The structure of the government of South Dakota is based on that of the federal government, with three branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial. The structure of the state government is laid out in the Constitution of South Dakota, the highest law in the state. The constitution may be amended either by a majority vote of both houses of the legislature, or by voter initiative. [1]
The governor of South Dakota heads the executive branch of the state government. [2] The state constitution gives the governor the power to either sign into law or veto bills passed by the state legislature, to serve as commander-in-chief of the state's armed forces, to appoint a cabinet, and to commute criminal sentences or to pardon those convicted of crimes. [3] [4] The governor serves for a four-year term, and may not serve more than two consecutive terms. [5]
The current governor is Kristi Noem, a Republican from Watertown. The lieutenant governor is Larry Rhoden (R), the attorney general is Marty J. Jackley (R), the commissioner of school and public lands is Brock Greenfield (R), the secretary of state is Monae Johnson (R), the state auditor is Rich Sattgast (R), and the treasurer is Josh Haeder (R).
The state legislature is made up of two bodies, the Senate, which has 35 members, and the House of Representatives, with 70 members. South Dakota is divided into 35 legislative districts, [6] with voters electing two representatives and one senator per district. [6] The legislature meets for an annual session which begins on the second Tuesday in January and lasts for 40 days. [7] it also meets if a special session is called by the governor. [6] The Republican Party currently holds majorities in both houses of the South Dakota Legislature. Currently, the Senate consists of 30 Republicans and 5 Democrats, [8] while the House of Representatives is made up of 59 Republicans, 11 Democrats [9] State law currently limits legislators to a maximum of four consecutive terms in the same house of the Legislature. [7] [10]
The judicial branch is made up of several levels. The state supreme court, with four justices and a chief justice, is the highest court in the state. [11] Below the supreme court are the circuit courts; 41 circuit judges serve in seven judicial circuits in the state. [11] Below the circuit courts are the magistrate courts, which deal with more minor criminal and civil actions. [11]
South Dakota is represented at the federal level by Senator Mike Rounds, Senator John Thune, and Representative Dusty Johnson. All the federal representatives are Republicans, this hasn't been the case since 1961. South Dakota is one of seven states with only one seat in the US House of Representatives. [12]
South Dakota is part of the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota in the federal judiciary. The district's cases are appealed to the St-Louis-based United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.
Native Americans' governments are significantly independent of the state and its local governments. For example, federal law forbids states and local authorities to tax Indian lands. [13]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2020 | 261,043 | 61.77% | 150,471 | 35.61% | 11,095 | 2.63% |
| 2016 | 227,731 | 61.53% | 117,466 | 31.74% | 24,914 | 6.73% |
| 2012 | 210,610 | 57.89% | 145,039 | 39.87% | 8,166 | 2.24% |
| 2008 | 203,054 | 53.16% | 170,924 | 44.75% | 7,997 | 2.09% |
| 2004 | 232,584 | 59.91% | 149,244 | 38.44% | 6,387 | 1.65% |
| 2000 | 190,700 | 60.30% | 118,804 | 37.56% | 6,765 | 2.14% |
| 1996 | 150,543 | 46.49% | 139,333 | 43.03% | 33,950 | 10.48% |
| 1992 | 136,718 | 40.66% | 124,888 | 37.14% | 74,648 | 22.20% |
| 1988 | 165,415 | 52.85% | 145,560 | 46.51% | 2,016 | 0.64% |
| 1984 | 200,267 | 63.00% | 116,113 | 36.53% | 1,487 | 0.47% |
| 1980 | 198,343 | 60.53% | 103,855 | 31.69% | 25,505 | 7.78% |
| 1976 | 151,505 | 50.39% | 147,068 | 48.91% | 2,105 | 0.70% |
| 1972 | 166,476 | 54.15% | 139,945 | 45.52% | 994 | 0.32% |
| 1968 | 149,841 | 53.27% | 118,023 | 41.96% | 13,400 | 4.76% |
| 1964 | 130,108 | 44.39% | 163,010 | 55.61% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 178,417 | 58.21% | 128,070 | 41.79% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 171,569 | 58.39% | 122,288 | 41.61% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 203,857 | 69.27% | 90,426 | 30.73% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 129,651 | 51.84% | 117,653 | 47.04% | 2,801 | 1.12% |
| 1944 | 135,365 | 58.33% | 96,711 | 41.67% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 177,065 | 57.41% | 131,362 | 42.59% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 125,977 | 42.49% | 160,137 | 54.02% | 10,338 | 3.49% |
