South Dakota State Senate elections, 2010

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South Dakota State Senate elections, 2010

Majority controlCampaign contributions

QualificationsCompetitiveness analysis

Star bookmark.png  State Legislative Election Results Star bookmark.png

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

Elections for the office of South Dakota's State Senate were held in South Dakota on November 2, 2010.

South Dakota's 35 state senators serve two-year terms with term limits. All 35 seats were up for election in November.[1] Of the 35 seats up for election, incumbents ran in 22 races. There are 4 incumbents ineligible to run because of term limits.

The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was March 30, 2010. The primary Election Day was June 8, 2010.

Republicans gained nine seats and retained a majority in the chamber.

See also: South Dakota State Senate and State legislative elections, 2010

November 2 General Election Results

The following candidates won election on November 2, 2010:

Majority control

See also: Partisan composition of state senates

Heading into the November 2 election, the Republican Party held the majority in the South Dakota State Senate:

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


The Democratic Party elected six senators in 2010, but Eldon Nygaard (D) joined the Republican Party after the election.

Term limits

See also: State legislatures with term limits

South Dakota senators have been term-limited since voters approved Ballot Issue A in 1992, an initiated constitutional amendment. This amendment became part of Section 6 of Article III of the South Dakota Constitution and limits the amount of time that a South Dakota State Senator can stay in office to no more than four consecutive 2-year terms.

The South Dakota State Legislature has placed measures on the ballot to repeal term limits, such as Amendment J, which lost in 2008 by 75-25%.

Altogether, there are 35 South Dakota State Senators. In 2010, four of them who were current members were ineligible to run for the senate again in November. They are:

Democrats (1):

Republicans (3):

Campaign contributions

See also: State-by-state comparison of donations to state senate campaigns

This chart shows how many candidates ran for state senate in South Dakota in past years and the cumulative amount of dollars raised in state senate races, including contributions in both primary and general election contests. All figures come from Follow The Money.[2]

Year Number of candidates Total contributions
2010 65 $1,090,800
2008 92 $2,196,661
2006 89 $1,811,174
2004 78 $859,976
2002 63 $429,255

In 2010, the candidates for state senate raised a total of $1,090,800 in campaign contributions. The top 10 donors were:[3]

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


Incumbency

Unopposed incumbents

2010 state legislative elections analyzed using a Competitiveness Index

7 incumbents (31.8%) faced no competition in the November 2 general election.

  • 1 Democratic incumbent faced no November challenger.
  • 6 GOP incumbents faced no November challenger.

Primary challenges

One incumbent (4.5%) faced competition in the June 8 primary. Democratic incumbent Kathleen Miles, who was first elected to District 15 in 2009, lost to challenger Angie Buhl in the June 8 primary.

Retiring incumbents

13 incumbent representatives did not run for re-election, while 22 incumbents (62.8%) ran for re-election. Of the 13 incumbents who did not run for re-election, 7 are Democrat and 6 are Republican.

Incumbents who retired are:

Qualifications

To be eligible to serve in the South Dakota Senate, a candidate must be:[4]

  • 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

List of candidates

Partisan dominance in state senates
heading into the 2010 state legislative elections
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District 1

2010 State senate elections
ALAKARARCACOCTDEFLGAHIIDILINIAKYMEMDMAMIMNMOMTNENVNHNYNCNDOHOKORPARISDTNTXUTVTWAWVWIWY
Parties with candidates
Impact of term limits
Successful challengers
Defeated incumbents
State house elections
State senate elections
State legislative elections
Democratic Party June 8 Democratic primary result:
Note: Incumbent Gary Hanson did not run for re-election, although he was eligible to do so under South Dakota's term limits.
Republican Party June 8 GOP primary result:
No Republicans filed to run for this seat.

November 2 General election candidates:

Democratic Party Jason Frerichs 5,629 Green check mark transparent.png

District 2

Democratic Party June 8 Democratic primary result:
  • Jim Hundstad. Approveda Incumbent, was first elected to the 2nd District in 2004.
Republican Party June 8 GOP primary result:
No Republicans filed to run for this seat.

