2018 South Dakota Senate election
November 6, 2018
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All 35 seats in the South Dakota Senate 18 seats needed for a majority | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Turnout | 64.89%[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in South Dakota |
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The 2018 South Dakota Senate election was held on November 6, 2018, to determine which party would control the South Dakota Senate for the following two years in the 94th South Dakota Legislature. All 35 seats in the South Dakota Senate were up for election and the primary was held on June 5, 2018. Prior to the election, 29 seats were held by Republicans and 6 seats were held by Democrats. The general election saw Republicans expanding their majority in the State Senate by a single seat.[2][3]
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| Governing[4] | Safe R | October 8, 2018 |
Retirements
Democrats
- District 1: Jason Frerichs was term-limited.
- District 21: Billie Sutton was term-limited and went on to unsuccessfully run for governor of South Dakota.
- District 27: Kevin Killer retired.
Republicans
- District 5: Neal Tapio retired to unsuccessfully run for South Dakota's at-large congressional district.
- District 7: Larry Tidemann was term-limited.
- District 9: Deb Peters was term-limited.
- District 10: Jenna Netherton resigned on April 10, 2018.
- District 35: Terri Haverly retired.
Closest races
Seats where the margin of victory was under 10%:
- District 12, 0.28%
- District 18, 5.32%
- District 26, 6.08%
- District 13, 8.34%
- District 21, 9.26% (gain)
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Susan Wismer | 5,886 | 100.0% | |
| Total votes | 5,886 | 100.0% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Brock Greenfield (incumbent) | 6,574 | 67.21% | |
| Democratic | Paul Register | 3,207 | 32.79% | |
| Total votes | 9,781 | 100.0% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Al Novstrup (incumbent) | 5,338 | 58.50% | |
| Democratic | Cory Heidelberger | 3,787 | 41.50% | |
| Total votes | 9,125 | 100.0% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | John Wiik (incumbent) | 6,500 | 64.84% | |
| Democratic | Dennis Evenson | 3,525 | 35.16% | |
| Total votes | 10,025 | 100.0% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Lee Schoenbeck | 6,358 | 100.0% | |
| Total votes | 6,358 | 100.0% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Ernie Otten (incumbent) | 6,945 | 65.09% | |
| Democratic | Teresa Ann Robbins | 3,725 | 34.91% | |
| Total votes | 10,670 | 100.0% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | V. J. Smith | 4,628 | 61.15% | |
| Independent | Mary Perpich | 2,940 | 38.85% | |
| Total votes | 7,568 | 100.0% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jordan Youngberg (incumbent) | 5,517 | 55.18% | |
| Democratic | Scott Parsley | 4,481 | 44.82% | |
| Total votes | 9,998 | 100.0% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Wayne Steinhauer | 4,759 | 56.66% | |
| Democratic | Laura Swier Kotelman | 3,640 | 43.34% | |
| Total votes | 8,399 | 100.0% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Margaret Sutton | 5,240 | 59.56% | |
| Democratic | Rachel Willson | 3,558 | 40.44% | |
| Total votes | 8,798 | 100.0% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jim Stalzer (incumbent) | 6,190 | 60.40% | |
| Democratic | Kevin Elsing | 4,058 | 39.60% | |
| Total votes | 10,248 | 100.0% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Blake Curd (incumbent) | 4,872 | 50.14% | |
| Democratic | Kasey Olivier | 4,845 | 49.86% | |
| Total votes | 9,717 | 100.0% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jack Kolbeck (incumbent) | 6,165 | 54.17% | |
| Democratic | Melissa Hiatt | 5,215 | 45.83% | |
| Total votes | 11,380 | 100.0% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Deb Soholt (incumbent) | 6,531 | 60.48% | |
| Democratic | Justyn Hauck | 4,268 | 39.52% | |
| Total votes | 10,799 | 100.0% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Reynold Nesiba (incumbent) | 3,258 | 100.0% | |
