South Dakota Primary Election Night: Key Races and Candidates to Watch
South Dakota is gearing up for a competitive Republican primary for governor, with Governor Larry Rhoden facing challenges from U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, state House Speaker Jon Hansen, and businessman Toby Doeden. The winner will go up against former state Sen. Dan Ahlers in the general election. In the U.S. Senate race, Republican Mike Rounds is seeking a third term, with nonprofit executive Julian Beaudion running unopposed for the Democratic nomination. State Attorney General Marty Jackley is vying for the U.S. House seat against Republican James Bialota. Sioux Falls residents will also be electing a new mayor, with five candidates in the running to replace Mayor Paul TenHaken.
The primary night will be crucial, with key counties like Minnehaha County and Pennington County being closely watched. South Dakota, known for its Republican-leaning electorate, is expected to give the primary winners a significant advantage in the general election. Polls will close at 7 p.m. local time, and the AP Decision Team will monitor the results for U.S. Senate, U.S. House, governor, state Senate, state House, and mayor of Sioux Falls. Registered party members can only vote in their own party's primary, with about 674,000 registered voters in South Dakota as of April 1.
Early voting has already seen about 17,000 ballots cast, with a majority in the Republican primary. Results from mail and in-person early voting will be released together with Election Day results. The AP will refrain from making projections and will declare winners only when there is no chance for a trailing candidate to catch up. Recounts are automatic only in tie votes, with losing candidates able to request a recount if the margin is 0.25% or less of the total votes cast. As the 2026 midterm elections are 154 days away, the focus is on the primary results and the road to the general election. Stay tuned for the latest updates on the election coverage.