November 2 General election candidates:

Democratic Party Jim Hundstad 5,872 Green check mark transparent.png

District 3

Democratic Party June 8 Democratic primary result:
Republican Party June 8 GOP primary result:
  • Al Novstrup Approveda Incumbent, was first elected to the 3rd District in 2008.

November 2 General election candidates:

Democratic Party Alan Hoerth 3,531
Republican Party Al Novstrup 5,281 Green check mark transparent.png

District 4

Democratic Party June 8 Democratic primary result:

Note: Incumbent Democrat James Peterson did not seek re-election.

Republican Party June 8 GOP primary result:

November 2 General election candidates:

Democratic Party Dick Schwandt 3,418
Republican Party Tim Begalka 5,346 Green check mark transparent.png

District 5

Democratic Party June 8 Democratic primary result:
Republican Party June 8 GOP primary result:

November 2 General election candidates:

Democratic Party Nancy Turbak Berry 4,110
Republican Party Ried Holien 4,642 Green check mark transparent.png

District 6

Democratic Party June 8 Democratic primary result:
No Democrat sought election.
Republican Party June 8 GOP primary result:
  • Arthur Fryslie Approveda Incumbent, was first elected to the 6th District in 2008.

November 2 General election candidates:

Republican Party Arthur Fryslie 5,981 Green check mark transparent.png

District 7

Democratic Party June 8 Democratic primary result:
  • Pam Merchant Approveda Incumbent, was first elected to the 7th District in 2008.
Republican Party June 8 GOP primary result:

November 2 General election candidates:

Democratic Party Pam Merchant 3,631
Republican Party Larry Tidemann 4,289 Green check mark transparent.png

District 8

Democratic Party June 8 Democratic primary result:
No Democrat sought election.
Republican Party June 8 GOP primary result:
Grey.png Independent candidate:

November 2 General election candidates:

Republican Party Russell Olson (South Dakota politician) 6,981 Green check mark transparent.png
Grey.png Clark Schmidtke, Sr. 1,648

District 9

Democratic Party June 8 Democratic primary result:
Republican Party June 8 GOP primary result:

Note: Incumbent Tom Dempster was not eligible to seek re-election under South Dakota's term limits.

November 2 General election candidates:

Democratic Party Rob Wilson 2,956
Republican Party Deb Peters 5,119 Green check mark transparent.png

District 10

Democratic Party June 8 Democratic primary result:
Republican Party June 8 GOP primary result:

Note: Incumbent Gene Abdallah was not eligible to seek re-election under South Dakota's term limits.

November 2 General election candidates:

Democratic Party George Gulson 5,083
Republican Party Shantel Krebs 9,434 Green check mark transparent.png

District 11

Democratic Party June 8 Democratic primary result:
Republican Party June 8 GOP primary result:

Note: Incumbent Jason Gant did not seek re-election but instead was the Republican nominee for Secretary of State.

November 2 General election candidates:

Democratic Party Tom Cool 3,828
Republican Party Todd Schlekeway 7,055 Green check mark transparent.png

District 12

Democratic Party June 8 Democratic primary result:
  • Sandy Jerstad Approveda Incumbent, was first elected to the 12th District in 2006.
Republican Party June 8 GOP primary result:
Constitution Party Constitution Party candidate:

November 2 General election candidates:

Democratic Party Sandy Jerstad 5,117
Republican Party Mark Johnston 6,094 Green check mark transparent.png

District 13

Democratic Party June 8 Democratic primary result:

Note: Incumbent Scott Heidepriem did not seek re-election but instead was the Democratic nominee for governor.

Republican Party June 8 GOP primary result:

November 2 General election candidates:

Democratic Party Matt Parker 3,780
Republican Party Phyllis Heineman 4,856 Green check mark transparent.png

District 14

Democratic Party June 8 Democratic primary result:
Republican Party June 8 GOP primary result:
Note: Incumbent David Knudson was not eligible to run for re-election under South Dakota's term limits. He was defeated in the June 8 Republican primary for governor.

