Troy Heinert

Troy Heinert

Democratic Party

Prior offices

South Dakota House of Representatives District 26A

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South Dakota State Senate District 26

Successor: Shawn Bordeaux

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Contact

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Troy Heinert (Democratic Party) was a member of the South Dakota State Senate, representing District 26. He assumed office on January 13, 2015. He left office on January 10, 2023.

Heinert (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the South Dakota State Senate to represent District 26. He won in the general election on November 3, 2020.

Heinert served as the Senate minority leader from 2021 to January 10, 2023.

Heinert served in the South Dakota House of Representatives, representing District 26A from 2012 to 2015. Heinert did not seek re-election to the South Dakota House of Representatives in 2014.

Committee assignments

Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at: editor@ballotpedia.org.

2021-2022

Heinert was assigned to the following committees:

• Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee
• Senate Education Committee
• Senate Retirement Laws Committee
• Senate State Affairs Committee
• Senate Transportation Committee

2019-2020

Heinert was assigned to the following committees:

• Senate Education Committee
• Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee
• Senate State Affairs Committee

2017 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:

South Dakota committee assignments, 2017
• Agriculture and Natural Resources
• Education
• Retirement Laws
• State Affairs

2015 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Heinert served on the following committees:

South Dakota committee assignments, 2015
• Health and Human Services
• Judiciary
• Local Government

2013-2014

In the 2013-2014 legislative session, Heinert served on the following committees:

South Dakota committee assignments, 2013
• Health and Human Services
• Local Government

Sponsored legislation

The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.

Elections

2022

See also: South Dakota State Senate elections, 2022

Troy Heinert was not able to file for re-election due to term limits.

2020

See also: South Dakota State Senate elections, 2020

General election

General election for South Dakota State Senate District 26

Incumbent Troy Heinert defeated Joel Koskan in the general election for South Dakota State Senate District 26 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Troy Heinert (D)	52.8	4,416
	Submit photo	Joel Koskan (R)	47.2	3,941

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 8,357
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Troy Heinert advanced from the Democratic primary for South Dakota State Senate District 26.

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Joel Koskan advanced from the Republican primary for South Dakota State Senate District 26.

2018

See also: South Dakota State Senate elections, 2018

General election

General election for South Dakota State Senate District 26

Incumbent Troy Heinert defeated Joel Koskan in the general election for South Dakota State Senate District 26 on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Troy Heinert (D)	53.0	3,896
	Submit photo	Joel Koskan (R)	47.0	3,450

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 7,346
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for South Dakota State Senate District 26

Incumbent Troy Heinert advanced from the Democratic primary for South Dakota State Senate District 26 on June 5, 2018.

		Candidate
✔		Troy Heinert

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for South Dakota State Senate District 26

Joel Koskan advanced from the Republican primary for South Dakota State Senate District 26 on June 5, 2018.

		Candidate
✔	Submit photo	Joel Koskan

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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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 Troy Heinert ran unopposed in the South Dakota State Senate District 26 general election.

South Dakota State Senate, District 26 General Election, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Troy Heinert Incumbent (unopposed)	100.00%	4,601
Total Votes				4,601
Source: South Dakota Secretary of State

Incumbent Troy Heinert ran unopposed in the South Dakota State Senate District 26 Democratic primary.

South Dakota State Senate, District 26 Democratic Primary, 2016
Party		Candidate
	Democratic	Troy Heinert 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. Troy Heinert ran unopposed in the Democratic primary, while John Koskan was unopposed in the Republican primary. Heinert defeated Koskan in the general election.

South Dakota State Senate, District 26, General Election, 2014

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Troy Heinert	56.5%	3,747
	Republican	John Koskan	43.5%	2,883
Total Votes				6,630
Source: South Dakota Secretary of State

2012

See also: South Dakota House of Representatives elections, 2012

Heinert won election in the 2012 election for South Dakota House of Representatives District 26A. Heinert defeated Calvin G. Jones, Whitney A. Meek, and Trent Poignee Sr. in the Democratic primary on June 5. No Republican candidates filed. Heinert was unopposed in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012. Incumbent Larry Lucas (D) did not run for re-election.

South Dakota House of Representatives District 26A Democratic Primary, 2012

Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Troy Heinert	33.5%	218
Trent Poignee Sr.	30.3%	197
Whitney A. Meek	29.2%	190
Calvin G. Jones	6.9%	45
Total Votes		650

Campaign themes

2020

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Troy Heinert did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign finance summary

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Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

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Troy Heinert campaign contribution history

Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2020	South Dakota State Senate District 26	Won general	$17,237	N/A**
2018	South Dakota State Senate District 26	Won general	$13,820	N/A**
2016	South Dakota State Senate, District 26	Won	$2,850	N/A**
2014	South Dakota State Senate, District 26	Won	$13,300	N/A**
Grand total			$47,207	N/A**
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards and State legislative scorecards in South Dakota

A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.

Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.

Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of South Dakota scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.

2022

In 2022, the South Dakota State Legislature was in session from January 11 to March 28.

• Cannabis Industry Association of South Dakota/New Approach South Dakota/South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws

Legislators are scored on their votes related to cannabis.

• Elevate Rapid City

Legislators are scored on their stances related to the Rapid City business community.

• Family Heritage Alliance

Legislators are scored on their votes on bills supported or opposed by the organization.

• Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce

Legislators are scored on their votes related to business.

• National Federation of Independent Business

Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.

• SD Citizens For Liberty

Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.

• South Dakota Multi-Housing Association

Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to housing.

• South Dakota Right to Life

Legislators are scored on bills related to reproductive health issues.

2021

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show].

In 2021, the South Dakota State Legislature was in session from January 12 to March 29. Americans for Prosperity - South Dakota Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to economic issues. Elevate Rapid City Legislators are scored on their stances related to the Rapid City business community. Family Heritage Alliance Legislators are scored on their votes on bills supported or opposed by the organization. Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce Legislators are scored on their votes related to business. SD Citizens For Liberty Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues. South Dakota Right to Life Legislators are scored on bills related to reproductive health issues. The American Conservative Union Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.

2020

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show].

In 2020, the South Dakota State Legislature was in session from January 14 to March 30. SD Citizens For Liberty Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues. Family Heritage Alliance Legislators are scored on their votes on bills supported or opposed by the organization. South Dakota Right to Life Legislators are scored on bills related to reproductive health issues. The American Conservative Union Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.

2019

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show].
In 2019, the South Dakota State Legislature was in session from January 8 through March 29. Family Heritage Alliance Legislators are scored on their votes on bills supported or opposed by the organization. SD Citizens For Liberty Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues. The American Conservative Union Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.

2018

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show].

In 2018, the South Dakota State Legislature was in session from January 9 through March 26. Family Heritage Alliance Legislators are scored on their votes on bills supported or opposed by the organization. SD Citizens For Liberty Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues. South Dakota Right to Life Legislators are scored on bills related to reproductive health issues. The American Conservative Union Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.

2017

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show].

In 2017, the South Dakota State Legislature was in session from January 10 through March 27. The legislature held a special session on June 12. American Clarion Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to firearm policy. Family Heritage Alliance Legislators are scored on their votes on bills supported or opposed by the organization. SD Citizens For Liberty Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues. South Dakota Right to Life Legislators are scored on bills related to reproductive health issues. The American Conservative Union Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.

2016

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show].

In 2016, the 91st South Dakota State Legislature was in session from January 12 through March 29. American Clarion: Senate and House Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues. South Dakota Family Heritage Alliance Legislators are scored on if they voted for/against FHA's position. South Dakota Right to Life: 2015-2016 Scorecard Legislators are scored on bills related to reproductive health issues. The American Conservative Union Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.

2015

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show].

In 2015, the 90th South Dakota State Legislature was in session from January 13 to March 30. South Dakota Family Heritage Alliance Legislators are scored on if they voted for/against FHA's position. South Dakota Freedom Coalition: South Dakota Freedom Index 2015 Legislators are scored by the South Dakota Freedom Coalition on their votes on the "'top ten' issues affecting your freedom." South Dakota Right to Life: 2015-2016 Scorecard Legislators are scored on bills related to reproductive health issues. The American Conservative Union Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.

2014

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show].

In 2014, the 89th South Dakota State Legislature was in session from January 14 to March 31. South Dakotans Fighting Animal Cruelty Together Legislators are scored on their votes on animal protection bills. South Dakota Right to Life: 2013-2014 Scorecard Legislators are scored on bills related to reproductive health issues. The American Conservative Union Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.

2013

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show].
In 2013, the 88th South Dakota State Legislature was in session from January 8 to March 25. South Dakota Freedom Coalition: South Dakota Freedom Index 2013 Legislators are scored by the South Dakota Freedom Coalition on their votes on the "'top ten' issues affecting your freedom."

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Candidate

South Dakota State Senate District 26

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Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by -	South Dakota State Senate District 26 2015-2023	Succeeded by Shawn Bordeaux (D)
Preceded by -	South Dakota House of Representatives District 26A 2013-2015	Succeeded by -

[show]

Current members of the South Dakota State Senate

Leadership

Majority Leader:Jim Mehlhaff

Minority Leader:Liz Larson

Senators

District 1

Michael Rohl (R)

District 2

Steve Kolbeck (R)

District 3

Carl Perry (R)

District 4

Stephanie Sauder (R)

District 5

Glen Vilhauer (R)

District 6

Ernie Otten (R)

District 7

Tim Reed (R)

District 8

Casey Crabtree (R)

District 9

Joy Hohn (R)

District 10

Liz Larson (D)

District 11

Chris Karr (R)

District 12

Arch Beal (R)

District 13

Sue Peterson (R)

District 14

Larry Zikmund (R)

District 15

Jamie Smith (D)

District 16

Kevin Jensen (R)

District 17

Sydney Davis (R)

District 18

Lauren Nelson (R)

District 19

Kyle Schoenfish (R)

District 20

Paul Miskimins (R)

District 21

MyKala Voita (R)

District 22

Brandon Wipf (R)

District 23

Mark Lapka (R)

District 24

Jim Mehlhaff (R)

District 25

Tom Pischke (R)

District 26

Tamara Grove (R)

District 27

Red Foster (D)

District 28

J. Marty (R)

District 29

John Carley (R)

District 30

Amber Hulse (R)

District 31

Randy Deibert (R)

District 32

Helene Duhamel (R)

District 33

Curt Voight (R)

District 34

Taffy Howard (R)

District 35

Greg Blanc (R)

Republican Party (32)

Democratic Party (3)