Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota
| South Dakota Lieutenant Governor | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Partisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $120,787 |
| 2025 FY Budget: | $42,474 |
| Term limits: | Two consecutive terms |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | Four years |
| Authority: | South Dakota Constitution, Article IV, Section V |
| Selection Method: | Elected |
| Current Officeholder(s) | |
Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota Tony Venhuizen | |
| Elections | |
| Next election: | November 3, 2026 |
| Last election: | November 8, 2022 |
| Other South Dakota Executive Offices | |
| Governor •Lieutenant Governor •Secretary of State •Attorney General •Treasurer •Auditor •Superintendent of Education •Agriculture Commissioner •Insurance Commissioner •Commissioner of School and Public Lands •Natural Resources Commissioner •Labor Commissioner •Public Service Commission | |
TheLieutenant Governor of South Dakota is an elected constitutional officer, the second ranking officer of the executive branch and the first officer in line to succeed theGovernor of South Dakota. The lieutenant governor is popularly elected every four years by a plurality and is limited to two consecutive terms.[1]
Current officeholder
The current Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota isTony Venhuizen (R). Venhuizen assumed office in 2025.
Authority
TheSouth Dakota Constitution establishes the office of lieutenant governor inArticle IV, the Executive Department.
Under Article IV, Section V:
The lieutenant governor shall perform the duties and exercise the powers that may be delegated to him by the Governor.[1] |
Qualifications
A candidate for the office of the lieutenant governor must be:[1]
- a citizen of the United States
- at least 21 years old
- a resident ofSouth Dakota for at least two years as of the election
Elections
- See also:Gubernatorial election cycles by state
- See also:Election of lieutenant governors
South Dakota elects lieutenant governors in the midterm elections, that is, even years that are not presidential election years (e.g. 2018, 2022, 2026, 2030). Legally, the gubernatorial inauguration is always set for the first Tuesday after the first Monday in the January following an election.[1]
Term limits
Term limits for the lieutenant governor are laid out inArticle IV, Section 2 of the South Dakota Constitution, which prohibits a lieutenant governor from serving more than two consecutive terms.
South Dakota Constitution, Article IV, Section 2:
| “ | The Governor and lieutenant governor must be citizens of the United States, have attained the age of twenty-one years, and be residents of the State of South Dakota for two years preceding their election. They shall be jointly elected for a term of four years at a general election held in a nonpresidential election year. The candidates having the highest number of votes cast jointly for them shall be elected. Commencing with the 1974 general election, no person shall be elected to more than two consecutive terms as Governor or as lieutenant governor. The election procedure shall be as prescribed by law.[1][2] | ” |
2022
General election
General election for Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota
IncumbentLarry Rhoden defeatedJennifer Healy Keintz andAshley Strand in the general election for Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Larry Rhoden (R) | 62.0 | 217,035 |
 | Jennifer Healy Keintz (D) | 35.2 | 123,148 | |
 | Ashley Strand (L) | 2.9 | 9,983 | |
| Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 350,166 | ||
 = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic convention
Democratic convention for Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota
Jennifer Healy Keintz advanced from the Democratic convention for Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota on July 9, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Jennifer Healy Keintz (D) |
| There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source | |||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican convention
Republican convention for Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota
IncumbentLarry Rhoden defeatedSteven Haugaard in the Republican convention for Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota on June 25, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Larry Rhoden (R) |
 | Steven Haugaard (R) | |
| Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source | |||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team. | ||||
Libertarian convention
Libertarian convention for Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota
Ashley Strand advanced from the Libertarian convention for Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota on April 23, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Ashley Strand (L) |
| There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source | |||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team. | ||||
Past elections
Vacancies
Details of vacancy appointments are addressed underArticle IV, Section 6.
Anytime the office of the lieutenant governor is vacant, it falls to the governor to nominate a replacement, subject to legislative approval by a majority vote in each chamber.