November 2 General election candidates:

Democratic Party Cindy Schumacher 3,228
Republican Party Joni Cutler 6,568 Green check mark transparent.png

District 15

Democratic Party June 8 Democratic primary result:

Across the country in 2010, state senate elections were held in 43 states. 1,167 state senate seats were at stake. In all 1,167 state senate districts with an election in 2010, 19 challengers (12 Democrats and 7 Republicans) defeated an incumbent state senator. Buhl was one of the 12 Democratic challengers who defeated an incumbent Democratic state senator.

Republican Party June 8 GOP primary result:
  • No Republican candidates filed for this seat.

November 2 General election candidates:

Democratic Party Angie Buhl 2,856 Green check mark transparent.png

District 16

Democratic Party June 8 Democratic primary result:
Note: Incumbent Margaret Gillespie did not seek re-election.
Republican Party June 8 GOP primary result:

November 2 General election candidates:

Democratic Party Kathy Hill 3,616
Republican Party Dan Lederman 6,082 Green check mark transparent.png

District 17

Democratic Party June 8 Democratic primary result:
Note: Incumbent Ben Nesselhuf did not seek re-election but instead was the Democratic nominee for Secretary of State.
Republican Party June 8 GOP primary result:

November 2 General election candidates:

Democratic Party Eldon Nygaard 3,895 Green check mark transparent.png
Republican Party Terri Jorgenson 3,396

District 18

Democratic Party June 8 Democratic primary result:
  • No Democratic candidates filed to run for this seat.
Republican Party June 8 GOP primary result:
  • Jean Hunhoff Approveda Incumbent, was first elected to the 18th District in 2006.

November 2 General election candidates:

Republican Party Jean Hunhoff 5,915 Green check mark transparent.png

District 19

Democratic Party June 8 Democratic primary result:
Note: Incumbent Frank Kloucek was not eligible to seek re-election under South Dakota's term limits and ran for a District 19 state house seat.
Republican Party June 8 GOP primary result:

November 2 General election candidates:

Democratic Party Glennis Stern 3,478
Republican Party Jim Putnam 4,692 Green check mark transparent.png

District 20

Democratic Party June 8 Democratic primary result:
Republican Party June 8 GOP primary result:
  • Mike Vehle Approveda Incumbent, was first elected to the 20th District in 2008.
Grey.png Independent candidate:

November 2 General election candidates:

Democratic Party Susan Thie 1,870
Republican Party Mike Vehle 4,827 Green check mark transparent.png
Grey.png Steve Sibson 1,729

District 21

Democratic Party June 8 Democratic primary result:
Republican Party June 8 GOP primary result:
  • Cooper Garnos Approveda Incumbent, was first elected to the 21st District in 1998.

November 2 General election candidates:

Democratic Party Brandon Sazue 2,207
Republican Party Cooper Garnos 5,562 Green check mark transparent.png

District 22

Democratic Party June 8 Democratic primary result:
Republican Party June 8 GOP primary result:

November 2 General election candidates:

Democratic Party Perry Danforth 3,823
Republican Party Tom Hansen (South Dakota politician) 5,192 Green check mark transparent.png

District 23

Democratic Party June 8 Democratic primary result:
  • No Democratic candidates filed to run for this seat.
Republican Party June 8 GOP primary result:
  • Corey Brown Approveda Incumbent, was first elected to the 23rd District in 2008.

November 2 General election candidates:

Republican Party Corey Brown 6,455 Green check mark transparent.png

District 24

Democratic Party June 8 Democratic primary result:
Republican Party June 8 GOP primary result:
  • Bob Gray Approveda Incumbent, was first elected to the 24th District in 2004.

November 2 General election candidates:

Democratic Party Donna Fjelstad 2,936
Republican Party Bob Gray 6,676 Green check mark transparent.png

District 25

Democratic Party June 8 Democratic primary result:
  • Dan Ahlers Approveda Incumbent, was first elected to the 25th District in 2008.
Republican Party June 8 GOP primary result:

November 2 General election candidates:

Democratic Party Dan Ahlers 4,788
Republican Party Tim Rave 5,128 Green check mark transparent.png

District 26

Note: Incumbent Democrat Julie Bartling did not seek re-election. Instead she ran for State Auditor.

