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South Dakota State Senate elections, 2014

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South Dakota's 2014 elections
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South Dakota State Senate elections, 2014

Majority controlQualifications
List of candidates
District 1District 2District 3District 4District 5District 6District 7District 8District 9District 10District 11District 12District 13District 14District 15District 16District 17District 18District 19District 20District 21District 22District 23District 24District 25District 26District 27District 28District 29District 30District 31District 32District 33District 34District 35
State Legislative Election Results

South Dakota State Senate2014 South Dakota House Elections

State legislative elections in 2014

The general elections for the office ofSouth Dakota State Senate took place onNovember 4, 2014. A primary election took place on June 3, 2014. Thesignature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 25, 2014.

Following the general election, there was no change to the majority control of theSouth Dakota State Senate. Majority control of the chamber was held by theRepublican Party, which saw a net loss of one seat following the general election. Their total seats shifted from 28 to 27. TheDemocratic Party picked up the seat, increasing their holdings from seven to eight.

Incumbents retiring

A total of nine incumbents did not run for re-election in 2014. Those incumbents were:

NamePartyCurrent Office
Al NovstrupEnds.pngRepublicanSenate District 03
Tim BegalkaEnds.pngRepublicanSenate District 04
Shantel KrebsEnds.pngRepublicanSenate District 10
Tom JonesElectiondot.pngDemocraticSenate District 17
Jean HunhoffEnds.pngRepublicanSenate District 18
Larry J. LucasElectiondot.pngDemocraticSenate District 26
Ryan MaherEnds.pngRepublicanSenate District 28
Larry RhodenEnds.pngRepublicanSenate District 29
Mark KirkebyEnds.pngRepublicanSenate District 35

Majority control

See also:Partisan composition of state senates

Heading into the November 4 election, the Republican Party held the majority in theSouth Dakota State Senate:

South Dakota State Senate
PartyAs of November 3, 2014After November 4, 2014
    Democratic Party78
    Republican Party2827
Total3535
2014 Competitiveness Overview
Competitiveness2014.jpg
Primary competition (state comparison)
Incumbents defeatedVictorious challengers
Primary competitiveness
Major party challengers (state comparison)
Candidates with no challenges at all in 2014
Open seats (state comparisons)
Impact of term limits on # of open seats
Long-serving senatorsLong-serving reps
Star bookmark.png  Chart Comparing 2014 Results  Star bookmark.png
Chart Comparing 2014 ResultsComparisons Between Years
Competitiveness IndexAbsolute Index
2014 State Legislative Elections
State legislative incumbent turnover in 2014
Competitiveness Studies from Other Years
200720092010201120122013

Competitiveness

Candidates unopposed by a major party

In 17 (48.6%) of the 35 districts up for election in 2014, there was only one major party candidate running for election. A total of 12 Republicans and 5 Democrats were guaranteed election barring unforeseen circumstances.

Two major party candidates faced off in the general election in 18 (51.4%) of the 35 districts up for election.

Competitive

  • District 2: IncumbentChuck Welke (D) was defeated byBrock Greenfield (R) in the general election. Welke won the general election by a margin of victory of 3 percent in 2012.
  • District 17:Michelle Maloney (D) was defeated byArthur Rusch (R) in the general election. IncumbentTom Jones won the general election by a margin of victory of 5 percent in 2012.
  • District 25: IncumbentTimothy Rave (R) defeatedBill Laird (D) in the general election. Rave won the general election by a margin of victory of 2 percent in 2012.

Mildly competitive

  • District 3:David Novstrup (R) defeatedMark Remily (D) in the general election. IncumbentAl Novstrup (R) won the general election by a margin of victory of 7 percent in 2012.
  • District 7: IncumbentLarry Tidemann (R) defeatedJay Vanduch (D) in the general election. Tidemann won the general election by a margin of victory of 7 percent in 2012.
  • District 15: IncumbentAngie Buhl (D) was unopposed in the general election. Buhl won the general election by a margin of victory of 10 percent in 2012.
  • District 22: IncumbentJim White (R) defeatedDarrell Raschke (D) in the general election. White won the general election by a margin of victory of 9 percent in 2012.
  • District 26:Troy Heinert (D) defeatedJohn Koskan (R) in the general election. IncumbentLarry J. Lucas (D) won the general election by a margin of victory of 6 percent in 2012.

