The South Dakota House of Representatives is the lower house of the South Dakota Legislature. It consists of 70 members, two from each legislative district. Two of the state's 35 legislative districts, Districts 26 and 28, are each subdivided into two single-member districts. The South Dakota House of Representatives meets at the South Dakota State Capitol in Pierre.
The Senate is the upper house of the South Dakota Legislature. It consists of 35 members, one representing each legislative district. It meets at the South Dakota State Capitol in Pierre.
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.
Frank J. Kloucek is a former Democratic member of the South Dakota House of Representatives and South Dakota Senate for District 19. He served a term in the South Dakota House from 1991 through 1993, 4 terms in the South Dakota Senate from 1993 through 2001, another term in the House from 2001 through 2003, another 4 terms in the Senate from 2003 through 2011 and another term in the South Dakota House of Representatives from 2011 through 2013. Kloucek served as the Democratic Whip for 3 terms and as the Vice-Chair of the Senate Agricultural and Natural Resources Committee in the 1993–1994 session. Following a significant change in district boundaries after the 2011 redistricting, Kloucek ran for South Dakota Senate and lost to past Republican legislator Bill Van Gerpen.
Thomas James Van Norman was a Democratic member of the South Dakota House of Representatives, representing the 28A district from 2000 to 2008.
George McGovern, a Democratic Party politician from South Dakota, was first elected to the United States House of Representatives to represent South Dakota's 1st congressional district in 1956. He was re-elected in 1958, before making an unsuccessful run for the United States Senate in 1960 against Republican incumbent Karl Earl Mundt. After serving in the John F. Kennedy administration as director of the Food for Peace program, McGovern ran again for the Senate and narrowly prevailed over appointed Senator Joseph H. Bottum. In 1968, McGovern unsuccessfully sought the Democratic Party's presidential nomination at the Democratic National Convention and was re-elected to the Senate over former Governor of South Dakota Archie M. Gubbrud. In 1972, McGovern was successful in his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination, but lost the election in a landslide to incumbent President Richard Nixon. McGovern was re-elected to the Senate in 1974 over Vietnam War veteran Leo K. Thorsness, but lost re-election in 1980 to then-U.S. Representative James Abdnor. McGovern made a final unsuccessful run for president in 1984 United States presidential election.
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.
Lee D. Qualm is an American politician who served as a member of the South Dakota House of Representatives from January 11, 2013 to January 12, 2021.
James George Schaefer was an American politician and a Republican member of the South Dakota House of Representatives. Schaefer was first elected to the state House from District 21 in 2010. Redistricting in 2012 placed him in District 26B, where he won election in 2012, and had served from January 11, 2013, until his death. He lived in Kennebec, South Dakota, and was a rancher. Schaefer died, on May 29, 2018, in an UTV accident at his ranch near Kennebec.
The 1986 South Dakota gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1986 to elect the Governor of South Dakota. Incumbent Bill Janklow was term-limited, so the field for the new governor was open. Republican nominee George S. Mickelson was elected, defeating Democratic nominee Ralph Lars Herseth.
Fred Deutsch is an American politician and a Republican member of the South Dakota House of Representatives representing District 4. Deutsch lost a bid for the South Dakota Senate in the 2024 Republican Primary; his term as State Representative ends in January of 2025. Deutsch lives in rural Florence, which is near Watertown, South Dakota and in Codington County in the northeast portion of the state.
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 1918 United States Senate election in South Dakota took place on November 5, 1918. Incumbent Republican Senator Thomas Sterling sought re-election in his first popular election. He defeated former Governor Frank M. Byrne in the Republican primary and then faced former State Representative Orville Rinehart, the 1916 Democratic nominee for Governor, in the general election. Sterling defeated Rinehart, along with independent candidate W. T. Rafferty, by a wide margin to win re-election.
The 1972 United States Senate election in South Dakota took place on November 7, 1972, concurrently with the U.S. presidential election as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.
Tamara St. John is an American politician and a Republican member of the South Dakota House of Representatives representing District 1 since January 8, 2019. With her election, St. John became the first and only Native American Republican woman to ever serve in the South Dakota House of Representatives.
Tina Mulally is an American politician and businesswoman serving as a member of the South Dakota House of Representatives from the 35th district. Elected in 2018, Mulally assumed office in 2019.
Elections are held in the U.S. state of South Dakota regularly.
The 1950 South Dakota gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1950. Incumbent Republican Governor George T. Mickelson was unable to seek re-election to a third term due to newly imposed term limits. Accordingly, a competitive race to replace him ensued. Attorney General Sigurd Anderson won a slim plurality in the Republican primary, barely exceeding 35% and narrowly avoiding having the Republican nomination sent to the state party convention. In the general election, Anderson faced State Representative Joe Robbie. Anderson easily defeated Robbie, winning his first term with 61% of the vote to Robbie's 39%.
Will D. Mortenson is an American attorney and a member of the South Dakota House of Representatives representing the 24th district since January 2021.
Mary J. Fitzgerald is an American politician and accountant serving as a member of the South Dakota House of Representatives from the 31st district. Elected in November 2020, she assumed office on January 12, 2021. Fitzgerald was re-elected to the SD House of Representatives on November 8, 2022.
