finch a
June 3 GOP primary:
Michael T. Buckingham: 742
Dennis R. Schmidt: 1,070 a
November 4 General election candidates:
Dennis W. Finch: 3,931
Dennis R. Schmidt: 5,571
District 34
June 3 Democratic primary:
Gary L. Hargens a
June 3 GOP primary:
Dennis Popp: 1,063
Craig Tieszen: 1,640 a
November 4 General election candidates:
Gary L. Hargens: 3,345
Craig Tieszen: 7,914
District 35
June 3 Democratic primary:
Shane Liebig: 473
Theresa Spry: 1,026 a
June 3 GOP primary:
Jeffrey K. Haverly: 758 a
Alice McCoy: 429
November 4 General election candidates:
Theresa Spry: 3,520
Jeffrey K. Haverly: 4,768
See also
External links
Leadership
Majority Leader: Jim Mehlhaff
Minority Leader: Liz Larson
Senators
Republican Party (32)
Democratic Party (3)
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