Primary challenges

A total of two incumbents faced primary competition on June 3. Nine incumbents did not seek re-election in 2014 and another 24 incumbents advanced past the primary without opposition. The state senators that faced primary competition included:

Retiring incumbents

Nine incumbent senators did not run for re-election, while 26 (74.3%) of the current 35 incumbents ran for re-election. A list of those incumbents, two Democrats and seven Republican, can be foundabove.

Qualifications

To be eligible to serve in theSouth Dakota Senate, a candidate must be:[1]

  • A U.S. citizen at the time of filing
  • 21 years old at the filing deadline time
  • A two-year resident of South Dakota at the filing deadline time
  • May not have been convicted of bribery, perjury or other infamous crime; may not have illegally taken "public moneys"
  • A qualified voter. A qualified voter is someone who is:
* A U.S. citizen
* Reside in South Dakota
* At least 18 years old old on or before the next election
* Not currently serving a sentence for a felony conviction which included imprisonment, served or suspended, in an adult penitentiary system
* Not be judged mentally incompetent by a court of law
* Not have served 4 consecutive terms

List of candidates

District 1

Democratic PartyJune 3 Democratic primary:
  • Jason FrerichsApproveda - Incumbent Frerichs was first elected to the chamber in 2010.
Republican PartyJune 3 Republican primary:
  • No candidates filed.

November 4 General election candidates:

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Democratic PartyJason E. Frerichs: 5,653Green check mark transparent.png

District 2

Democratic PartyJune 3 Democratic primary:
  • Chuck WelkeApproveda - Incumbent Welke was first elected to the chamber in 2012.
Republican PartyJune 3 Republican primary:

November 4 General election candidates:

Democratic PartyChuck Welke: 4,136
Republican PartyBrock Greenfield: 4,584Green check mark transparent.png

District 3

Note: IncumbentAl Novstrup (R) ran forHouse District 3

Democratic PartyJune 3 Democratic primary:
Republican PartyJune 3 Republican primary:

November 4 General election candidates:

Democratic PartyMark Remily: 3,596
Republican PartyDavid Novstrup: 4,074Green check mark transparent.png

District 4

Note: IncumbentTim Begalka (R) did not run for re-election.

Democratic PartyJune 3 Democratic primary:
Republican PartyJune 3 Republican primary:
  • No candidates filed.

November 4 General election candidates:

Democratic PartyJim Peterson: 5,464Green check mark transparent.png

District 5

Democratic PartyJune 3 Democratic primary:
Republican PartyJune 3 Republican primary:
  • Ried HolienApproveda - Incumbent Holien was first elected to the chamber in 2010.

November 4 General election candidates:

Republican PartyRied Holien: 5,724Green check mark transparent.png

Note:Alanna Silvis withdrew before the election.

District 6

Democratic PartyJune 3 Democratic primary:
Republican PartyJune 3 Republican primary:
  • Ernie OttenApproveda - Incumbent Otten was first elected to the chamber in 2012.

November 4 General election candidates:

Democratic PartyMel Zelmer: 1,915
Republican PartyErnie Otten: 4,877Green check mark transparent.png

District 7

Democratic PartyJune 3 Democratic primary:
Republican PartyJune 3 Republican primary:
  • Larry TidemannApproveda - Incumbent Tidemann was first elected to the chamber in 2010.

November 4 General election candidates:

Democratic PartyJay Vanduch: 2,223
Republican PartyLarry Tidemann: 3,729Green check mark transparent.png

District 8

Democratic PartyJune 3 Democratic primary:
Republican PartyJune 3 Republican primary:
  • Chuck JonesApproveda - Incumbent Jones was first appointed to the chamber in 2013.

November 4 General election candidates:

Democratic PartyScott Parsley: 4,542Green check mark transparent.png
Republican PartyChuck Jones: 4,188

District 9

Democratic PartyJune 3 Democratic primary:
Republican PartyJune 3 Republican primary:
  • Deb PetersApproveda - Incumbent Peters was first elected to the chamber in 2010.

November 4 General election candidates:

Republican PartyDeb Peters: 4,241Green check mark transparent.png

Note:Sheryl Knutson withdrew after the primary.

District 10

Note: IncumbentShantel Krebs (R) did not run for re-election.

