What's on the Ballot in Sioux Falls: November 3, 2026 Election
The races below are read from Minnehaha County, the state election office and Ballotpedia. What each candidate says is quoted from their own campaign site or a questionnaire they answered, with the link beside it. This page does not recommend anyone.
Election day is November 3, 2026. Last updated October 6, 2026. For polling places, hours and ID rules, see voting in Sioux Falls.
Federal
U.S. Senate
Candidate list from South Dakota Secretary of State, 2026 General Election Candidate List
Mike Rounds(REP)Incumbent
U.S. House, South Dakota’s at-large district
Candidate list from South Dakota Secretary of State, 2026 General Election Candidate List
Nicole "Nikki" Gronli(DEM)
Marty Jackley(REP)
State
Governor and Lieutenant Governor
Candidate list from South Dakota Secretary of State, 2026 General Election Candidate List
Dan Ahlers & Steven McCleerey(DEM)
Larry Rhoden & Tony Venhuizen(REP)Incumbent
Larry Rhoden is South Dakota’s governor and is seeking a full term with Tony Venhuizen as his running mate. Rhoden previously served as lieutenant governor and became governor in January 2025; Venhuizen was appointed lieutenant governor and confirmed by the Legislature in January 2025. (KOTA Territory News, Governor Larry Rhoden campaign site)
In their own words
- Taxes and spending: Their campaign has focused on cutting property taxes and state spending and promoting development of South Dakota’s national security industry. Argus Leader
- State priorities: Rhoden says he aims to keep South Dakota strong, safe and free, with strong families, businesses and institutions, low crime, and respect for law enforcement. Governor Larry Rhoden campaign site
Secretary of State
Candidate list from South Dakota Secretary of State, 2026 General Election Candidate List
Terrence Davis(DEM)
Davis is a Sioux Falls resident and former Tennessee and South Dakota state trooper who most recently worked at East River Legal Services. He holds a criminal justice degree and a master’s in public policy and is pursuing a doctorate in law and policy. (Terrence Davis campaign site, Aberdeen Insider)
In their own words
- Voting and audits: He supports keeping ballot tabulators with people checking results, and conducting post-election audits in every county. He also proposes allowing 16-year-olds to preregister to vote when they obtain a driver’s license. Terrence Davis campaign site
- Privacy and fraud: He says voter registration information deserves real protection and proposes an investigative division in the Secretary of State’s office to look into election fraud. Terrence Davis campaign site
- Election administration: Davis said tabulators with human oversight are more effective for counting ballots, and that protecting privacy and constitutional rights is critical. Aberdeen Insider
Tamara J. Lesnar(LIB)
Lesnar is the Libertarian candidate from Grenville. She previously ran for U.S. Senate in 2022 and state House District 1 in 2024; KOTA reported that she formerly worked as a zoologist at the Red River Zoo in Fargo. (KOTA Territory News)
In their own words
- Public input: Lesnar proposes a statewide anonymous online portal where residents could cast nonbinding mock votes on pending state and federal legislation, including as bills or amendments change. KOTA Territory News
- Voter registration: Lesnar criticized the state’s SAVE Act requirements, saying that requiring additional documents to register can burden marginalized people and create double-taxation costs. Dakota News Now
- Ballot counting: She said she supports machine tabulation for complete elections, with hand counting when a machine cannot tabulate a vote or in a recount. Dakota Free Press
Heather Baxter(REP)
Baxter is a Rapid City small-business owner and South Dakota state representative for District 34, elected in 2024. She has also served on the Pennington County GOP Executive Board. (Heather Baxter campaign site, KOTA Territory News)
In their own words
- Office communication: Baxter says she wants to improve communication between the Secretary of State’s office and county auditors, businesses and the public, and to encourage civic engagement and citizen oversight. Heather Baxter campaign site
- Public information: She advocates modernizing the office website and simplifying public access to information. KOTA Territory News
- Election integrity: Her campaign site describes support for robust post-election audits and improved hand-counting methods. Baxter said she trusts county auditors to determine what is best for their counties. Associated Press
Attorney General
Candidate list from South Dakota Secretary of State, 2026 General Election Candidate List
Lance Russell(REP)
Russell is the state’s attorney for Fall River and Oglala Lakota counties and a Hot Springs attorney. He previously served 12 years in the state Legislature. (Argus Leader, The Ballot Brief)
In their own words
- Criminal justice: Russell’s campaign focused on reversing some criminal-justice reforms he opposed while serving in Pierre. KOTA Territory News
- Crime policy: His campaign said he believes tough-on-crime policies have worked and intends to continue that approach as attorney general. South Dakota Searchlight
- Tribal relations: Russell said he has worked cooperatively with Oglala Lakota County commissioners and the tribe over the past 25 years, and described their working relationship as good. News From The States
