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Richard Sattgast

From Ballotpedia
Richard Sattgast
South Dakota State Auditor
Tenure
2019 - Present
Term ends
2027
Years in position
6
Prior offices:
South Dakota Treasurer
Years in office: 2011 - 2019

South Dakota State Auditor
Years in office: 2002 - 2010
Compensation
Base salary
$120,910
Elections and appointments
Last election
November 8, 2022
Education
High school
Spearfish High School
Bachelor's
Black Hills State University
Graduate
New Mexico Highlands University
Military
Service / branch
U.S. Army
Contact

Richard Sattgast (Republican Party) is theSouth Dakota State Auditor. He assumed office on January 7, 2019. His current term ends on January 4, 2027.

Sattgast (Republican Party) ran for re-election forSouth Dakota State Auditor. He won in the general election onNovember 8, 2022.

Sattgast was theRepublicanSouth Dakota treasurer from 2011 to 2019. He was first elected in 2010 and won re-election in 2014.

Sattgast previously served as thestate auditor from 2003 to 2011.

Biography

After high school, Sattgast joined the U.S. Army. He remained in the service for 20 years, including posts in Berlin in the 1980s, with Operation Desert Storm in the 1990s and with the South Dakota National Guard. Prior to winning elected office, he held a position with theSouth Dakota Secretary of State.[1][2]

In 1983, Sattgast graduated from Spearfish High School inSpearfish, South Dakota. In 1993 he earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and business from Black Hills State University, and later a master’s degree in public affairs from New Mexico Highlands University. He has been active with the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, the Disabled American Veterans and the Pierre (South Dakota) Athletic Booster Club. His wife, Penny, operates a biotech consulting firm and serves on the board of the South Dakota Biotech Association. The couple and their three children live inPierre, South Dakota.[3][4]

Education

  • Spearfish High School
  • B.S., Political science and business administration, Black Hills State University
  • MPA, Public affairs and governmental processes, New Mexico Highlands University[5]

Political career

South Dakota State Auditor (2019 - present, 2003 - 2011)

Sattgast was electedSouth Dakota state auditor on November 6, 2018. He assumed the office in January 2019. He previously served in this position from 2003 to 2011.

South Dakota Treasurer (2011 - 2019)

Sattgast served asSouth Dakota treasurer from 2011 to 2019.

Elections

2022

See also: South Dakota Auditor election, 2022

General election

General election for South Dakota State Auditor

IncumbentRichard Sattgast defeatedStephanie Marty andRene Meyer in the general election for South Dakota State Auditor on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Richard Sattgast
Richard Sattgast (R)
 
62.7
 
206,633
Stephanie Marty (D)
 
31.9
 
105,163
Rene Meyer (L)
 
5.5
 
18,001

Ballotpedia Logo

Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 329,797
Candidate Connection = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic convention

Democratic convention for South Dakota State Auditor

Stephanie Marty advanced from the Democratic convention for South Dakota State Auditor on July 9, 2022.


Ballotpedia Logo

There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Candidate Connection = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican convention

Republican convention for South Dakota State Auditor

IncumbentRichard Sattgast advanced from the Republican convention for South Dakota State Auditor on June 25, 2022.

Candidate
Image of Richard Sattgast
Richard Sattgast (R)

Ballotpedia Logo

Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Candidate Connection = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Libertarian convention

Libertarian convention for South Dakota State Auditor

Rene Meyer advanced from the Libertarian convention for South Dakota State Auditor on April 23, 2022.

Candidate
Rene Meyer (L)

Ballotpedia Logo

There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Candidate Connection = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2018

See also:South Dakota Auditor election, 2018

General election

General election for South Dakota State Auditor

Richard Sattgast defeatedTom Cool in the general election for South Dakota State Auditor on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Richard Sattgast
Richard Sattgast (R)
 
64.0
 
202,055
Image of Tom Cool
Tom Cool (D)
 
36.0
 
113,628

Ballotpedia Logo

There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 315,683
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Candidate Connection = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2014

See also:South Dakota down ballot state executive elections, 2014

Sattgast ran for re-election asSouth Dakota Treasurer in 2014. The general election took place on November 4, 2014.

