Kari Shanard-Koenders won the race for State Senate, District 12 in the November 3, 2026 election, with 4,011 votes (50.8%), according to unofficial results from South Dakota Secretary of State.
Joe Zweifel received 3,877 votes (49.2%). The margin was 134 votes, or 1.6 percentage points.
The election office reported 671 of 671 precincts reporting. In all, 7,888 votes were counted in this race. Kari Shanard-Koenders is the incumbent.
Full results
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kari Shanard-Koenders (won) | Republican | 4,011 | 50.8% |
| Joe Zweifel | Democratic | 3,877 | 49.2% |
What the job involves
Members of the state legislature write and vote on state laws and the state budget, including school funding and the rules cities and counties work under.
What happens next
These results are unofficial. They become final when election officials certify them at the canvass, and totals can still change a little as remaining mailed and provisional ballots are counted.
Every race in Sioux Falls is on our election results page. More about Kari Shanard-Koenders is on their candidate page.
