South Dakota down ballot state executive elections, 2014
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June 3, 2014 |
November 4, 2014 |
Governor •Lt. Governor •Secretary of State •Attorney General Down Ballot Treasurer, Auditor, Commissioner of School and Public Lands, Public Utility Commissioner |
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Four down ballot state executive positions were up for election in the state ofSouth Dakota in 2014. The four down ballot offices on the ballot in 2014 were theSouth Dakota Treasurer, theSouth Dakota Auditor, a seat on theSouth Dakota Public Utilities Commission and theSouth Dakota Commissioner of School and Public Lands. The general election took place on November 4, 2014.
Three out of four incumbents sought re-election in 2014, withCommissioner of School and Public Lands Vernon L. Larson not running for a new term. TheLibertarian Party fielded candidates for treasurer, auditor and school and public lands commissioner.Richard Sattgast,Steve Barnett,Gary Hanson andRyan Brunner won in the general election.
Aprimary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. South Dakota law allows parties to choose whether to let unaffiliated voters vote in their elections. For more information on recognized political parties in South Dakota and their primary policies,see here.[1]
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, seethis article.
Note: In South Dakota, nominees for statewide executive offices other thanGovernor are selected at party conventions and do not necessarily follow the filing schedule given above.
Treasurer
Candidates
Richard Sattgast -incumbent[2]
Denny Pierson[2]
Ken Santema[2]
Results
| South Dakota Treasurer, 2014 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Richard SattgastIncumbent | 61.2% | 155,758 | |
| Democratic | Denny Pierson | 33.5% | 85,202 | |
| Libertarian | Ken Santema | 5.3% | 13,615 | |
| Total Votes | 254,575 | |||
| Election results viaSouth Dakota Secretary of State | ||||
Campaign finance
Comprehensive donor information for this election has been collected by Follow the Money. Based on available campaign finance records, the candidates raised a total of$62,025 during the election. This information was last updated on May 7, 2015.[3]
| Campaign Contribution Totals | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Office | Result | Contributions | |
| Rich Sattgast | South Dakota Treasurer |  | $53,783 | |
| Denny Pierson | South Dakota Treasurer |  | $8,242 | |
| Ken Santema | South Dakota Treasurer | | $0 | |
| Grand Total Raised | $62,025 | |||
Duties
The official duties of the South Dakota treasurer are outlined in Chapter 1-10, Section 1 of the South Dakota Codified Laws:
- have charge of and safely keep all public moneys which shall be paid into the state treasury
- pay out the same as directed by law
- perform such other duties as are required of him by law[4]
Auditor
Candidates
- Steve Barnett -Incumbent[2]
- Kurt Evans
Results
| South Dakota Auditor, 2014 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Steve BarnettIncumbent | 79.9% | 191,755 | |
| Libertarian | Kurt Evans | 20.1% | 48,103 | |
| Total Votes | 239,858 | |||
| Election results viaSouth Dakota Secretary of State | ||||
Campaign finance
Comprehensive donor information for this election has been collected by Follow the Money. Based on available campaign finance records, the candidates raised a total of$62,561 during the election. This information was last updated on May 7, 2015.[5]
| Campaign Contribution Totals | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Office | Result | Contributions | |
| Steve Barnett | South Dakota Auditor | | $62,561 | |
| Kurt Evans | South Dakota Auditor | | $0 | |
| Grand Total Raised | $62,561 | |||
Duties
Theauditor is an independent officeholder who serves as a watchdog, scrutinizing the manner in which state tax dollars are being spent.