If both executive offices are vacant, then the same line of succession used in the event of a gubernatorial vacancy goes into effect, skipping over the vacant lieutenant governor's office.
For purposes of determining when a temporary absence has become a permanent vacancy, theSupreme Court of South Dakota has sole jurisdiction.[1]
Duties
The lieutenant governor serves as president of theSouth Dakota State Senate and may cast tie-breaking votes.[3]
As of September 2016, the lieutenant governor also had the following statutory duties:[3]
| “ |
| ” |
Divisions
Note:Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for information that describes the divisions (if any exist) of a state executive office. That information for the Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota has not yet been added. After extensive research we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, pleaseemail us.
State budget
The office of South Dakota Lieutenant Governor had a budget in Fiscal Year 2025 of $42,474.[4]
Compensation
- See also:Comparison of lieutenant gubernatorial salaries andCompensation of state executive officers
See statutes:SD Codified L § 3-8-2.1 (2014)
The lieutenant governor's annual compensation is set by Title 3, Chapter 8, Section 2 of the South Dakota Codified Laws and it may not be raised or diminished effective during a term in office, pursuant toArticle XII, Section 3 of theSouth Dakota Constitution.[5]
As is the case for all of South Dakota's elected executives, the lieutenant governor's base salary is subject to annual rate increases under the General Appropriations Act for each corresponding year. The lieutenant governor is uniquely entitled by statute (§ 1-7-5.1) to earn compensation in addition to the salary prescribed in § 3-8-2.1, conditional upon performance of additional duties which the governor may assign. The relevant provision states that, "the lieutenant governor shall receive a salary to be determined by the Governor but not to exceed the amount appropriated by the Legislature and shall be reimbursed for actual expenses associated with public service."[6]
2023
In 2023, the officer's salary was $120,787, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[7]
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $106,496, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[8]
2021
In 2021, the lieutenant governor received a salary of $104,000, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[9]
2020
In 2020, the lieutenant governor received a salary of $56,375 according to theCouncil of State Governments.[10]
2019
In 2019, the lieutenant governor received a salary of $68,680 according to theCouncil of State Governments.[11]
2018
In 2018, the lieutenant governor received a salary of $68,680 according to theCouncil of State Governments.[12]
2017
In 2017, the lieutenant governor received a salary of $68,680 according to theCouncil of State Governments.[13]
2016
In 2016, the lieutenant governor’s salary was increased to $66,874 according to theCouncil of State Governments.[14]
2015
In 2015, the lieutenant governor received a salary $63,654 according to theCouncil of State Governments.[15]
2014
In 2014, the lieutenant governor received a salary of $63,654 according to theCouncil of State Governments.[16]
2013
In 2013, the lieutenant governor was paid an estimated$61,800. This figure comes from theCouncil of State Governments.[17]
2010
In 2010, the lieutenant governor was paid $17,699, which was the 42nd highest lieutenant gubernatorial salary in America at the time.[18]
Historical officeholders
There have been 39 lieutenant governors of South Dakota since 1889. Of the 39 officeholders, 33 were Republicans and six were Democrats.[19]
| List of officeholders from 1889-Present | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Name | Tenure | Party | ||
| 1 | James H. Fletcher | 1889 – 1891 |  Republican | ||
| 2 | George H. Hoffman | 1891 – 1893 | Republican | ||
| 3 | Charles N. Herreid | 1893 – 1897 | Republican | ||