| 1932 | 99,212 | 34.40% | 183,515 | 63.62% | 5,711 | 1.98% |
| 1928 | 157,603 | 60.18% | 102,660 | 39.20% | 1,602 | 0.61% |
| 1924 | 101,299 | 49.69% | 27,214 | 13.35% | 75,355 | 36.96% |
| 1920 | 110,692 | 60.74% | 35,938 | 19.72% | 35,611 | 19.54% |
| 1916 | 64,217 | 49.80% | 59,191 | 45.91% | 5,534 | 4.29% |
| 1912 | 0 | 0.00% | 48,942 | 42.07% | 67,383 | 57.93% |
| 1908 | 67,536 | 58.84% | 40,266 | 35.08% | 6,973 | 6.08% |
| 1904 | 72,083 | 71.09% | 21,969 | 21.67% | 7,343 | 7.24% |
| 1900 | 54,530 | 56.73% | 39,544 | 41.14% | 2,050 | 2.13% |
| 1896 | 41,042 | 49.48% | 41,225 | 49.70% | 683 | 0.82% |
| 1892 | 34,888 | 49.48% | 9,081 | 12.88% | 26,544 | 37.64% |
South Dakota politics are generally dominated by the Republican Party, and the state has not supported a Democratic presidential candidate since 1964—especially notable when one considers that George McGovern, the Democratic nominee in 1972, was from South Dakota. [15] [16] Since statehood, it has only voted Democratic four times, in 1896, 1932, 1936, and 1964, as well as for the Progressive candidate in 1912.
There are only five reliably Democratic counties in the state—most of them with primarily Native American populations. Republicans have won the last 13 gubernatorial elections and have controlled the legislature, with one brief interruption, for over thirty years. Democrats, however, have been successful in winning election to Congress from South Dakota, including former Senators Tom Daschle, who served as Majority Leader, James Abourezk, George McGovern, and Tim Johnson; and former Representative Stephanie Herseth Sandlin.
While President Bush received a lower vote percentage in 2004 than he did in 2000, he still received a very strong 60% of the popular vote. Part of the deviation had to do with record turnout driven by the intense Senate campaigns that year. As of 2016, Republicans hold a 15% voter registration advantage over Democrats [17] and hold large majorities in both the state House of Representatives [18] and Senate. [19] Additionally, all but one of the statewide elected officers are Republicans.
In the more than a quarter century between 1979 and 2005, two politicians, one a Republican and one a Democrat, dominated South Dakota politics. Republican Governor Bill Janklow served four terms as governor from 1979 to 1987 and then from 1995 to 2003 followed by a brief partial term as a United States Representative from 2003 to 2004. Janklow's career was ended by a motor vehicle manslaughter conviction causing his resignation from Congress. Democrat Tom Daschle was also a dominant figure in South Dakota politics, serving in Congress, 1979–2005. He first served eight years in the United States House of Representatives and then eighteen years in the United States Senate after his senate election in 1986. Over a period of ten years, he served both as minority leader and majority leader in the Senate. In 2004, he lost his Senate seat to a Republican, former United States Representative John Thune, who narrowly defeated Daschle by a 51%-49% margin. Daschle became the first Senate party leader in 52 years to lose re-election to his own Senate seat.
South Dakota has a history of voting out powerful members of the Senate who seek fourth terms. Former Commerce Committee Chairman Larry Pressler lost to Congressman Tim Johnson in 1996, and 1972 Democratic presidential nominee George McGovern was defeated by Congressman James Abdnor in 1980. Abdnor was, in turn, defeated by Daschle in 1986.
The Missouri River, bisects the state. The area east of the Missouri River (or "East River"), is generally more moderate, with views that are more in line with those found in its Midwestern neighbors, Iowa and Minnesota. "West River" is more conservative, with views that are generally more in line with those found in its western neighbors, Montana and Wyoming. Large exceptions exist to the East River-West River political generalizations, however. The strongest Democratic counties in the state are West River. These counties are located within Indian Reservations. The strongest Republican counties are located East River. These counties were primarily settled by Protestant Germans from Russia, and be they Mennonite, Lutheran, Baptist or Reformed, they vote overwhelmingly Republican. A large part of the western half of East River responds politically in the same fashion as West River. Many observers think that the James River Valley really is the political dividing line between East River political thought and West River political thought.