| Total votes | 3,258 | 100.0% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jim Bolin (incumbent) | 6,815 | 68.52% | |
| Democratic | Elizabeth Merrigan | 3,131 | 31.48% | |
| Total votes | 9,946 | 100.0% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Arthur Rusch (incumbent) | 4,953 | 61.16% | |
| Democratic | Howard Grinager | 3,145 | 38.84% | |
| Total votes | 8,098 | 100.0% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Craig Kennedy (incumbent) | 4,518 | 52.66% | |
| Republican | Roger Meyer | 4,061 | 47.34% | |
| Total votes | 8,579 | 100.0% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Stace Nelson (incumbent) | 7,531 | 74.03% | |
| Democratic | Ardon Wek | 2,642 | 25.97% | |
| Total votes | 10,173 | 100.0% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Joshua Klumb (incumbent) | 6,606 | 72.49% | |
| Democratic | Dan Miller | 2,507 | 27.51% | |
| Total votes | 9,113 | 100.0% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Rocky Blare | 4,918 | 54.63% | |
| Democratic | Julie Bartling | 4,084 | 45.37% | |
| Total votes | 9,002 | 100.0% | ||
| Republican gain from Democratic | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jim White (incumbent) | 5,933 | 72.65% | |
| Democratic | Eric Bliss | 2,234 | 27.35% | |
| Total votes | 8,167 | 100.0% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Justin Cronin (incumbent) | 7,869 | 82.57% | |
| Democratic | Joe Yracheta | 1,661 | 17.43% | |
| Total votes | 9,530 | 100.0% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jeff Monroe (incumbent) | 6,989 | 66.51% | |
| Democratic | Amanda Bachmann | 3,519 | 33.49% | |
| Total votes | 10,508 | 100.0% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Kris Langer (incumbent) | 6,583 | 68.30% | |
| Independent | Brian Wirth | 1,931 | 20.03% | |
| Independent | Peter Klebanoff | 1,125 | 11.67% | |
| Total votes | 9,639 | 100.0% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Troy Heinert (incumbent) | 3,896 | 53.04% | |
| Republican | Joel Koskan | 3,450 | 46.96% | |
| Total votes | 7,346 | 100.0% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Red Dawn Foster | 3,673 | 57.90% | |
| Republican | Bill Hines | 2,598 | 42.10% | |
| Total votes | 6,171 | 100.0% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Ryan Maher (incumbent) | 5,818 | 67.79% | |
| Democratic | Alli Moran | 2,764 | 32.21% | |
| Total votes | 8,582 | 100.0% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Gary Cammack (incumbent) | 6,422 | 71.51% | |
| Democratic | Matt Kammerer | 2,558 | 28.49% | |
| Total votes | 8,980 | 100.0% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Lance Russell (incumbent) | 6,652 | 56.72% | |
| Democratic | Kristine Winter | 2,943 | 25.09% | |
| Libertarian | Gideon Oakes | 2,134 | 18.19% | |
| Total votes | 11,729 | 100.0% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Bob Ewing (incumbent) | 6,962 | 65.24% | |
| Democratic | Sherry Bea Smith | 3,710 | 34.76% | |
| Total votes | 10,672 | 100.0% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Alan Solano (incumbent) | 5,602 | 62.20% | |
| Democratic | Ayla Rodriguez | 3,404 | 37.80% | |
| Total votes | 9,006 | 100.0% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Phil Jensen (incumbent) | 6,655 | 62.35% | |
| Democratic | Ryan Ryder | 4,018 | 37.65% | |
| Total votes | 10,673 | 100.0% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jeff Partridge (incumbent) | 6,332 | 62.69% | |
| Democratic | Zach VanWyk | 3,769 | 37.31% | |
| Total votes | 10,101 | 100.0% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Lynne DiSanto | 4,323 | 62.00% | |
| Democratic | Pat Cromwell | 2,650 | 38.00% | |
| Total votes | 6,973 | 100.0% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
References
- ^ "2018 Election History". sdsos.gov. Retrieved December 2, 2025.
- ^ "South Dakota State Senate elections, 2018". ballotpedia.org. Retrieved December 2, 2025.
- ^ "General Election - November 6, 2018" (PDF). sdsos.gov. Retrieved December 2, 2025.
- ^ Jacobson, Louis (October 8, 2018). "A Month Before Election Day, Democrats Poised for Legislative Gains". Governing. Retrieved December 2, 2025.