Democratic PartyJune 3 Democratic primary:
Republican PartyJune 3 Republican primary:

November 4 General election candidates:

Democratic PartyMichael Schultz: 2,513
Republican PartyJenna Haggar: 4,272Green check mark transparent.png

District 11

Democratic PartyJune 3 Democratic primary:
Republican PartyJune 3 Republican primary:
  • David M. OmdahlApproveda - Incumbent Omdahl was first elected to the chamber in 2012.

November 4 General election candidates:

Democratic PartyTom Cool: 3,071
Republican PartyDavid M. Omdahl: 4,545Green check mark transparent.png

District 12

Democratic PartyJune 3 Democratic primary:
Republican PartyJune 3 Republican primary:
  • R. Blake CurdApproveda - Incumbent Curd was first appointed to the chamber in 2013.

November 4 General election candidates:

Democratic PartyJim Sanden: 2,836
Republican PartyR. Blake Curd: 4,265Green check mark transparent.png

District 13

Democratic PartyJune 3 Democratic primary:
Republican PartyJune 3 Republican primary:

November 4 General election candidates:

Republican PartyPhyllis M. Heineman: 6,145Green check mark transparent.png

Note:Reynold Nesiba withdrew after the primary.

District 14

Democratic PartyJune 3 Democratic primary:
Republican PartyJune 3 Republican primary:
  • Deb SoholtApproveda - Incumbent Soholt was first elected to the chamber in 2012.

November 4 General election candidates:

Republican PartyDeb Soholt: 6,023Green check mark transparent.png

Note:Brian Kaatz withdrew after the primary.

District 15

Democratic PartyJune 3 Democratic primary:
Republican PartyJune 3 Republican primary:
  • No candidates filed.

November 4 General election candidates:

Democratic PartyAngie Buhl O'Donnell: 2,349Green check mark transparent.png

District 16

Democratic PartyJune 3 Democratic primary:
Republican PartyJune 3 Republican primary:
  • Dan LedermanApproveda - Incumbent Lederman was first elected to the chamber in 2010.

November 4 General election candidates:

Democratic PartyAnn Tornberg: 3,543
Republican PartyDan Lederman: 4,442Green check mark transparent.png

District 17

Note: IncumbentTom Jones (D) did not run for re-election.

Democratic PartyJune 3 Democratic primary:
Republican PartyJune 3 Republican primary:

November 4 General election candidates:

Democratic PartyMichelle Maloney: 2,798
Republican PartyArthur L. Rusch: 3,873Green check mark transparent.png

District 18

Note: IncumbentJean Hunhoff (R) did not run for re-election.

Democratic PartyJune 3 Democratic primary:
Republican PartyJune 3 Republican primary:

November 4 General election candidates:

Democratic PartyBernie Hunhoff: 4,300Green check mark transparent.png
Republican PartyMatt Stone: 3,403

District 19

Democratic PartyJune 3 Democratic primary:
  • No candidates filed.
Republican PartyJune 3 Republican primary:

November 4 General election candidates:

Republican PartyBill L. Van Gerpen: 6,629Green check mark transparent.png

District 20

Democratic PartyJune 3 Democratic primary:
Republican PartyJune 3 Republican primary:
  • Michael VehleApproveda - Incumbent Vehle was first elected to the chamber in 2008.

November 4 General election candidates:

Republican PartyMichael Vehle: 5,931Green check mark transparent.png

Note:Craig Kelly withdrew after the primary.

District 21

Democratic PartyJune 3 Democratic primary:
Republican PartyJune 3 Republican primary:
  • No candidates filed.

November 4 General election candidates:

Democratic PartyBillie H. Sutton: 5,821Green check mark transparent.png

District 22

Democratic PartyJune 3 Democratic primary:
Republican PartyJune 3 Republican primary:
  • Jim WhiteApproveda - Incumbent White was first elected to the chamber in 2012.

November 4 General election candidates:

Democratic PartyDarrell Raschke: 2,199
Republican PartyJim White: 5,180Green check mark transparent.png

District 23

Democratic PartyJune 3 Democratic primary:
  • No candidates filed.
Republican PartyJune 3 Republican primary:
  • Corey BrownApproveda - Incumbent Brown was first elected to the chamber in 2008.