| 4 | D. T. Hindman | 1897 – 1899 | Republican | ||
| 5 | John T. Kean | 1899 – 1901 | Republican | ||
| 6 | George W. Snow | 1901 – 1905 | Republican | ||
| 7 | John E. McDougall | 1905 – 1907 | Republican | ||
| 8 | Howard C. Shober | 1907 – 1911 | Republican | ||
| 9 | Frank M. Byrne | 1911 – 1913 | Republican | ||
| 10 | E. L. Abel | 1913 – 1915 | Republican | ||
| 11 | Peter Norbeck | 1915 – 1917 | Republican | ||
| 12 | William H. McMaster | 1917 – 1921 | Republican | ||
| 13 | Carl Gunderson | 1921 – 1925 | Republican | ||
| 14 | Clark Forney | 1925 – 1927 | Republican | ||
| 15 | H. E. Covey | 1927 – 1929 | Republican | ||
| 16 | Clarence E. Coyne | 1929 | Republican | ||
| 17 | John T. Grigsby | 1929 – 1931 |  Democratic | ||
| 18 | O. K. Whitney | 1931 – 1933 | Republican | ||
| 19 | Hans Ustrud | 1933 – 1935 | Democratic | ||
| 20 | Robert Peterson | 1935 – 1937 | Democratic | ||
| 21 | Donald McMurchie | 1937 – 1941 | Republican | ||
| 22 | C. Miller | 1941 – 1945 | Republican | ||
| 23 | Sioux Grigsby | 1945 – 1949 | Republican | ||
| 24 | Rex Terry | 1949 – 1955 | Republican | ||
| 25 | L. R. (Roy) Houck | 1955 – 1959 | Republican | ||
| 26 | John F. Lindley | 1959 – 1961 | Democratic | ||
| 27 | Joseph H. Bottum | 1961 – 1963 | Republican | ||
| 28 | Nils A. Boe | 1963 – 1965 | Republican | ||
| 29 | Lem Overpeck | 1965 – 1969 | Republican | ||
| 30 | James Abdnor | 1969 – 1971 | Republican | ||
| 31 | William Dougherty | 1971 – 1975 | Democratic | ||
| 32 | Harvey Wollman | 1975 – 1978 | Democratic | ||
| 33 | Lowell C. Hansen, II | 1979 – 1987 | Republican | ||
| 34 | Walter Dale Miller | 1987 – 1993 | Republican | ||
| 35 | Steve T. Kirby | 1993 – 1995 | Republican | ||
| 36 | Carole Hillard | 1995 – 2003 | Republican | ||
| 37 | Dennis Daugaard | 2003 – 2011 | Republican | ||
| 38 | Matthew Michels | 2011 – 2019 | Republican | ||
| 39 | Larry Rhoden | 2019 - 2025 | Republican | ||
| 40 | Tony Venhuizen | 2025 - present | Republican | ||
Contact information
Office of the Governor
500 E. Capitol Ave.
Pierre, SD 57501
Phone: (605) 773-3212
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑1.01.11.21.31.41.5South Dakota State Legislature, "South Dakota Constitution," accessed January 21, 2021
- ↑2.02.1Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑3.03.1National Lieutenant Governors Association, "Pennsylvania Office of Lt. Governor Statutory Duties," accessed January 21, 2021
- ↑South Dakota Bureau of Finance and Management, "Budget in Brief - Fiscal Year 2025," accessed January 23, 2025
- ↑Justia.com, "2014 South Dakota Codified Laws: Title 3 - PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES: Chapter 08 - Compensation of Officers and Employees §3-8-2.1: Adjustment of salaries of constitutional officers and judges," accessed January 21, 2021
- ↑Justia.com, "2014 South Dakota Codified Laws: Title 1 - STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT: Chapter 07 - Governor: § 1-7-5.1 Compensation of lieutenant governor for performance of duties assigned by Governor," accessed January 21, 2021
- ↑Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2023 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 21, 2025
- ↑Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
- ↑Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 28, 2022
- ↑Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2020," accessed January 21, 2021
- ↑Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2019," accessed January 21, 2021
- ↑Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2018," accessed January 21, 2021
- ↑Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2017," accessed January 21, 2021
- ↑Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed December 8, 2014
- ↑Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," January 28, 2014
- ↑Sunshine Review,
- ↑South Dakota Blue Book 2009, "Chapter 4," accessed January 21, 2021
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