The 2014 United States Senate election in South Dakota took place on November 4, 2014, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the state of South Dakota, concurrently with the election of the governor of South Dakota, other elections to the United States Senate in other states, elections to the United States House of Representatives, and various state and local elections. This was one of the seven Democratic-held Senate seats up for election in a state that Mitt Romney won in the 2012 presidential election.
Incumbent Democratic Senator Tim Johnson decided to retire instead of running for re-election to a fourth term in office. As a result, this was the first open seat election since 1978. Former South Dakota Governor Mike Rounds won the open seat, giving South Dakota an all-GOP congressional delegation for the first time since 1963 and giving Republicans control of both of South Dakota's Senate seats for the first time since 1987.
Businessman Rick Weiland ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination. Also running were two independent candidates: former Republican U.S. Senator Larry Pressler, who held this seat from 1979 to 1997, and former Republican state senator Gordon Howie.
Democratic primary Candidates Declared Rick Weiland, businessman, former staffer for Tom Daschle, nominee for South Dakota's at-large congressional district (SD-AL) in 1996 and candidate for SD-AL in 2002
Withdrew Kevin Artz, businessman Henry Jo Sinkie, rancher and resort owner
Declined Jason Frerichs, minority leader of the South Dakota Senate (running for re-election) Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, former U.S. representative Brendan Johnson, United States attorney for the District of South Dakota and son of incumbent Senator Tim JohnsonStephanie Herseth Sandlin won't run in South Dakota - James Hohmann - POLITICO.com Tim Johnson, incumbent U.S. senator Pat O'Brien, author, television anchor and radio host Ron J. Volesky, attorney and former state senator
Endorsements
Polling
Poll source BrendanJohnson Stephanie HersethSandlin UndecidedPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling March 18–19, 2013 390 ± 5% 16% 68% 16%
Poll source SteveJarding BrendanJohnson RickWeiland UndecidedNielson Brothers PollingNielson Brothers Polling October 2–6, 2013 282 ± 5.84% 6.6% 30.7% 10.1% 52.7%
Results Weiland faced no opposition in the Democratic primary.
Republican primary Candidates Declared Annette Bosworth, physician Stace Nelson, state representative Jason Ravnsborg, attorney Larry Rhoden, majority whip of the South Dakota Senate Mike Rounds, former governor of South Dakota
Declined Steve T. Kirby, former lieutenant governor of South Dakota and candidate for governor in 2002 William Napoli, former state senator Kristi Noem, U.S. representative Mark Venner, former state representative
Endorsements
Polling Poll source AnnetteBosworth StaceNelson LarryRhoden MikeRounds UndecidedHarper PollingHarper Polling September 4–5, 2013 252 ±6.17% 6% 8% 7% 58% 22%Nielson Brothers Polling October 2–6, 2013 410 ± 4.84% 2.7% 10.4% 3.9% 46.1% 37%Public Opinion StrategiesPublic Opinion Strategies April 8–10, 2014 500 ± 4.38% 8% 14% 7% 61% 9%
Poll source KristiNoem MikeRounds UndecidedPublic Policy Polling March 18–19, 2013 501 ± 4.4% 39% 43% 17%
Results
Independents and third parties Candidates Declared Gordon Howie (Independent), former Republican state senator and Republican candidate for governor in 2010 Larry Pressler (Independent), former Republican U.S. senator
Disqualified Clayton Walker (Independent), small business consultant and Democratic candidate for state representative in 2010
Withdrew Kurt Evans (Libertarian), teacher and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2002
General election Campaign Rounds was widely seen as the front runner throughout the campaign. However, he faced ongoing criticism on the election trail for his possible involvement with the state's ongoing EB-5 visa investigation, concerning the conflict of interest that Rounds' administration had when administering the EB-5 program. State officials misused funds to pay for their salaries, did not disclose that they owned companies which they gave contracts to, directed money towards companies that went bankrupt and arranged for loans from unknown sources from shell companies located in tax havens. In October 2014, Rounds admitted that he had approved a $1 million state loan to meat-packing company Northern Beef shortly after learning that Secretary of Tourism and State Development Richard Benda had agreed to join the company, with Benda then getting another $600,000 in loans that was ultimately used to pay his own salary. Benda committed suicide in October 2013, days before a possible indictment over embezzlement and grand theft charges.
Columnist Jonathan Ellis of the Argus Leader called Rounds' fundraising "anemic" compared to the amount of outside money coming into the state on Weiland's side, and criticized the entire Rounds campaign as "more suited for sheriff of Mayberry County than U.S. Senate."
