South Dakota State Senate elections, 2014

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South Dakota State Senate elections, 2014

Majority control • Qualifications

List of candidates District 1 • District 2 • District 3 • District 4 • District 5 • District 6 • District 7 • District 8 • District 9 • District 10 • District 11 • District 12 • District 13 • District 14 • District 15 • District 16 • District 17 • District 18 • District 19 • District 20 • District 21 • District 22 • District 23 • District 24 • District 25 • District 26 • District 27 • District 28 • District 29 • District 30 • District 31 • District 32 • District 33 • District 34 • District 35

State Legislative Election Results

South Dakota State Senate • 2014 South Dakota House Elections

State legislative elections in 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.

Following the general election, there was no change to the majority control of the South Dakota State Senate. Majority control of the chamber was held by the Republican Party, which saw a net loss of one seat following the general election. Their total seats shifted from 28 to 27. The Democratic Party picked up the seat, increasing their holdings from seven to eight.

Incumbents retiring

A total of nine incumbents did not run for re-election in 2014. Those incumbents were:

Name	Party	Current Office
Al Novstrup	Republican	Senate District 03
Tim Begalka	Republican	Senate District 04
Shantel Krebs	Republican	Senate District 10
Tom Jones	Democratic	Senate District 17
Jean Hunhoff	Republican	Senate District 18
Larry J. Lucas	Democratic	Senate District 26
Ryan Maher	Republican	Senate District 28
Larry Rhoden	Republican	Senate District 29
Mark Kirkeby	Republican	Senate District 35

Majority control

See also: Partisan composition of state senates

Heading into the November 4 election, the Republican Party held the majority in the South Dakota State Senate:

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

2014 Competitiveness Overview
Primary competition (state comparison)
Incumbents defeated • Victorious challengers • Primary competitiveness
Major party challengers (state comparison)
Candidates with no challenges at all in 2014
Open seats (state comparisons)
Impact of term limits on # of open seats Long-serving senators • Long-serving reps
Chart Comparing 2014 Results
Chart Comparing 2014 Results • Comparisons Between Years
Competitiveness Index • Absolute Index
2014 State Legislative Elections State legislative incumbent turnover in 2014
Competitiveness Studies from Other Years
2007 • 2009 • 2010 • 2011 • 2012 • 2013

Competitiveness

Candidates unopposed by a major party

In 17 (48.6%) of the 35 districts up for election in 2014, there was only one major party candidate running for election. A total of 12 Republicans and 5 Democrats were guaranteed election barring unforeseen circumstances.

Two major party candidates faced off in the general election in 18 (51.4%) of the 35 districts up for election.

Competitive

• District 2: Incumbent Chuck Welke (D) was defeated by Brock Greenfield (R) in the general election. Welke won the general election by a margin of victory of 3 percent in 2012.
• District 17: Michelle Maloney (D) was defeated by Arthur Rusch (R) in the general election. Incumbent Tom Jones won the general election by a margin of victory of 5 percent in 2012.
• District 25: Incumbent Timothy Rave (R) defeated Bill Laird (D) in the general election. Rave won the general election by a margin of victory of 2 percent in 2012.

Mildly competitive

• District 3: David Novstrup (R) defeated Mark Remily (D) in the general election. Incumbent Al Novstrup (R) won the general election by a margin of victory of 7 percent in 2012.
• District 7: Incumbent Larry Tidemann (R) defeated Jay Vanduch (D) in the general election. Tidemann won the general election by a margin of victory of 7 percent in 2012.
• District 15: Incumbent Angie Buhl (D) was unopposed in the general election. Buhl won the general election by a margin of victory of 10 percent in 2012.
• District 22: Incumbent Jim White (R) defeated Darrell Raschke (D) in the general election. White won the general election by a margin of victory of 9 percent in 2012.
• District 26: Troy Heinert (D) defeated John Koskan (R) in the general election. Incumbent Larry J. Lucas (D) won the general election by a margin of victory of 6 percent in 2012.

Primary challenges

A total of two incumbents faced primary competition on June 3. Nine incumbents did not seek re-election in 2014 and another 24 incumbents advanced past the primary without opposition. The state senators that faced primary competition included:

• District 24: Incumbent Jeff Monroe defeated Tad Perry in the Republican primary.
• District 33: Incumbent Phil Jensen defeated David Johnson in the Republican primary.

Retiring incumbents

Nine incumbent senators did not run for re-election, while 26 (74.3%) of the current 35 incumbents ran for re-election. A list of those incumbents, two Democrats and seven Republican, can be found above.

Qualifications

To be eligible to serve in the South Dakota Senate, a candidate must be:

• 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

List of candidates

District 1

June 3 Democratic primary:

• Jason Frerichs a - Incumbent Frerichs was first elected to the chamber in 2010.

June 3 Republican primary:

• No candidates filed.

November 4 General election candidates:

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Jason E. Frerichs: 5,653

District 2

June 3 Democratic primary:

• Chuck Welke a - Incumbent Welke was first elected to the chamber in 2012.