State Auditor
Candidate list from South Dakota Secretary of State, 2026 General Election Candidate List
Tom Cool(DEM)
Tom Cool spent nearly four decades as executive director of the Council on College Admissions in South Dakota. He chairs the Democratic Forum of Southeast Dakota in Sioux Falls and previously ran for state auditor in 2018 and secretary of state in 2022. (South Dakota Democratic Party)
In their own words
- Auditor oversight: His listed priorities include bringing decades of nonprofit executive-management experience to the auditor’s office and providing an independent check on state government. The Ballot Brief
- Background: The party says Cool spent nearly four decades as executive director of the Council on College Admissions in South Dakota and chairs the Democratic Forum of Southeast Dakota in Sioux Falls. South Dakota Democratic Party
Catherine Barranco(REP)
Catherine Barranco holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in economics and previously worked investigating financial fraud at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. She is from Sioux Falls and was nominated by Republicans for state auditor. (South Dakota Voter, Argus Leader)
In their own words
- Financial oversight: She says the auditor should provide an independent check before state money leaves the treasury, and that Project BISON can improve transparency and oversight through real-time transaction access and stronger payment controls. South Dakota Voter
- Audit review: She says she would strengthen pre-audits of claims and vouchers and use sharper review and analytics to identify waste, fraud, and inefficiency. South Dakota Voter
State Treasurer
Candidate list from South Dakota Secretary of State, 2026 General Election Candidate List
Margaret Kuipers(DEM)
Margaret Kuipers is a lifelong South Dakotan and business owner. She says she served 14 years as treasurer of the South Dakota Emergency Medical Services Association and also served as treasurer for federal political candidates. (Margaret Kuipers for State Treasurer)
In their own words
- Financial oversight: She says she is running to protect the state’s assets with integrity, accountability, and responsible financial oversight. Margaret Kuipers for State Treasurer
Melissa Hull(REP)
Melissa Hull is a lifelong South Dakotan and has worked in the state Treasurer’s Office. The Argus Leader reported she was Treasury Manager and the Republican nominee for state treasurer in 2026. (Melissa Hull for SD, Argus Leader)
In their own words
- Taxpayer dollars: Her campaign says she is committed to transparency and accountability with taxpayer dollars. Melissa Hull for SD
- Department accountability: She says she would provide clear oversight and strong department accountability. Melissa Hull for SD
- Fiscal responsibility: Her campaign identifies fiscal responsibility as a priority for the Treasurer’s Office. Melissa Hull for SD
Commissioner of School and Public Lands
Candidate list from South Dakota Secretary of State, 2026 General Election Candidate List
Raeann Mettler(DEM)
Raeann Mettler holds a PhD in Natural Sciences and spent about a decade teaching at Black Hills State University, the South Dakota School of Mines, and Crazy Horse Memorial University. She is a researcher and ran for Spearfish City Council and the Spearfish School Board. (South Dakota Democratic Party, The Ballot Brief)
In their own words
- Public lands: She supports responsible stewardship of public land, including long-term sustainability and protecting natural landscapes, native species, and water quality. Raeann Mettler for SD
- Trust-land revenue: She says trust lands should secure fair lease value and support responsible long-term revenue, while protecting the Permanent Trust Fund principal and avoiding dependence on expanded mineral extraction. Vote411
- Transparency: She supports strengthening investment oversight, modernizing GIS and asset-management tools, and increasing transparency, accountability, and public input. Vote411
Brock Greenfield(REP)
Greenfield has served in the South Dakota House and Senate for 22 years and became Commissioner of School and Public Lands in 2023. His campaign describes him as a lifelong rural South Dakotan. (Argus Leader, Brock Greenfield campaign website)
In their own words
- Public lands: He says his priorities are returning maximum investment dollars to K–12 and higher education, ensuring responsible use of grazing, mineral, gas and other leases, and prioritizing stewardship of public lands and dams. Brock Greenfield campaign website
- Education and leases: His campaign priorities include returning maximum investment returns to education and ensuring responsible utilization of land leases. Argus Leader
Public Utilities Commissioner
Candidate list from South Dakota Secretary of State, 2026 General Election Candidate List
Frank Kloucek(DEM)
Kloucek is a former state legislator running for the Public Utilities Commission. His campaign says he is seeking to represent rural consumers in utility decisions. (Argus Leader, Kloucek for PUC)
In their own words
- Utility rates: His campaign says he supports fair utility rates, renewable energy and consumer rights. Frank Kloucek campaign website
