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South Dakota Secretary of State election, 2018

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2022
2014
South Dakota Secretary of State
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Election details
Filing deadline:March 27, 2018
Primary: N/A
General: November 6, 2018

Pre-election incumbent(s):
Shantel Krebs (Republican)
How to vote
Poll times: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Voting in South Dakota
Ballotpedia analysis
Federal and state primary competitiveness
State executive elections in 2018
Impact of term limits in 2018
State government trifectas
State government triplexes
Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2018
South Dakota
executive elections
Governor

Lieutenant governor
Attorney general
Secretary of state
Treasurer
Auditor
Public lands commissioner
Public utilities commissioner

South Dakota held an election forsecretary of state onNovember 6, 2018.

In South Dakota, political parties nominate state executive candidates at their conventions instead of holding a primary. The only office this does not apply to is governor. The Democratic Party state convention was held from June 15 to June 16. The Republican Party state convention was held from June 20 to June 23. The Libertarian Party held its state convention on April 14.[1]

For more information about secretary of state elections in 2018,click here.

SETTING THE STAGE
  • Heading into the 2018 election, thesecretary of state of South Dakota wasShantel Krebs (R), who was first elected in2014. Krebs announced on March 13, 2017, that she would seek election to theU.S. House of Representatives rather than running for re-election in 2018.
  • In 2018,South Dakota was under aRepublican trifecta. It had held this status sinceRepublicans gained a majority in theSouth Dakota State Senate in 1995. South Dakota was also aRepublican triplex.
  • South Dakota was won by theRepublican candidate in each of the presidential elections between 2000 and 2016. The widest margin of victory wasDonald Trump's 30 percent margin in 2016, while the narrowest wasJohn McCain's eight percent margin in 2008.

  • Candidates and election results

    General election

    General election for South Dakota Secretary of State

    Steve Barnett defeatedAlexandra Frederick in the general election for South Dakota Secretary of State on November 6, 2018.

    Candidate
    %
    Votes
    Image of Steve Barnett
    Steve Barnett (R)
     
    65.2
     
    211,064
    Image of Alexandra Frederick
    Alexandra Frederick (D)
     
    34.8
     
    112,807

    Ballotpedia Logo

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

    Total votes: 323,871
    (100.00% precincts reporting)
    Candidate Connection = 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.

    State overview

    Partisan control

    This section details the partisan control of federal and state positions in South Dakota heading into the 2018 elections.

    Congressional delegation

    State executives

    State legislature

    • Republicans controlled both chambers of theSouth Dakota General Assembly. They had a 59-10 majority in the state House and a 29-6 majority in the state Senate.

    Trifecta status

    • South Dakota was under a Republicanstate government trifecta, meaning Republicans held the governorship, a majority in the state senate, and a majority in the state house.

    2018 elections

    See also:South Dakota elections, 2018

    South Dakota held elections for the following positions in 2018:

    Demographics

    Demographic data for South Dakota
     South DakotaU.S.
    Total population:857,919316,515,021
    Land area (sq mi):75,8113,531,905
    Race and ethnicity**
    White:85%73.6%
    Black/African American:1.6%12.6%
    Asian:1.2%5.1%
    Native American:8.6%0.8%
    Pacific Islander:0%0.2%
    Two or more:2.6%3%
    Hispanic/Latino:3.3%17.1%
    Education
    High school graduation rate:90.9%86.7%
    College graduation rate:27%29.8%
    Income
    Median household income:$50,957$53,889
    Persons below poverty level:15.3%11.3%
    Source:U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015)
    Clickhere for more information on the 2020 census andhere for more on its impact on the redistricting process in South Dakota.
    **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the censushere.

    As of July 2016, South Dakota's three largest cities were Sioux Falls (pop. est. 177,000), Rapid City (pop. est. 74,000), and Aberdeen (pop. est. 28,000).[2]

    State election history

    This section provides an overview of federal and state elections in South Dakota from 2000 to 2016. All data comes from theSouth Dakota Secretary of State.

    Historical elections

    Presidential elections, 2000-2016

    This chart shows the results of the presidential election in South Dakota every year from 2000 to 2016.