In the 2006 midterm elections, little change occurred in South Dakota in statewide elections. The Republicans defeated the sole Democrat state officeholder previously elected statewide, but lost another statewide elected office to the Democrats. Otherwise, all federal and state officeholders were comfortably re-elected. The Democrats made a significant gain in the state senate, narrowing the Republican margin from 25–10 to 20–15, costing the Republican legislative leadership its two-thirds majority in both houses of the legislature.
By referendum, the electorate rejected an abortion ban approved by the state legislature. 56% of the electorate voted to overturn the law, generally considered a direct challenge to Roe v. Wade . Additionally, the electorate rejected a proposed law permitting the use of marijuana for medical purposes, and narrowly approved a state constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. The prevailing side received a 52%–48% margin in both cases.
Senator Tim Johnson defeated state Sen. Joel Dykstra on November 4, 2008. Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin defeated Rapid City businessman Chris Lien.
In 2010, Republican Dennis Daugaard defeated Democrat Scott Heidepriem for governor, [20] and Republican Kristi Noem defeated incumbent Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin for South Dakota's at-large seat in the US House of Representatives. [21] Republican John Thune won a second term as US senator, running unopposed in 2010.
In 2012, Noem retained her seat with 57% of the vote and the state voted for Republican nominee Mitt Romney over Democratic President Barack Obama by a margin of 18%. [22]
Republican Dennis Daugaard won re-election with 70.47% over Susan Wismer with 25.43%. Mike Rounds won his campaign over Rick Weiland. [23]
As of 2005, South Dakota has the lowest per capita total state tax rate in the United States. [24] The state does not levy personal or corporate income taxes, [25] inheritance taxes, [26] or taxes on intangible personal property. The state sales tax rate is 4.5 percent. [27] Various localities have local levies so in some areas the rate is 6 percent. The state sales tax does not apply to sales to Indians on Indian reservations, but many reservations have a compact with the state. Businesses on the reservation collect the tax and the state refunds to the Indian Tribes the percentage of sales tax collections relating to the ratio of Indian population to total population in the county or area affected. Ad valorem property taxes are local taxes and are a large source of funding for school systems, counties, municipalities and other local government units. The South Dakota Special Tax Division regulates some taxes including cigarette and alcohol-related taxes. [28]
| Senator | Took office | Left office | Party |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Rounds | 2015 | present | Republican |
| Tim Johnson | 1997 | 2015 | Democrat |
| Larry Pressler | 1979 | 1997 | Republican |
| James Abourezk | 1973 | 1979 | Democrat |
| Karl E. Mundt | 1948 | 1973 | Republican |
| Vera C. Bushfield | 1948 | 1948 | Republican |
| Harlan J. Bushfield | 1943 | 1948 | Republican |
| William J. Bulow | 1931 | 1943 | Democrat |
| William H. McMaster | 1925 | 1931 | Republican |
| Thomas Sterling | 1913 | 1925 | Republican |
| Robert J. Gamble | 1901 | 1913 | Republican |
| Richard F. Pettigrew | 1889 | 1901 | Republican |
| Senator | Took office | Left office | Party |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Thune | 2005 | present | Republican |
| Tom Daschle | 1987 | 2005 | Democrat |
| James Abdnor | 1981 | 1987 | Republican |
| George McGovern | 1963 | 1981 | Democrat |
| Joseph H. Bottum | 1962 | 1963 | Republican |
| Francis H. Case | 1951 | 1962 | Republican |
| J. Chandler Gurney | 1939 | 1951 | Republican |
| Gladys Pyle | 1938 | 1939 | Republican |
| Herbert E. Hitchcock | 1936 | 1938 | Democrat |
| Peter Norbeck | 1921 | 1936 | Republican |
| Edwin S. Johnson | 1915 | 1921 | Democrat |
| Coe I. Crawford | 1909 | 1915 | Republican |
| Alfred B. Kittredge | 1901 | 1909 | Republican |
| James H. Kyle | 1891 | 1901 | Populist |
| Gideon C. Moody | 1889 | 1891 | Republican |
Stephanie Marie Herseth Sandlin is an American attorney, university administrator, and politician from the Democratic Party. She represented South Dakota's at-large congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 2004 until 2011. Sandlin was first elected to Congress in a special election on July 12, 2004, and was reelected three times before losing to Republican Kristi Noem in 2010. She was the youngest female member of the House, and the first woman elected to the House from South Dakota. Before her 2007 marriage to Max Sandlin, she was known as Stephanie Herseth. She is a Democrat and a member of the Herseth family of South Dakota.