Results

South Dakota Treasurer, 2014
PartyCandidateVote %Votes
    RepublicanGreen check mark transparent.pngRichard SattgastIncumbent61.2%155,758
    DemocraticDenny Pierson33.5%85,202
    LibertarianKen Santema5.3%13,615
Total Votes254,575
Election results viaSouth Dakota Secretary of State

2010

Sattgast won election asSouth Dakota Treasurer on November 2, 2010.[6]

South Dakota Treasurer, 2010
PartyCandidateVote %Votes
    RepublicanGreen check mark transparent.pngRichard Sattgast65.3%191,388
    Democratic Tom Katus34.7%101,895
Total Votes293,283


2006

On November 7, 2006,Rich Sattgast won re-election to the office of South Dakota Auditor. He ran unopposed in the general election.

South Dakota Auditor, 2006
PartyCandidateVote %Votes
    RepublicanGreen check mark transparent.pngRich SattgastIncumbent100%200,372
Total Votes200,372
Election results viaSouth Dakota Secretary of State.


2002

On November 5, 2002,Rich Sattgast won election to the office of South Dakota Auditor. He defeated Dick Butler (D) in the general election.

South Dakota Auditor, 2002
PartyCandidateVote %Votes
    RepublicanGreen check mark transparent.pngRich Sattgast51.7%161,347
    Democratic Dick Butler48.3%150,822
Total Votes312,169
Election results viaSouth Dakota Secretary of State.


Issues

ESG

See also:Environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG),State financial officer stances on environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG)
Environmental, social, and corporate governance
Economy and Society - Ballotpedia Page Icon (2021).png

Select a topic from the dropdown below to learn more.

Sattgast took positions in opposition to theEnvironmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) movement.

State financial officers, includingtreasurers,auditors, andcontrollers, are responsible for auditing other government offices, managing payroll, and overseeing pensions. In some states, certain SFOs are also responsible for investing state retirement and trust funds.

Pro-American Energy Letter to President Biden (April 2022)

In April 2022, Sattgast and 26 other state financial officers cosigned an open letter to PresidentJoe Biden (D) criticizing his administration for promoting an ESG agenda and enacting policies that “thwart the vitality of American energy production.” The letter specifically criticized Biden for canceling the Keystone XL pipeline, disallowing new oil and natural gas leases on federal lands, canceling drilling projects in Alaska and imposing “anti-oil and gas rulemaking from the highest levels of government.”[7]

“Instead of asking Americans to purchase electric vehicles—which is simply not an option for a great number of American families—government leaders should eliminate barriers to and expand development of these critical resources, bringing down the price of gas at the pump,” wrote the letter signers. “Most Americans cannot afford to purchase an electric vehicle or equip their home with a full set of solar panels, and many in rural America need traditional fuel to run the trucks that service their farms and help feed their communities.”[8]

Campaign themes

2022

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also:Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Richard Sattgast did not completeBallotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign finance summary


Ballotpedia LogoNote: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf.Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at theFEC website. Clickhere for more on federal campaign finance law andhere for more on state campaign finance law.


Richard Sattgast campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2022South Dakota State AuditorWon general$5,967 $0
2014South Dakota TreasurerWon$53,783 N/A**
2010South Dakota TreasurerWon$57,362 N/A**
2006South Dakota AuditorWon$27,055 N/A**
2002South Dakota AuditorWon$55,506 N/A**
Grand total$199,673 N/A**
Sources:OpenSecretsFederal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

Personal

Note: Pleasecontact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Sattgast and his wife, Donna, have four children.[9]

See also


External links

Officeholder

South Dakota State Auditor

  • Website
  • Personal

  • Facebook
  • Footnotes

    Political offices
    Preceded by
    -
    South Dakota State Auditor
    2019-Present
    Succeeded by
    -
    Preceded by
    -
    South Dakota Treasurer
    2011-2019
    Succeeded by
    -
    Preceded by
    -
    South Dakota State Auditor
    2002-2010
    Succeeded by
    -
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