South Dakota State Senate elections, 2020
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| 2020 South Dakota Senate 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 and expanded their supermajority in the 2020 elections for South Dakota State Senate. All 35 seats in the chamber were up for election in 2020. Heading into the election, Republicans controlled 30 seats to Democrats' 5. Republicans gained a net two seats from Democrats, leaving the Republican Party with a 32-3 supermajority. In the 2018 elections, Republicans gained a net one seat, expanding their supermajority to 30-5.
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 State Senate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 3, 2020 | After November 4, 2020 | |
| Democratic Party | 5 | 3 | |
| Republican Party | 30 | 32 | |
| Total | 35 | 35 | |
Candidates
General candidates
Primary candidates
The candidate list below is based on candidate filing lists provided by the South Dakota Secretary of State on March 31, 2020.[1]
South Dakota State Senate primary 2020 |
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| Office |  Democratic |
 Republican |
Other |
| District 1 |
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| District 2 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 3 |
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| District 4 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 5 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 6 |
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| District 7 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 8 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
Did not make the ballot: |
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| District 9 |
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| District 10 |
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| District 11 |
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| District 12 |
Did not make the ballot: |
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| District 13 |
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| District 14 |
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| District 15 |
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Did not make the ballot: |
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| District 16 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 17 |
Did not make the ballot: |
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| District 18 |
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| District 19 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 20 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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Libertarian Party  Alexander Martin*  |
| District 21 |
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| District 22 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 23 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 24 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 25 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 26 |
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| District 27 |
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| District 28 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 29 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 30 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
Did not make the ballot: |
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| District 31 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 32 |
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| District 33 |
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| District 34 |
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| District 35 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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- Casey Crabtree (R) was not an incumbent at the time of the June 2 primary in District 8. Sen. Jordan Youngberg did not seek re-election, but remained in office until resigning on June 18. The following day, Gov. Krisi Noem (R) appointed Crabtree to fill out the remainder of Youngberg's term, at which point Crabtree became an incumbent.
Convention candidates
Libertarian candidates can be chosen via convention in South Dakota. The Libertarian Party held a convention on May 9, 2020, to advance their candidates to the general election.
South Dakota State Senate convention 2020 |
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| Office | Democratic |
Republican |
Other |
| District 1 | |||
| District 2 | |||
| District 3 | |||
| District 4 |
Libertarian Party Daryl Root |
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| District 5 |
Libertarian Party Adam Jewell |
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| District 6 | |||
| District 7 | |||
| District 8 | |||
| District 9 | |||
| District 10 | |||
| District 11 | |||
| District 12 | |||
| District 13 |
Libertarian Party Cullen Mack |
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| District 14 | |||
| District 15 | |||
| District 16 | |||
| District 17 |
Libertarian Party Gregory Baldwin |
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| District 18 | |||
| District 19 | |||
| District 20 | |||
| District 21 | |||
| District 22 | |||
| District 23 |
Libertarian Party CJ Abernathey |
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| District 24 | |||
| District 25 | |||
| District 26 | |||
| District 27 | |||
| District 28 | |||
| District 29 |
Libertarian Party Kent P. Wilsey |
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| District 30 |
Libertarian Party Gideon Oakes |
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| District 31 | |||
| District 32 | |||
| District 33 | |||
| District 34 | |||
| District 35 | |||
Incumbents who were not re-elected
Incumbents defeated in the general election
One incumbent lost in the Nov. 3 general election. That incumbents was:
| Name | Party | Office |
|---|---|---|
| Susan Wismer |  Democratic |
Senate District 1 |
Incumbents defeated in primary elections
No incumbents lost in the June 2 primaries.