South Dakota's at-large congressional district is the sole congressional district for the state of South Dakota. Based on area, it is the fourth largest congressional district in the nation.
The 2004 United States presidential election in South Dakota took place on November 2, 2004, and was part of the 2004 United States presidential election. Voters chose three representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.
The South Dakota Democratic Party is the affiliate of the Democratic Party in the U.S. state of South Dakota. The party currently has very weak electoral power in the state, controlling none of South Dakota's statewide or federal elected offices.
The 2008 United States Senate election in South Dakota was held on November 4, 2008. Primary elections were held on June 3, 2008. Incumbent Senator Tim Johnson won re-election to a third term. As of 2023, this election alongside the simultaneous House race is the last time a Democrat won a statewide election in South Dakota.
The 2010 United States House of Representatives election in South Dakota took place on Tuesday, November 2, 2010. Voters selected a representative for their single At-Large district, who run on a statewide ballot. On June 8, 2010, the Republicans nominated Kristi Noem, Assistant Majority Leader of the South Dakota House of Representatives and the Democrats nominated the incumbent Stephanie Herseth Sandlin. B. Thomas Marking ran as an Independent candidate. In the general election, Noem defeated Herseth Sandlin, winning 48.1 percent of the vote to 45.9 percent for Herseth Sandlin.
Elections were held in South Dakota on November 2, 2010. Primary elections took place on June 8, 2010 for the Democratic Party, Republican Party, and Constitution Party.
The 2002 United States House of Representatives election in South Dakota took place on Tuesday, November 5, 2002. Voters selected a representative for their single At-Large district, who ran on a statewide ballot.
Kristi Lynn Noem is an American politician who became the 33rd governor of South Dakota in 2019. A member of the Republican Party, she was the U.S. representative for South Dakota's at-large congressional district from 2011 to 2019, and a member of the South Dakota House of Representatives for the 6th district from 2007 to 2011.
The 2004 South Dakota's at-large congressional district special election was held on July 12, 2004 to select the successor to Republican Representative Bill Janklow who resigned on July 11, 2004, following a conviction of vehicular manslaughter after an accident that had occurred months earlier, creating an open seat and necessitating a special election. Each party held a nominating convention to choose their nominee for the special election. Republicans selected state Senator Larry Diedrich over Barbara Everist, also a member of the South Dakota State Senate, as their nominee while Democrats chose attorney Stephanie Herseth, who had unsuccessfully challenged Janklow in 2002.
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, as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.
Richard Paul Weiland is an American businessman, politician and member of the Democratic Party from the state of South Dakota. Weiland was the chief executive officer of the International Code Council, was appointed by Bill Clinton to the Federal Emergency Management Agency and served as senior advisor to former U.S. Senator Tom Daschle.
Larry Rhoden is an American politician and businessman serving as the 39th lieutenant governor of South Dakota since 2019.
Jason Elliott Frerichs is a former state senator and state representative from South Dakota.
Richard Blake Curd is an American politician and a Republican member of the South Dakota Senate representing District 12 since June 6, 2013. Curd served non-consecutively in the South Dakota Legislature from January 2009 until January 11, 2011 in the South Dakota House of Representatives District 12 seat. He was a candidate for the United States House of Representatives for South Dakota's at-large congressional district in the 2010 election. Curd was appointed to the South Dakota Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Republican Senator J. Mark Johnston.
The 2016 United States Senate election in South Dakota was held November 8, 2016, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of South Dakota, concurrently with the 2016 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. The primaries were held June 7.
The 2018 South Dakota gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 2018, to elect the next governor of South Dakota. Incumbent Republican governor Dennis Daugaard was term-limited and could not seek a third consecutive term.
The 2018 United States House of Representatives election in South Dakota was held on November 6, to elect the U.S. representative for South Dakota's at-large congressional district. The election coincided with other statewide, legislative, and local elections.
The 2022 United States Senate election in South Dakota was held on November 8, 2022, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of South Dakota. Incumbent three-term Republican U.S. Senator John Thune, who is the Senate Minority Whip, was first elected in 2004, defeating Democratic incumbent Tom Daschle, the then-Senate Minority Leader. He ran for reelection to a fourth term. The Democratic nominee was 26-year Navy, Air Force JAG Corps Veteran, and former college professor Brian Bengs. Thune was ultimately reelected.
The 2022 South Dakota gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 2022, electing the governor of South Dakota. Incumbent Republican governor Kristi Noem defeated Democratic nominee Jamie Smith to win a second term.
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