The 2026 South Dakota Senate election will be held on November 3, 2026, alongside the other 2026 United States elections. Voters will elect members of the South Dakota Senate in all 35 of the U.S. state of South Dakota's legislative districts to serve a two-year term.
Retirements Senators serving continuously since the 2018 general election are ineligible to serve another consecutive term. Democratic District 15: Jamie Smith is running for mayor of Sioux Falls. District 27: Red Dawn Foster is term-limited.
Republican District 2: Steve Kolbeck is retiring.
Predictions SourceRankingAs of Sabato's Crystal Ball January 22, 2026
Overview 2026 South Dakota Senate election results and statisticsParty Candidates Seats won Aggregate votes 2024 general Change Prim. Gen. No. Percent Seats won Vote % Seats Vote %Republican 59 34 32 78.65% Democratic 11 10 3 19.94%Independents 3 0 1.41% Totals 70 47 35 100%35——— Turnout — 69.93% Registered voters
Detailed results 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__NOTOC__
District 1
The incumbent senator for District 1 is Republican Michael Rohl, first elected in 2020. At the 2024 general election, he was re-elected unopposed. He is running for re-election. Should he win another term, he will be ineligible to run in 2028.
Republican primary Nominee Michael Rohl, incumbent senator
District 2
The incumbent senator for District 2 is Republican Steve Kolbeck, first elected in 2022. At the 2024 general election, he was re-elected unopposed. He is retiring.
Republican primary Nominee John Sjaarda, state representative from this district (2023–present)
Eliminated in primary David Kull, state representative from this district (2023–present)
Withdrawn Manuel Luschas (running for state representative)
Declined Steve Kolbeck, incumbent senator (running for Republican precinct committeman in Minnehaha County)
Results
District 3
The incumbent senator for District 3 is Republican Carl E. Perry, first elected in 2024 unopposed at the general election. He is running for re-election.
Republican primary Nominee Katherine Washnok, candidate for this district in 2024 Eliminated in primary Carl E. Perry, incumbent senator
Results
District 4
The incumbent senator for District 4 is Republican Stephanie Sauder, first elected in 2024 unopposed at the general election. She is running for re-election.
Republican primary Nominee Stephanie Sauder, incumbent senator Eliminated in primary Tim Begalka, former senator from this district (2011–2015)
Results
District 5
The incumbent senator for District 5 is Republican Glen Vilhauer, first elected in 2024 with 71.1 percent of the vote at the general election. He is running for re-election.
Republican primary Nominee Glen Vilhauer, incumbent senator Eliminated in primary Josephine Garcia, state representative from this district (2025–present)
Results
District 6
The incumbent senator for District 6 is Republican Ernie Otten, first elected in 2024 unopposed at the general election, though he has previously served four terms, from 2013 to 2021. He is running for re-election.
Republican primary Nominee Ernie Otten, incumbent senator
District 7
The incumbent senator for District 7 is Republican Tim Reed, first elected in 2022. At the 2024 general election, he was re-elected unopposed. He is running for re-election.
Republican primary Nominee Tim Reed, incumbent senator
District 8
The incumbent senator for District 8 is Republican Casey Crabtree, first appointed in 2020. At the 2024 general election, he was re-elected unopposed. He is running for re-election. Should he win another term, he will be ineligible to run in 2028.
Republican primary Nominee Casey Crabtree, incumbent senator Disqualified Patricia Shiery Withdrawn Todd Wilkinson (running for state representative)
Independent candidates Declared Clint Hoyer
District 9
The incumbent senator for District 9 is Republican Joy Hohn, first elected in 2024 unopposed at the general election. She is running for re-election.
Republican primary Nominee Joy Hohn, incumbent senator Eliminated in primary Daryl Christensen, candidate for state representative from this district in 2024
Results
District 10
The incumbent senator for District 10 is Democrat Liz Larson, first elected in 2022. At the 2024 general election, she was re-elected unopposed. She is running for re-election.
Democratic primary Nominee Liz Larson, incumbent senator
Republican primary Nominee Michael Dupic (initial candidacy successfully challenged, but successfully petitioned again)
District 11
The incumbent senator for District 11 is Republican Chris Karr, first elected in 2024 with 58.9 percent of the vote at the general election. He is running for re-election.
Republican primary Nominee Chris Karr, incumbent senator Eliminated in primary Graham Oey, attorney
Results
Democratic primary Nominee Aaron Matson, nominee for state representative from this district in 2024 and nominee for Treasurer in 2018
District 12
The incumbent senator for District 12 is Republican Arch Beal, first elected in 2022. He was re-elected in 2024 with 55.7 percent of the vote at the general election. He is running for re-election.
Republican primary Nominee Kari Shanard-Koenders, executive director of the state Board of Pharmacy Withdrawn Arch Beal, incumbent senator
Democratic primary Nominee Joe Zweifel, deputy executive director of the South Dakota Democratic Party
District 13
The incumbent senator for District 13 is Republican Sue Peterson, first elected in 2024 with 58.5 percent of the vote at the general election. She is running for re-election.