From 2010 to 2020, three incumbent Senators were defeated in primaries:
- 2010: Angie Buhl (D) defeated Sen. Kathleen Miles (D) in District 15
- 2012: Bob Ewing (R) defeated Sen. Thomas Nelson (R) in District 31
- 2016: Lance Russell (R) defeated Sen. Bruce Rampelberg (R) in District 30
Retiring incumbents
There were 12 open seats where the incumbent legislator did not file for re-election in 2020.[2] Those incumbents were:
| Name | Party | Office |
|---|---|---|
| Ernie Otten Jr. |  Republican |
Senate District 6 |
| Jordan Youngberg | Republican |
Senate District 8 |
| Deb Soholt | Republican |
Senate District 14 |
| Craig Kennedy | Democratic |
Senate District 18 |
| Rocky Blare | Republican |
Senate District 21 |
| Jim White | Republican |
Senate District 22 |
| John Lake | Republican |
Senate District 23 |
| Jeff Monroe | Republican |
Senate District 24 |
| Lance Russell | Republican |
Senate District 30 |
| Bob Ewing | Republican |
Senate District 31 |
| Phil Jensen | Republican |
Senate District 33 |
| Jeff Partridge | Republican |
Senate District 34 |
The 12 seats left open in 2020 meant that one-third of the state Senate would be new members in the 2021 legislative session. The 2020 numbers were higher than the eight left open in 2018 but lower than the decade-high 15 left open in 2016. The table below shows the number of open seats in each election held between 2010 and 2020.
| Open Seats in South Dakota State Senate elections: 2010 - 2020 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Total seats | Open seats | Seats with incumbents running for re-election |
| 2020 | 35 | 12 (34 percent) | 23 (66 percent) |
| 2018 | 35 | 8 (23 percent) | 27 (77 percent) |
| 2016 | 35 | 15 (43 percent) | 20 (57 percent) |
| 2014 | 35 | 9 (26 percent) | 26 (74 percent) |
| 2012 | 35 | 8 (23 percent) | 27 (77 percent) |
| 2010 | 35 | 13 (37 percent) | 22 (63 percent) |
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]
2020 ballot access requirements
The table below details filing requirements for South Dakota State Senate 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 State Senate | Qualified party | Varies by party and district | N/A | 3/31/2020 | Source |
| South Dakota State Senate | 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 Senate, 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, 2024[11] | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $13,436/year | $166/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
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.[13][14]
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. If the polls close while you are still in line, you will be permitted to vote. South Dakota is divided between Central and Mountain time zones.[15]
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, and at least 18 years old by the day of the next election.[16]
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, driver's license stations, certain public assistance agencies, or military recruitment offices.[16]
Automatic registration
South Dakota does not practice automatic voter registration.[17]
Online registration
- See also: Online voter registration
South Dakota does not permit online voter registration.
Same-day registration
South Dakota does not allow same-day voter registration.[17]
Residency requirements
To register to vote in South Dakota, you must be a resident of the state for at least thirty consecutive days.[18][16]
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.
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. 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 this website.
Voter ID requirements
South Dakota requires voters to present photo identification while voting.[20]
Voters can present the following forms of identification:
- South Dakota driver's license or nondriver ID card
- U.S. government photo ID
- U.S. passport
- U.S. Armed Forces ID
- Current student photo identification card from a South Dakota high school or South Dakota accredited institution of higher education
- Tribal photo ID
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 to vote absentee in South Dakota. There are no special eligibility requirements for voting absentee.[21][22]
To vote absentee, an absentee ballot application must be received by county election officials no later than 5 p.m. the day before the election. A completed absentee ballot must then be received by election officials by the close of polls on Election Day.[23]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ South Dakota Secretary of State, "2020 Primary Election," accessed April 15, 2020
- ↑ 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
- ↑ 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, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
- ↑ South Dakota Constitution, "Article 3, Section 7," accessed November 20, 2012
- ↑ NCSL,"State Primary Election Types," accessed September 25, 2024
- ↑ South Dakota Legislature,"Codified Laws § 12-6-26," accessed September 25, 2024
- ↑ South Dakota Secretary of State, “General Voting Information,” accessed July 23, 2024
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 South Dakota Secretary of State, “Register to Vote, Update Voter Registration or Cancel Voter Registration,” accessed July 23, 2024
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 NCSL, "State Profiles: Elections," accessed July 23, 2024
- ↑ 2025 South Dakota Legislature, "HB 1066," accessed April 2, 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 July 23, 2024
- ↑ South Dakota Secretary of State, "Voting by Absentee Ballot," accessed July 24, 2024
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Absentee and Early Voting," accessed July 24, 2024
- ↑ Long Distance Voter, "South Dakota Absentee Ballot Guide," accessed July 24, 2024