November 4 General election candidates:

Republican PartyCorey Brown: 6,827Green check mark transparent.png

District 24

Democratic PartyJune 3 Democratic primary:
Republican PartyJune 3 Republican primary:

November 4 General election candidates:

Democratic PartyRuth Rehn: 3,811
Republican PartyJeff Monroe: 5,478Green check mark transparent.png

District 25

Democratic PartyJune 3 Democratic primary:
Republican PartyJune 3 Republican primary:
  • Tim RaveApproveda - Incumbent Rave was first elected to the chamber in 2010.

November 4 General election candidates:

Democratic PartyBill Laird: 2,577
Republican PartyTim Rave: 5,492Green check mark transparent.png

District 26

Note: IncumbentLarry J. Lucas (D) did not run for re-election.

Democratic PartyJune 3 Democratic primary:
Republican PartyJune 3 Republican primary:

November 4 General election candidates:

Democratic PartyTroy E. Heinert: 3,747Green check mark transparent.png
Republican PartyJohn Koskan: 2,883

District 27

Democratic PartyJune 3 Democratic primary:
  • Jim BradfordApproveda - Incumbent Bradford was first elected to the chamber in 2008.
Republican PartyJune 3 Republican primary:
  • No candidates filed.

November 4 General election candidates:

Democratic PartyJim Bradford: 3,860Green check mark transparent.png

District 28

Note: IncumbentRyan Maher (R) did not run for re-election.

Democratic PartyJune 3 Democratic primary:
Republican PartyJune 3 Republican primary:

November 4 General election candidates:

Democratic PartyOren L. Lesmeister: 3,317
Republican PartyBetty Olson: 3,997Green check mark transparent.png

District 29

Note: IncumbentLarry Rhoden (R) did not run for re-election.

Democratic PartyJune 3 Democratic primary:
  • No candidates filed.
Republican PartyJune 3 Republican primary:

November 4 General election candidates:

Republican PartyGary L. Cammack: 5,617Green check mark transparent.png

District 30

Democratic PartyJune 3 Democratic primary:
  • No candidates filed.
Republican PartyJune 3 Republican primary:
  • Bruce RampelbergApproveda - Incumbent Rampelberg was first elected to the chamber in 2010.

November 4 General election candidates:

Republican PartyBruce Rampelberg: 7,084Green check mark transparent.png

District 31

Democratic PartyJune 3 Democratic primary:
  • No candidates filed.
Republican PartyJune 3 Republican primary:
  • Bob EwingApproveda - Incumbent Ewing was first elected to the chamber in 2012.

November 4 General election candidates:

Republican PartyBob Ewing: 6,318Green check mark transparent.png

District 32

Democratic PartyJune 3 Democratic primary:
  • No candidates filed.
Republican PartyJune 3 Republican primary:
  • Alan D. SolanoApproveda - Incumbent Solano was first appointed to the chamber in 2014.

November 4 General election candidates:

Republican PartyAlan D. Solano: 5,134Green check mark transparent.png

District 33

Democratic PartyJune 3 Democratic primary:
Republican PartyJune 3 Republican primary:

November 4 General election candidates:

Democratic PartyRobin A. Page: 2,743
Republican PartyPhil Jensen: 5,016Green check mark transparent.png

District 34

Democratic PartyJune 3 Democratic primary:
  • No candidates filed.
Republican PartyJune 3 Republican primary:
  • Craig TieszenApproveda - Incumbent Tieszen was first elected to the chamber in 2008.

November 4 General election candidates:

Republican PartyCraig Tieszen: 6,776Green check mark transparent.png

District 35

Note: IncumbentMark Kirkeby (R) did not run for re-election.

Democratic PartyJune 3 Democratic primary:
  • No candidates filed.
Republican PartyJune 3 Republican primary:

November 4 General election candidates:

Republican PartyTerri Haverly: 3,901Green check mark transparent.png

See also

External links

Footnotes


Current members of theSouth Dakota State Senate
Leadership
Majority Leader:Jim Mehlhaff
Minority Leader:Liz Larson
Senators
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
District 7
District 8
District 9
District 10
District 11
District 12
District 13
District 14
District 15
District 16
District 17
District 18
District 19
District 20
District 21
District 22
District 23
District 24
District 25
District 26
District 27
District 28
District 29
District 30
District 31
District 32
District 33
District 34
District 35
Republican Party (32)
Democratic Party (3)


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