Democratic Party June 8 Democratic primary result:
Republican Party June 8 GOP primary result:

November 2 General election candidates:

Democratic Party Billie Sutton 4,167 Green check mark transparent.png
Republican Party John Meyer 3,045

District 27

Democratic Party June 8 Democratic primary result:
Republican Party June 8 GOP primary result:
  • James Bradford Approveda Incumbent, was first elected to the 27th District in 2008.

November 2 General election candidates:

Democratic Party Eugene Christensen 1,998
Republican Party James Bradford 3,402 Green check mark transparent.png

District 28

Democratic Party June 8 Democratic primary result:
Republican Party June 8 GOP primary result:
  • Ryan Maher Approveda Incumbent, was first elected to the 28th District in 2007.

November 2 General election candidates:

Democratic Party Julie Garreau 1,836
Republican Party Ryan Maher 4,732 Green check mark transparent.png

District 29

Democratic Party June 8 Democratic primary result:
  • No Democratic candidates filed to run for this seat.
Republican Party June 8 GOP primary result:
  • Larry Rhoden Approveda Incumbent, was first elected to the 29th District in 2008.

November 2 General election candidates:

Republican Party Larry Rhoden 7,313 Green check mark transparent.png

District 30

Democratic Party June 8 Democratic primary result:
  • No Democratic candidates filed to run for this seat.
Republican Party June 8 GOP primary result (after recount):

Note: Incumbent Gordon Howie did not seek re-election but lost in the June 8 Republican primary for governor.

November 2 General election candidates:

Republican Party Bruce Rampelberg 7,925 Green check mark transparent.png

District 31

Democratic Party June 8 Democratic primary result:
Republican Party June 8 GOP primary result:
  • Thomas Nelson Approveda Incumbent, was first elected to the 31st District in 2008.

November 2 General election candidates:

Democratic Party Nyla Griffith 3,970
Republican Party Thomas Nelson 5,824 Green check mark transparent.png

District 32

Democratic Party June 8 Democratic primary:
  • No Democratic candidates filed to run for this seat.
Republican Party June 8 GOP primary:

November 2 General election candidates:

Republican Party Stanford Adelstein 5,540 Green check mark transparent.png

District 33

Democratic Party June 8 Democratic primary:
  • No Democratic candidates filed to run for this seat.
Republican Party June 8 GOP primary:
Note: Incumbent Dennis Schmidt (South Dakota politician) did not run for re-election.

November 2 General election candidates:

Republican Party Elizabeth Kraus 5,668 Green check mark transparent.png

District 34

Democratic Party June 8 Democratic primary:
  • No Democratic candidates filed to run for this seat.
Republican Party June 8 GOP primary:
  • Craig Tieszen Approveda Incumbent, was first elected to the 34th District in 2008.

November 2 General election candidates:

Republican Party Craig Tieszen 7,136 Green check mark transparent.png

District 35

Democratic Party June 8 Democratic primary:
  • No Democratic candidates filed to run for this seat.
Republican Party June 8 GOP primary:
  • Jeffrey Haverly Approveda Incumbent, was first elected to the 35th District in 2008.
Grey.png Independent candidate:

November 2 General election candidates:

Republican Party Jeffrey Haverly 4,298 Green check mark transparent.png
Grey.png Anthony Sylvester Valella 1,736

See also

External links

Footnotes


Current members of the South Dakota State Senate
Leadership
Majority Leader:Jim Mehlhaff
Minority Leader:Liz Larson
Senators
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
District 7
Tim Reed (R)
District 8
District 9
Joy Hohn (R)
District 10
District 11
District 12
Arch Beal (R)
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
Sam Marty (R)
District 29
District 30
District 31
District 32
District 33
District 34
District 35
Republican Party (32)
Democratic Party (3)