June 3 Republican primary:

• Brock Greenfield a

November 4 General election candidates:

Chuck Welke: 4,136

Brock Greenfield: 4,584

District 3

Note: Incumbent Al Novstrup (R) ran for House District 3

June 3 Democratic primary:

• Mark Remily: 560 a
• Angela Schultz: 537

June 3 Republican primary:

• David Novstrup a

November 4 General election candidates:

Mark Remily: 3,596

David Novstrup: 4,074

District 4

Note: Incumbent Tim Begalka (R) did not run for re-election.

June 3 Democratic primary:

• Jim Peterson a

June 3 Republican primary:

• No candidates filed.

November 4 General election candidates:

Jim Peterson: 5,464

District 5

June 3 Democratic primary:

• Alanna Silvis a

June 3 Republican primary:

• Ried Holien a - Incumbent Holien was first elected to the chamber in 2010.

November 4 General election candidates:

Ried Holien: 5,724

Note: Alanna Silvis withdrew before the election.

District 6

June 3 Democratic primary:

• Mel Zelmer a

June 3 Republican primary:

• Ernie Otten a - Incumbent Otten was first elected to the chamber in 2012.

November 4 General election candidates:

Mel Zelmer: 1,915

Ernie Otten: 4,877

District 7

June 3 Democratic primary:

• Jay Vanduch a

June 3 Republican primary:

• Larry Tidemann a - Incumbent Tidemann was first elected to the chamber in 2010.

November 4 General election candidates:

Jay Vanduch: 2,223

Larry Tidemann: 3,729

District 8

June 3 Democratic primary:

• Scott Parsley a

June 3 Republican primary:

• Chuck Jones a - Incumbent Jones was first appointed to the chamber in 2013.

November 4 General election candidates:

Scott Parsley: 4,542

Chuck Jones: 4,188

District 9

June 3 Democratic primary:

• Sheryl Knutson a

June 3 Republican primary:

• Deb Peters a - Incumbent Peters was first elected to the chamber in 2010.

November 4 General election candidates:

Deb Peters: 4,241

Note: Sheryl Knutson withdrew after the primary.

District 10

Note: Incumbent Shantel Krebs (R) did not run for re-election.

June 3 Democratic primary:

• Michael Schultz a

June 3 Republican primary:

• Jenna Haggar a

November 4 General election candidates:

Michael Schultz: 2,513

Jenna Haggar: 4,272

District 11

June 3 Democratic primary:

• Tom Cool a

June 3 Republican primary:

• David M. Omdahl a - Incumbent Omdahl was first elected to the chamber in 2012.

November 4 General election candidates:

Tom Cool: 3,071

David M. Omdahl: 4,545

District 12

June 3 Democratic primary:

• Jim Sanden a

June 3 Republican primary:

• R. Blake Curd a - Incumbent Curd was first appointed to the chamber in 2013.

November 4 General election candidates:

Jim Sanden: 2,836

R. Blake Curd: 4,265

District 13

June 3 Democratic primary:

• Reynold Nesiba a

June 3 Republican primary:

• Phyllis M. Heineman a - Incumbent Heineman was first elected to the chamber in 2010.

November 4 General election candidates:

Phyllis M. Heineman: 6,145

Note: Reynold Nesiba withdrew after the primary.

District 14

June 3 Democratic primary:

• Brian Kaatz a

June 3 Republican primary:

• Deb Soholt a - Incumbent Soholt was first elected to the chamber in 2012.

November 4 General election candidates:

Deb Soholt: 6,023

Note: Brian Kaatz withdrew after the primary.

District 15

June 3 Democratic primary:

• Angie Buhl O'Donnell a - Incumbent Buhl O'Donnell was first elected to the chamber in 2010.

June 3 Republican primary:

• No candidates filed.

November 4 General election candidates:

Angie Buhl O'Donnell: 2,349

District 16

June 3 Democratic primary:

• Ann Tornberg a

June 3 Republican primary:

• Dan Lederman a - Incumbent Lederman was first elected to the chamber in 2010.

November 4 General election candidates:

Ann Tornberg: 3,543

Dan Lederman: 4,442

District 17

Note: Incumbent Tom Jones (D) did not run for re-election.

June 3 Democratic primary:

• Michelle Maloney a

June 3 Republican primary:

• Arthur L. Rusch a

November 4 General election candidates:

Michelle Maloney: 2,798

Arthur L. Rusch: 3,873

District 18

Note: Incumbent Jean Hunhoff (R) did not run for re-election.

June 3 Democratic primary:

• Bernie Hunhoff a

June 3 Republican primary:

• Thomas Bixler: 152
• Matt Stone: 1,086 a

November 4 General election candidates:

Bernie Hunhoff: 4,300

Matt Stone: 3,403

District 19

June 3 Democratic primary:

• No candidates filed.