Debates Complete video of debate, October 29, 2014
Predictions Source Ranking As of The Cook Political Report November 3, 2014 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 3, 2014 Rothenberg Political Report November 3, 2014 Real Clear Politics November 3, 2014
Polling Poll source RickWeiland (D) MikeRounds (R) LarryPressler (I) GordonHowie (I) Other UndecidedNielson Brothers PollingNielson Brothers Polling June 10–14, 2013 500 ± 4.4% 27% 54% — — — 19%Harper PollingHarper Polling September 4–5, 2013 517 ± 4.31% 38% 52% — — — 10%Nielson Brothers Polling October 2–6, 2013 818 ± 3.43% 35% 50% — — — 15%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling October 10–13, 2013 882 ± 3.3% 34% 40% — — 11%Kurt Evans (L) 11% 15%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports February 25–26, 2014 500 ± 4.5% 31% 51% — — 6% 11%Public Policy Polling^Public Policy Polling^ April 30 – May 1, 2014 745 ± 3.6% 28% 38% 15% 4% — 15%SurveyUSASurveyUSA May 6–10, 2014 504 ± 4.5% 30% 44% 17% 3% 2%Clayton Walker (I) 2% 5%Rasmussen Reports June 4–5, 2014 750 ± 4% 29% 44% 18% — 2% 7%CBS News/NYT/YouGovCBS News/NYT/YouGov July 5–24, 2014 631 ± 4.5% 34% 59% — — 3% 5%Clarity Campaign Labs^Clarity Campaign Labs^ July 16–23, 2014 3,837 ± 1.44% 24% 34% 10% 3% — 29%Nielson Brothers PollingNielson Brothers Polling July 23–28, 2014 578 ± 4.04% 30% 43% 14% 4% — 9%Public Opinion Strategies*Public Opinion Strategies* August 11–13, 2014 500 ± 4.38% 24% 49% 15% 4% — 7%Public Policy Polling^Public Policy Polling^ August 12–13, 2014 726 ± 3.6% 31% 39% 16% 5% — 9%Public Policy Polling^Public Policy Polling^ August 27–28, 2014 709 ± 3.7% 33% 39% 17% 4% — 7% 42% 45% — — — 13%CBS News/NYT/YouGovCBS News/NYT/YouGov August 18 – September 2, 2014 526 ± 6% 29% 43% 6% — 1% 21%SurveyUSASurveyUSA September 3–7, 2014 510 ± 4.4% 28% 39% 25% 3% — 5% 42% 44% — 3% — 11%ccAdvertisingccAdvertising September 22–23, 2014 1,769 ± ? 17% 39% 17% — — 27%Public Opinion Strategies*Public Opinion Strategies* September 22–23, 2014 500 ± 4.38% 23% 41% 19% 4% — 12%Nielson Brothers PollingNielson Brothers Polling September 21–25, 2014 647 ± 3.24% 26% 39% 24% 4% — 7% 636 ± 3.27% 37.1% 45% — 7% — 10% 623 ± 3.3% — 40% 39% 8% — 13%Public Policy Polling^Public Policy Polling^ September 29–30, 2014 703 ± 3.7% 28% 35% 24% 8% — 5%CBS News/NYT/YouGovCBS News/NYT/YouGov September 20 – October 1, 2014 382 ± 7% 27% 42% 12% — 1% 17%SurveyUSASurveyUSA October 1–5, 2014 616 ± 4% 28% 35% 32% 3% — 2% 47% 47% — 3% — 3% — 39% 54% 3% — 4%Harper PollingHarper Polling October 9–11, 2014 630 ± 3.9% 33% 37% 23% 5% — 2%Public Opinion Strategies*Public Opinion Strategies* October 18–20, 2014 500 ± 4.38% 24% 48% 16% 3% — 9%CBS News/NYT/YouGov October 16–23, 2014 527 ± 8% 25% 38% 17% — 0% 21%NBC News/MaristNBC News/Marist October 19–23, 2014 730 LV ± 3.6% 29% 43% 16% 3% <1% 7% 990 RV ± 3.1% 28% 43% 16% 4% <1% 9%Mason-DixonMason-Dixon October 20–23, 2014 800 ± 3.5% 33% 42% 13% 2% — 10%SurveyUSASurveyUSA October 21–26, 2014 611 ± 4% 32% 43% 19% 2% — 4%Rasmussen Reports October 22–26, 2014 908 ± 3.5% 31% 45% 21% — — 3%Monmouth UniversityMonmouth University October 24–27, 2014 429 ± 4.7% 31% 45% 19% 1% — 4% 40% 48% — 1% — 11%
With Herseth Sandlin Poll source Stephanie HersethSandlin (D) KristiNoem (R) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling March 18–19, 2013 1,069 ± 3% 48% 47% — 5%
Poll source Stephanie HersethSandlin (D) MikeRounds (R) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling March 18–19, 2013 1,069 ± 3% 44% 49% — 7%
With B. Johnson Poll source BrendanJohnson (D) KristiNoem (R) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling March 18–19, 2013 1,069 ± 3% 37% 49% — 14%
Poll source BrendanJohnson (D) MikeRounds (R) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling March 18–19, 2013 1,069 ± 3% 32% 53% — 15%
With T. Johnson Poll source TimJohnson (D) KristiNoem (R) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling March 18–19, 2013 1,069 ± 3% 45% 49% — 7%
Poll source TimJohnson (D) MikeRounds (R) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling March 18–19, 2013 1,069 ± 3% 41% 52% — 7%
With Weiland Poll source RickWeiland (D) AnnetteBosworth (R) Other UndecidedHarper Polling September 4–5, 2013 517 ± 4.31% 38% 36% — 26%Nielson Brothers Polling October 2–6, 2013 815 ± 3.43% 38% 33% — 30%
Poll source RickWeiland (D) StaceNelson (R) Other UndecidedHarper Polling September 4–5, 2013 517 ± 4.31% 38% 40% — 22%Nielson Brothers Polling October 2–6, 2013 815 ± 3.43% 36% 35% — 30%
Poll source RickWeiland (D) LarryRhoden (R) Other UndecidedHarper Polling September 4–5, 2013 517 ± 4.31% 35% 41% — 23%Nielson Brothers Polling October 2–6, 2013 815 ± 3.43% 37% 32% — 31%
* Internal polling for the Mike Rounds campaign ^ Internal polling for the Rick Weiland campaign
Results
By county