South Dakota State Senate elections

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State Legislatures State legislative elections, 2025 Poll opening and closing times

This page displays election information for the South Dakota State Senate.

Elections

South Dakota state senators serve two-year terms, with all seats up for election every two years. South Dakota holds elections for its legislature in even years.

2026

See also: South Dakota State Senate elections, 2026

Elections for the South Dakota State Senate will take place in 2026. The general election is on November 3, 2026.

2024

See also: South Dakota State Senate elections, 2024

Elections for the South Dakota State Senate took place in 2024. The general election was on November 5, 2024. The primary was June 4, 2024. The filing deadline was March 26, 2024.

South Dakota State Senate
Party		As of November 5, 2024	After November 6, 2024
	Democratic Party	4	3
	Republican Party	31	32
Total		35	35

2022

See also: South Dakota State Senate elections, 2022

Elections for the South Dakota State Senate took place in 2022. The general election was on November 8, 2022. A primary was scheduled for June 7, 2022. The filing deadline was March 29, 2022.

In the 2022 elections, the Republican majority in the South Dakota State Senate decreased from 32-3 to 31-4.

South Dakota State Senate
Party		As of November 8, 2022	After November 9, 2022
	Democratic Party	3	4
	Republican Party	32	31
Total		35	35

2020

See also: South Dakota State Senate elections, 2020

Elections for the office of South Dakota State Senate took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for June 2, 2020, and a primary runoff was scheduled for August 11, 2020. The filing deadline was March 31, 2020.

In the 2020 elections, Republicans increased their majority in the South Dakota State Senate from 30-5 to 32-3.

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

2018

See also: South Dakota State Senate elections, 2018

Elections for the South Dakota State Senate took place in 2018. The primary election took place on June 5, 2018. The Democratic primary was a hybrid primary and the Republican primary was a closed primary. The general election was held on November 6, 2018. The candidate filing deadline was March 27, 2018.

In the 2018 elections, Republicans increased their majority in the South Dakota State Senate from 29-6 to 30-5.

South Dakota State Senate
Party		As of November 6, 2018	After November 7, 2018
	Democratic Party	6	5
	Republican Party	29	30
Total		35	35

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. All 35 seats in the South Dakota State Senate were up for election in 2016.

Heading into the election, Republicans held a 27-8 majority. Republicans gained two seats in the election, giving them a 29-6 majority.

South Dakota State Senate
Party		As of November 7, 2016	After November 8, 2016
	Democratic Party	8	6
	Republican Party	27	29
Total		35	35