June 3 Republican primary:

• Bill L. Van Gerpen a - Incumbent Van Gerpen was first elected to the chamber in 2012.

November 4 General election candidates:

Bill L. Van Gerpen: 6,629

District 20

June 3 Democratic primary:

• Craig Kelly a

June 3 Republican primary:

• Michael Vehle a - Incumbent Vehle was first elected to the chamber in 2008.

November 4 General election candidates:

Michael Vehle: 5,931

Note: Craig Kelly withdrew after the primary.

District 21

June 3 Democratic primary:

• Billie H. Sutton a - Incumbent Sutton was first elected to the chamber in 2010.

June 3 Republican primary:

• No candidates filed.

November 4 General election candidates:

Billie H. Sutton: 5,821

District 22

June 3 Democratic primary:

• Darrell Raschke a

June 3 Republican primary:

• Jim White a - Incumbent White was first elected to the chamber in 2012.

November 4 General election candidates:

Darrell Raschke: 2,199

Jim White: 5,180

District 23

June 3 Democratic primary:

• No candidates filed.

June 3 Republican primary:

• Corey Brown a - Incumbent Brown was first elected to the chamber in 2008.

November 4 General election candidates:

Corey Brown: 6,827

District 24

June 3 Democratic primary:

• Ruth Rehn a

June 3 Republican primary:

• Jeff Monroe: 2,541 a - Incumbent Monroe was first elected to the chamber in 2012.
• Tad Perry: 2,294

November 4 General election candidates:

Ruth Rehn: 3,811

Jeff Monroe: 5,478

District 25

June 3 Democratic primary:

• Bill Laird a

June 3 Republican primary:

• Tim Rave a - Incumbent Rave was first elected to the chamber in 2010.

November 4 General election candidates:

Bill Laird: 2,577

Tim Rave: 5,492

District 26

Note: Incumbent Larry J. Lucas (D) did not run for re-election.

June 3 Democratic primary:

• Troy E. Heinert a

June 3 Republican primary:

• John Koskan a

November 4 General election candidates:

Troy E. Heinert: 3,747

John Koskan: 2,883

District 27

June 3 Democratic primary:

• Jim Bradford a - Incumbent Bradford was first elected to the chamber in 2008.

June 3 Republican primary:

• No candidates filed.

November 4 General election candidates:

Jim Bradford: 3,860

District 28

Note: Incumbent Ryan Maher (R) did not run for re-election.

June 3 Democratic primary:

• Oren L. Lesmeister a

June 3 Republican primary:

• Betty Olson a

November 4 General election candidates:

Oren L. Lesmeister: 3,317

Betty Olson: 3,997

District 29

Note: Incumbent Larry Rhoden (R) did not run for re-election.

June 3 Democratic primary:

• No candidates filed.

June 3 Republican primary:

• Gary L. Cammack: 2,086 a
• Susan Cheshier: 523
• LeRoy Kindler: 588

November 4 General election candidates:

Gary L. Cammack: 5,617

District 30

June 3 Democratic primary:

• No candidates filed.

June 3 Republican primary:

• Bruce Rampelberg a - Incumbent Rampelberg was first elected to the chamber in 2010.

November 4 General election candidates:

Bruce Rampelberg: 7,084

District 31

June 3 Democratic primary:

• No candidates filed.

June 3 Republican primary:

• Bob Ewing a - Incumbent Ewing was first elected to the chamber in 2012.

November 4 General election candidates:

Bob Ewing: 6,318

District 32

June 3 Democratic primary:

• No candidates filed.

June 3 Republican primary:

• Alan D. Solano a - Incumbent Solano was first appointed to the chamber in 2014.

November 4 General election candidates:

Alan D. Solano: 5,134

District 33

June 3 Democratic primary:

• Robin A. Page: 346 a
• Haven Stuck: 297

June 3 Republican primary:

• Phil Jensen: 1,232 a - Incumbent Jensen was first elected to the chamber in 2012.
• David Johnson: 1,203

November 4 General election candidates:

Robin A. Page: 2,743

Phil Jensen: 5,016

District 34

June 3 Democratic primary:

• No candidates filed.

June 3 Republican primary:

• Craig Tieszen a - Incumbent Tieszen was first elected to the chamber in 2008.

November 4 General election candidates:

Craig Tieszen: 6,776

District 35

Note: Incumbent Mark Kirkeby (R) did not run for re-election.

June 3 Democratic primary:

• No candidates filed.

June 3 Republican primary:

• Terri Haverly: 803 a
• Larry D. Baker: 440

November 4 General election candidates:

Terri Haverly: 3,901

See also

• South Dakota State Senate
• South Dakota State Legislature
• State legislative elections, 2014

External links

Suggest a link

• South Dakota Secretary of State - Current Candidates for Primary Election
• South Dakota Secretary of State - Primary Election Official Results
• South Dakota Secretary of State - Candidates for General Election as of September 29, 2014
• South Dakota Secretary of State, 2014 General Election Results

Footnotes

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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)