Republican primary Nominee Sue Peterson, incumbent senator Eliminated in primary Dan Kippley
Results
District 14
The incumbent senator for District 14 is Republican Larry Zikmund, first elected in 2020. He was re-elected in 2024 with 54.6 percent of the vote at the general election. He is running for re-election. Should he win another term, he will be ineligible to run in 2028.
Republican primary Nominee Larry Zikmund, incumbent senator Eliminated in primary R. Shawn Tornow, former state representative from this district (2011–2013)
Results
District 15
The incumbent senator for District 15 is Democrat Jamie Smith, first elected in 2024 with 52.4 percent of the vote at the general election. He is retiring.
Democratic primary Nominee Erik Muckey, state representative from this district (2025–present) Declined Jamie Smith, incumbent senator (running for mayor of Sioux Falls)
District 16
The incumbent senator for District 16 is Republican Kevin D. Jensen, first elected in 2024 unopposed at the general election. He is running for re-election.
Republican primary Nominee Kevin D. Jensen, incumbent senator
District 17
The incumbent senator for District 17 is Republican Sydney Davis, first elected in 2022. She was re-elected in 2024 unopposed at the general election. She is running for re-election.
Republican primary Nominee Sydney Davis, incumbent senator Eliminated in primary Jeffrey Church
Results
District 18
The incumbent senator for District 18 is Republican Lauren Nelson, first elected in 2024 with 57.2 percent of the vote at the general election. She is running for re-election, facing a primary bid from former senator Jean Hunhoff, whom she narrowly beat in the 2024 Republican primary with 52.0 percent of the vote.
Republican primary Nominee Lauren Nelson, incumbent senator Eliminated in primary Jean Hunhoff, former senator from this district (2021–2025)
Results
Democratic primary Nominee Kay Swihart
District 19
The incumbent senator for District 19 is Republican Kyle Schoenfish, first elected in 2020. He was re-elected in 2024 with 77.2 percent of the vote at the general election. He is running for re-election. Should he win another term, he will be ineligible to run in 2028.
Republican primary Nominee Kyle Schoenfish, incumbent senator Eliminated in primary Donna Olson
Results
Democratic primary Nominee Russell Graeff, nominee for this district in 2022 and 2016
District 20
The incumbent senator for District 20 is Republican Paul Miskimins, first elected in 2024 unopposed at the general election. He is running for re-election.
Republican primary Nominee Paul Miskimins, incumbent senator
District 21
The incumbent senator for District 21 is Republican Mykala Voita, first elected in 2024 with 77.1 percent of the vote at the general election. She is running for re-election, facing a primary bid from former senator Erin Tobin, whom she narrowly beat in the 2024 Republican primary with 50.7 percent of the vote.
Republican primary Nominee Mykala Voita, incumbent senator Eliminated in primary Erin Tobin, former senator from this district (2021–2025)
Results
Democratic primary Nominee Dan Andersson, nominee for this district in 2022 and 2016
District 22
The incumbent senator for District 22 is Republican Brandon Wipf, first appointed in 2025. He replaced Republican David Wheeler, who was re-elected in 2024 with 73.2 percent of the vote at the general election. Wipf is running for re-election.
Republican primary Nominee Brandon Wipf, incumbent senator
District 23
The incumbent senator for District 23 is Republican Mark Lapka, first elected in 2024 unopposed at the general election. He is running for re-election.
Republican primary Nominee Mark Lapka, incumbent senator
District 24
The incumbent senator for District 24 is Republican Jim Mehlhaff, first elected in 2022. He was re-elected in 2024 unopposed at the general election. He is running for re-election.
Republican primary Nominee Jim Mehlhaff, incumbent senator Eliminated in primary Brian Murphy Mark Nelson
Results
District 25
The incumbent senator for District 25 is Republican Tom Pischke, first elected in 2022. He was re-elected in 2024 with 72.7 of the vote at the general election. He is running for re-election.
Republican primary Nominee Tom Pischke, incumbent senator
Independent candidates Declared Bryan Breitling, former senator from the 23rd district (2021–2025)
District 26
The incumbent senator for District 26 is Republican Tamara Grove, first elected in 2024 with 57.3 of the vote at the general election. She is running for re-election.
Republican primary Nominee Rebecca Reimer, state representative from District 26B (2018–present) Eliminated in primary Tamara Grove, incumbent senator
Results
Democratic primary Nominee Shawn Bordeaux, former senator from this district (2023–2025) Eliminated in primary Luke Lunderman, candidate for state representative from District 26A in 2018
Results
District 27
The incumbent senator for District 27 is Democrat Red Dawn Foster, first elected in 2018. She was re-elected in 2024 with 52.0 of the vote at the general election. She ineligible for a fifth consecutive term.
Democratic primary Nominee Celestine Stadnick, principal of Little Wound School Term-limited Red Dawn Foster, incumbent senator
Republican primary Nominee Anthony Kathol, nominee for this district in 2024
Independent candidates Nominee Peri Pourier, state representative from this district (2019–present)
District 28
The incumbent senator for District 28 is Republican J. Sam Marty, first elected in 2024 with 64.1 of the vote at the general election. He is running for re-election.
Republican primary Nominee J. Sam Marty, incumbent senator Eliminated in primary Ryan Maher, former senator from this district (2007–2015, 2017–2025)
Results
District 29