Click [show] to see election information dating back to 2000

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. Heading into the election, Republicans held a 28-7 majority. Republicans lost one seat in the election, giving them a 27-8 majority. South Dakota State Senate Party As of November 3, 2014 After November 4, 2014      Democratic Party 7 8      Republican Party 28 27 Total 35 35 2012 See also: South Dakota State Senate elections, 2012 Elections for the office of South Dakota State Senate took place in 2012. The primary election was held on June 5, 2012, and the general election was held on November 6, 2012. The candidate filing deadline was March 27, 2012. A total of 35 seats were up for election. Heading into the election, Republicans held a 30-5 majority. Republicans lost two seats in the election, giving them a 28-7 majority. South Dakota State Senate Party As of November 5, 2012 After the 2012 Election      Democratic Party 5 7      Republican Party 30 28 Total 35 35 The following table details the 10 districts with the smallest margin of victory in the November 6 general election. 2012 Margin of Victory, South Dakota State Senate District Winner Margin of Victory Total Votes Top Opponent District 25 Tim Rave 2.5% 10,988 Dan Ahlers District 2 Chuck Welke 2.8% 10,581 Art Fryslie District 17 Tom Jones 4.9% 9,065 John Chicoine District 26 Larry Lucas 6% 8,314 Kent Juhnke District 7 Larry Tidemann 7% 8,150 Pamela Merchant District 3 Al Novstrup 7.1% 10,368 H. Paul Dennert District 22 Jim White 8.8% 9,550 Chris Studer District 15 Angie Buhl 9.5% 5,428 Kathy Miles District 14 Deb Soholt 11% 11,259 Brian Kaatz District 12 Mark Johnston 12.5% 10,490 Kent Alberty 2010 See also: South Dakota State Senate elections, 2010 Elections for the office of South Dakota State Senate took place in 2010. The primary election was held on June 8, 2010, and the general election was held on November 2, 2010. The candidate filing deadline was March 30, 2010. Heading into the election, Republicans held a 21-14 majority. Republicans gained nine seats in the election, giving them a 30-5 majority. South Dakota State Senate Party As of November 1, 2010 After the 2010 Election      Democratic Party 14 5      Republican Party 21 30 Total 35 35 In 2010, the candidates for state Senate raised a total of $1,090,800 in campaign contributions. The top 10 donors were: 2010 Donors, South Dakota State Senate Donor Amount South Dakota Senate Republicans Campaign Cmte $36,500 South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association $19,750 Warner PAC $16,000 South Dakota Education Association $15,750 South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations $15,750 South Dakota Republican Party $15,422 South Dakota Association of Realtors $14,700 South Dakota Retailers Association $13,850 Codington County Republican Central Cmte $11,500 South Dakota Corn Growers Association $11,250 2008 See also: South Dakota State Senate elections, 2008 Elections for the office of South Dakota State Senate consisted of a primary election on June 3, 2008, and a general election on November 4, 2008. During the 2008 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $2,196,661. The top 10 contributors were: 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 2006 See also: South Dakota State Senate elections, 2006 Elections for the office of South Dakota State Senate consisted of a primary election on June 6, 2006, and a general election on November 7, 2006. During the 2006 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $1,811,174. The top 10 contributors were: 2006 Donors, South Dakota State Senate Donor Amount South Dakota Republican Party $165,101 Adelstein, Stanford M $102,813 South Dakota Democratic Party $67,250 South Dakota Education Association $50,575 South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association $48,850 Jerstad, Sandy $24,809 Oscar Anderson South Dakota Freedom Fund $24,740 Schmidt, Dennis $24,395 South Dakota Freedom Fund $23,522 Women Run! South Dakota $18,065 2004 See also: South Dakota State Senate elections, 2004 Elections for the office of South Dakota State Senate consisted of a primary election on June 1, 2004, and a general election on November 2, 2004. During the 2004 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $859,976. The top 10 contributors were: 2004 Donors, South Dakota State Senate Donor Amount Adelstein, Stanford M $124,703 South Dakota Republican Party $54,793 21St Century South Dakota PAC $47,077 South Dakota State Medical Association $16,650 South Dakota Association Of Healthcare Organizations $16,050 South Dakota Association Of Realtors $15,600 Schwiesow, Elli $14,560 South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association $11,450 South Dakota Association Of Specialty Care Providers $11,350 International Brotherhood Of Teamsters $10,500 2002 See also: South Dakota State Senate elections, 2002 Elections for the office of South Dakota State Senate consisted of a primary election on June 4, 2002, and a general election on November 5, 2002. During the 2002 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $429,255. The top 10 contributors were: 2002 Donors, South Dakota State Senate Donor Amount South Dakota Republican Party $26,860 South Dakota Democratic Party $14,593 South Dakota Association Of Healthcare Organizations $11,450 South Dakota Association Of Realtors $8,050 South Dakota State Medical Association $7,900 Qwest Communications $7,200 South Dakota Education Association $6,150 South Dakota Optometric Association $6,000 South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association $5,850 Associated General Contractors Of South Dakota $5,300 2000 See also: South Dakota State Senate elections, 2000 Elections for the office of South Dakota State Senate consisted of a primary election on June 6, 2000, and a general election on November 7, 2000. During the 2000 election, the total value of contributions to Senate candidates was $429,065. The top 10 contributors were: 2000 Donors, South Dakota State Senate Donor Amount South Dakota Republican Party $69,405 South Dakota Democratic Party $63,694 Millennium Fund $23,750 DASH PAC $22,100 South Dakota Education Association $14,412 South Dakota Association Of Healthcare Organizations $13,100 De Hueck, Patricia $10,597 South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association $8,850 South Dakota Association Of Realtors $8,250 South Dakota State Medical Association $8,200

Historical party control

Republicans won control of the South Dakota State Senate in 1994. In 2024, they won a 32-3 majority.

The table below shows the partisan history of the South Dakota Senate following every general election from 1992 to 2024. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin's Party Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.

South Dakota State Senate election results: 1992-2024

Year	'92	'94	'96	'98	'00	'02	'04	'06	'08	'10	'12	'14	'16	'18	'20	'22	'24
Democrats	20	16	13	13	12	10	10	15	14	5	7	8	6	5	3	4	3
Republicans	15	19	22	22	23	25	25	20	20	30	28	27	29	30	32	31	32

Trifecta history

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. Between 1992 and 2023, South Dakota was under the following types of trifecta control:

• Democratic trifecta: None
• Republican trifecta: 1992, 1995-2023
• Divided government: 1993-1994

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
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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

Footnotes

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