Public Utilities Commission
Candidates
Gary Hanson -Incumbent[2]David Allen[2]
Wayne Schmidt -Constitution Party candidate[2]
Results
| South Dakota Public Service Commissioner, 2014 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Gary HansonIncumbent | 65.7% | 167,726 | |
| Democratic | David Allen | 29.3% | 74,824 | |
| Constitution | Wayne Schmidt | 5% | 12,642 | |
| Total Votes | 255,192 | |||
| Election results viaSouth Dakota Secretary of State | ||||
Campaign finance
Comprehensive donor information for this election has been collected by Follow the Money. Based on available campaign finance records, the candidates raised a total of$69,959 during the election. This information was last updated on May 7, 2015.[6]
| Campaign Contribution Totals | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Office | Result | Contributions | |
| Gary Hanson | South Dakota Public Utilities Commissioner | | $67,233 | |
| David Allen | South Dakota Public Utilities Commissioner | | $2,310 | |
| Wayne Schmidt | South Dakota Public Utilities Commissioner | | $416 | |
| Grand Total Raised | $69,959 | |||
Duties
The commission regulates utility companies, helps to resolve disputes between customers and their utilities, operates safety programs, and licenses and inspects state public grain warehouses and grain buyers.
Commissioner of School and Public Lands
Candidates
General election candidates
Ryan Brunner - Deputy Commissioner of School and Public Lands[7][2]John English
Did not file
Vernon L. Larson -Incumbent
Declined
James Bolin - District 16 representative in theSouth Dakota House of Representatives[8]
Results
| South Dakota Commissioner of School and Public Lands, 2014 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Ryan Brunner | 76.5% | 174,810 | |
| Libertarian | John English | 23.5% | 53,836 | |
| Total Votes | 228,646 | |||
| Election results viaSouth Dakota Secretary of State | ||||
Campaign finance
Comprehensive donor information for this election has been collected by Follow the Money. Based on available campaign finance records, the candidates raised a total of$12,957 during the election. This information was last updated on May 7, 2015.[9]
| Campaign Contribution Totals | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Office | Result | Contributions | |
| Ryan Brunner | South Dakota Public Lands | | $12,551 | |
| John English | South Dakota Public Lands | | $406 | |
| Grand Total Raised | $12,957 | |||
Duties
TheSouth Dakota Commissioner of School and Public Lands is responsible for the leasing and sale of surface and mineral rights on state lands, including lands originally designated for public education. The revenue from these sales and leases are put into the Permanent Trust Fund for educational funding in South Dakota, and this fund is further managed by the commissioner's office.[10]
Key deadlines
| Deadline | Event |
|---|---|
| March 25, 2014 | Filing deadline for political party candidates |
| April 29, 2014 | Filing deadline for independent candidates |
| June 3, 2014 | Primary election |
| November 4, 2014 | General election |
| November 11, 2014 | Canvass of election results |
| January 10, 2015 | Inauguration day for state executives elected in November |
Recent news
Auditor
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Commissioner of School and Public Lands
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Public Utilities Commission
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Treasurer
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See also
- South Dakota state executive official elections, 2014
- South Dakota Treasurer
- South Dakota Auditor
- South Dakota Public Utilities Commission
- South Dakota Commissioner of School and Public Lands
External links
- South Dakota State Treasurer
- South Dakota Office of the State Auditor
- South Dakota Public Utilities Commission
- South Dakota School & Public Lands
Footnotes
- ↑South Dakota Legislature Legislative Research Council, "S.D. Codified Laws Ann. § 12–6–26," accessed October 30, 2025
- ↑2.02.12.22.32.42.52.62.7South Dakota Secretary of State, "Current Candidates for General Election," accessed August 4, 2014
- ↑Follow the Money, "Overview of South Dakota 2014 elections," accessed May 8, 2015
- ↑Legis.state.SD.us, "Chapter 1-10, South Dakota codified laws," accessed October 21, 2011
- ↑Follow the Money, "Overview of South Dakota 2014 elections," accessed May 8, 2015
- ↑Follow the Money, "Overview of South Dakota 2014 elections," accessed May 8, 2015
- ↑Keloland.com, "Brunner Announces Run For Commissioner Of School And Public Lands," August 19, 2013
- ↑The Republic, "State Rep. Bolin ends candidacy for SD lands commissioner, will work against school standards," October 4, 2013
- ↑Follow the Money, "Overview of South Dakota 2014 elections," accessed May 8, 2015
- ↑South Dakota School and Public Lands, "Responsibilities," accessed August 14, 2013
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