    Election results (President of the United States), South Dakota 2000-2016
    YearFirst-place candidateFirst-place candidate votes (%)Second-place candidateSecond-place candidate votes (%)Margin of victory (%)
    2016Republican PartyDonald Trump61.5%Democratic PartyHillary Clinton31.7%29.8%
    2012Republican PartyMitt Romney57.9%Democratic PartyBarack Obama39.9%18.0%
    2008Republican PartyJohn McCain53.1%Democratic PartyBarack Obama44.8%8.3%
    2004Republican PartyGeorge W. Bush59.9%Democratic PartyJohn Kerry38.4%21.5%
    2000Republican PartyGeorge W. Bush60.3%Democratic PartyAl Gore37.6%22.7%

    U.S. Senate elections, 2000-2016

    This chart shows the results ofU.S. Senate races in South Dakota from 2000 to 2016. Every state has two Senate seats, and each seat goes up for election every six years. The terms of the seats are staggered so that roughly one-third of the seats are up every two years.

    Election results (U.S. Senator), South Dakota 2000-2016
    YearFirst-place candidateFirst-place candidate votes (%)Second-place candidateSecond-place candidate votes (%)Margin of victory (%)
    2016Republican PartyJohn Thune71.8%Democratic PartyJay Williams28.2%43.6%
    2014Republican PartyMike Rounds50.4%Democratic PartyRick Weiland29.5%20.9%
    2010Republican PartyJohn Thune100.0%Democratic PartyNo candidate100.0%
    2008Democratic PartyTim Johnson62.5%Republican PartyJoel Dykstra37.5%25.0%
    2004Republican PartyJohn Thune50.6%Democratic PartyTom Daschle49.4%1.2%
    2002Democratic PartyTim Johnson49.6%Republican PartyJohn Thune49.5%0.1%

    Gubernatorial elections, 2000-2016

    This chart shows the results of the four gubernatorial elections held between 2000 and 2016. Gubernatorial elections are held every four years in South Dakota.

    Election results (Governor), South Dakota 2000-2016
    YearFirst-place candidateFirst-place candidate votes (%)Second-place candidateSecond-place candidate votes (%)Margin of victory (%)
    2014Republican PartyDennis Daugaard70.5%Democratic PartySusan Wismer25.4%45.1%
    2010Republican PartyDennis Daugaard61.5%Democratic Party Scott Heidepreim38.5%23.0%
    2006Republican PartyMike Rounds61.7%Democratic Party Jack Billion36.1%25.6%
    2002Republican PartyMike Rounds56.8%Democratic Party Jim Abbott41.9%14.9%

    Congressional delegation, 2000-2016

    This chart shows the number of Democrats and Republicans who were elected to represent South Dakota in theU.S. House from 2000 to 2016. Elections for U.S. House seats are held every two years.

    Congressional delegation, South Dakota 2000-2016
    YearRepublicansRepublicans (%)DemocratsDemocrats (%)Balance of power
    2016Republican Party1100.0%Democratic Party00.0%R+1
    2014Republican Party1100.0%Democratic Party00.0%R+1
    2012Republican Party1100.0%Democratic Party00.0%R+1
    2010Republican Party1100.0%Democratic Party00.0%R+1
    2008Democratic Party1100.0%Republican Party00.0%D+1
    2006Democratic Party1100.0%Republican Party00.0%D+1
    2004Democratic Party1100.0%Republican Party00.0%D+1
    2002Republican Party1100.0%Democratic Party00.0%R+1
    2000Republican Party1100.0%Democratic Party00.0%R+1

    Trifectas, 1992-2017

    Astate government trifecta occurs when one party controls both chambers of the state legislature and the governor's office.

    South Dakota Party Control: 1992-2025
    No Democratic trifectas  •  Thirty-two years of Republican trifectas
    Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

    Year92939495969798990001020304050607080910111213141516171819202122232425
    GovernorRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
    SenateRDDRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
    HouseRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR


    Pivot Counties

    See also:Pivot Counties by state

    Five of 66 South Dakota counties—7.6 percent—arePivot Counties. Pivot Counties are counties that voted forBarack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and forDonald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.

