South Dakota Senate | |
|---|---|
| South Dakota Legislature | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
Term limits | 4 terms (8 years) |
| History | |
New session started | January 14, 2025 |
| Leadership | |
President pro tempore | |
Majority Leader | |
Minority Leader | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 35 |
Political groups | Majority party
Minority party
|
Length of term | 2 years |
| Authority | Article III,South Dakota Constitution |
| Salary | $12,850.80/session + $151 per legislative day[a][1] |
| Elections | |
Last election | November 5, 2024 (35 seats) |
Next election | November 3, 2026 (35 seats) |
| Redistricting | Legislative control |
| Meeting place | |
| State Senate Chamber South Dakota State Capitol Pierre,South Dakota | |
| Website | |
| South Dakota State Legislature | |
TheSouth Dakota Senate is theupper house of theSouth Dakota Legislature. It consists of 35 members, one representing eachlegislative district. It meets at theSouth Dakota State Capitol inPierre.
| Affiliation | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Democratic | |||
| 92nd Legislature | 32 | 3 | 35 | |
| 98th Legislature | 31 | 4 | 35 | |
| 99th Legislature | 32 | 3 | 35 | |
| Latest voting share | 91% | 9% | ||
| Position | Name | Party | District |
|---|---|---|---|
| President Pro Tem of the Senate | Chris Karr | Republican | 11 |
| Majority Leader | Jim Mehlhaff | Republican | 241 |
| Assistant Majority Leader | Carl Perry | Republican | 34 |
| Majority Whips | Randy Deibert | Republican | 31 |
| Kevin Jensen | Republican | 16 | |
| Sue Peterson | Republican | 13 | |
| Tom Pischke | Republican | 25 | |
| Minority Leader | Liz Larson | Democratic | 10 |
| Assistant Minority Leader | Jamie Smith | Democratic | 15 |
| Minority Whip | None | N/A |

In 2010, DemocratAngie Buhl became the first openly LGBT person ever elected to the state legislature.[2] She served from 2011–2017.