    Counties won by Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012 and 2008
    CountyTrump margin of victory in 2016Obama margin of victory in 2012Obama margin of victory in 2008
    Corson County, South Dakota4.51%11.08%21.48%
    Day County, South Dakota23.77%6.16%12.89%
    Marshall County, South Dakota15.51%8.66%16.48%
    Roberts County, South Dakota15.53%9.84%19.64%
    Ziebach County, South Dakota1.96%16.43%27.16%

    In the 2016 presidential election,Donald Trump (R) won South Dakota with 61.5 percent of the vote.Hillary Clinton (D) received 31.7 percent. In presidential elections between 1900 and 2016, South Dakota cast votes for the winning presidential candidate 63.3 percent of the time. In that same time frame, South Dakota supported Republican candidates for president more often than Democratic candidates, 86.7 to 10.0 percent. The state favored Republicans in every presidential election between 2000 and 2016.

    Presidential results by legislative district

    The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state House districts in South Dakota. Click[show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns describe the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns describe the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. The "Party Control" column notes which party held that seat heading into the 2018 general election. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled byDaily Kos.[3][4]

    In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won six out of 37 state House districts in South Dakota with an average margin of victory of 19.9 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won four out of 37 state House districts in South Dakota with an average margin of victory of 12.7 points. Clinton won one district controlled by a Republican heading into the 2018 elections.
    In 2012, Mitt Romney (R) won 31 out of 37 state House districts in South Dakota with an average margin of victory of 22.4 points. In 2016, Donald Trump (R) won 33 out of 37 state House districts in South Dakota with an average margin of victory of 32.5 points. Trump won five districts controlled by Democrats heading into the 2018 elections.
    2016 presidential results by state House district
    DistrictObamaRomney2012 MarginClintonTrump2016 MarginParty Control
    151.58%46.48%D+5.137.24%57.24%R+20D
    241.78%55.63%R+13.828.47%65.46%R+37R
    344.43%52.39%R+833.93%59.00%R+25.1R
    440.82%56.54%R+15.727.54%66.02%R+38.5R
    539.90%58.16%R+18.327.89%65.65%R+37.8R
    638.47%59.68%R+21.230.89%61.65%R+30.8R
    750.40%46.81%D+3.643.62%47.39%R+3.8D
    843.39%54.25%R+10.932.58%61.26%R+28.7R
    944.78%52.69%R+7.935.24%57.43%R+22.2R
    1042.73%55.52%R+12.834.89%58.46%R+23.6R
    1142.02%56.19%R+14.236.63%56.47%R+19.8R
    1243.37%54.72%R+11.340.26%52.71%R+12.4R
    1342.42%55.91%R+13.542.90%50.51%R+7.6R
    1445.37%53.02%R+7.742.55%50.96%R+8.4R
    1560.76%36.19%D+24.650.37%40.21%D+10.2D
    1637.11%61.13%R+2428.21%66.43%R+38.2R
    1746.23%51.48%R+5.338.71%54.73%R+16D
    1842.37%55.09%R+12.734.30%58.81%R+24.5R
    1930.80%67.46%R+36.721.26%73.69%R+52.4R
    2039.03%58.77%R+19.728.66%65.65%R+37R
    2132.69%65.58%R+32.921.75%74.28%R+52.5D
    2240.25%57.55%R+17.328.05%65.80%R+37.8R
    2327.77%70.13%R+42.417.94%77.32%R+59.4R
    2431.98%66.03%R+34.126.93%66.80%R+39.9R
    2539.10%58.97%R+19.931.43%61.88%R+30.4D
    26A71.98%26.91%D+45.162.07%31.66%D+30.4D
    26B38.65%59.41%R+20.827.43%66.49%R+39.1R
    2759.61%39.08%D+20.551.30%43.71%D+7.6R
    28A59.49%38.69%D+20.848.66%46.00%D+2.7D
    28B21.01%75.69%R+54.713.67%79.93%R+66.3R
    2926.65%70.23%R+43.618.53%73.59%R+55.1R
    3028.42%68.70%R+40.322.14%71.69%R+49.5R
    3134.98%61.85%R+26.928.34%62.58%R+34.2R
    3237.98%59.43%R+21.533.81%56.85%R+23R
    3332.89%64.91%R+3228.15%64.55%R+36.4R
    3434.28%63.64%R+29.432.46%59.35%R+26.9R
    3535.21%61.55%R+26.326.34%64.40%R+38.1R
    Total39.87%57.89%R+1831.74%61.53%R+29.8-
    Source:Daily Kos

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    The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the termsSouth Dakota secretary of state election 2018. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

    See also

    South Dakota government:

    Elections:

    Ballotpedia exclusives:

    External links

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