- Data centers: Kloucek called for a one-year moratorium on new data-center projects, saying it would give the state more time to study the issue. He also said the recently enacted state regulations lack meaningful penalties for violations. Argus Leader
- Data centers: He has advocated a year-long moratorium on data-center development in South Dakota. SDPB
Don Haggar(REP)
Haggar served in the South Dakota House of Representatives from 2013 to 2020 and advanced to Speaker Pro Tem. (Don Haggar campaign website)
In their own words
- Landowner rights: He says he would defend landowner rights by opposing eminent-domain abuse and favor infrastructure built through transparency and fair negotiation. Don Haggar campaign website
- Grid reliability: He supports investments in grid stability and infrastructure to manage peak demand and weather extremes. Don Haggar campaign website
- Utility costs: He says he would oppose costly mandates and overregulation and promote competition to help keep utility costs low. Don Haggar campaign website
State Senate, District 10
Candidate list from South Dakota Secretary of State, 2026 General Election Candidate List
Liz Larson(DEM)
Larson grew up in Sioux Falls, works in economic development and has represented Senate District 10 since her election in 2022. The local candidate profile describes her as a lifelong South Dakotan with a background in program management and international development. (SDPB, Sioux Falls Simplified)
In their own words
- Data centers: Larson said she would not support new hyperscale data centers at present, citing a lack of public information and confidence about potential risks; she said she would be open to discussing them if those questions were answered. Sioux Falls Simplified
- Public education: She said public education has been underfunded and that education is important to building the economy; she also criticized the growing use of school vouchers. Sioux Falls Simplified
- Childcare: She supports considering state investment in early-childhood and childcare programs, saying they can contribute to economic and workforce development. Sioux Falls Simplified
Michael Dupic(REP)
Dupic is the Republican nominee for Senate District 10, which includes central and northeastern Sioux Falls. He says he is running to have a positive impact on Sioux Falls. (SDPB)
In their own words
- Economic growth: Dupic said he would work to remove unnecessary regulations and red tape, which he believes hinder job creation and economic growth. SDPB
- Mental health: He said he would seek more resources for mental-health and addiction services, and described those conditions as treatable medical diseases. SDPB
- Property and health: His listed priorities include protecting property rights and agriculture and expanding rural health-care access. Michael Dupic campaign website
State Senate, District 11
Candidate list from South Dakota Secretary of State, 2026 General Election Candidate List
Aaron Matson(DEM)
Matson is a Sioux Falls pastor and a fourth-generation South Dakotan; he is 46, according to a local candidate interview. The interview also says that both of his parents were public school teachers; it does not state how long he has lived in the area. (Sioux Falls Simplified)
In their own words
- Data centers: He is skeptical of hyperscale data centers if they use community water or electricity without adequate safeguards. He wants protections against resource losses and higher costs for residents, while saying he is not opposed to technological advancement. Sioux Falls Simplified
- Education funding: He says the Legislature should follow the state’s education-funding law and that he would use available legislative tools to help ensure it does. He describes education as a major priority. Sioux Falls Simplified
- Childcare: He supports state funding for childcare and after-school programs, saying South Dakota should catch up with states that fund those programs. Sioux Falls Simplified
Chris Karr(REP)
Karr is the incumbent District 11 state senator and serves as Senate President Pro Tempore. He is a business owner and financial consultant, was born in Tabor, and has called Sioux Falls home with his family since graduating from South Dakota State University and the University of South Dakota; the campaign biography does not give a duration. (Chris Karr for South Dakota, The Ballot Brief)
In their own words
- Governing principles: His campaign site lists small localized government, fiscal conservatism, individual liberty, families first, free-market economics, and protecting the Second Amendment among his stated principles. Chris Karr for South Dakota
- Taxes and government: Karr says he has sponsored, co-sponsored, and supported legislation to cut taxes, shrink government, protect families, and defend constitutional rights. Chris Karr for South Dakota
State Senate, District 12
Candidate list from South Dakota Secretary of State, 2026 General Election Candidate List
Joe Zweifel(DEM)
Zweifel says he was born and raised on a fourth-generation family farm in Alcester and is currently Deputy Director of the South Dakota Democratic Party. His campaign biography does not state how long he has lived in the Sioux Falls area. (Zweifel for SD)
In their own words
- Affordability: His campaign lists lowering taxes and improving affordability as a priority. Zweifel for SD
- Reproductive rights: His campaign lists protecting life and a woman’s choice among its priorities. Zweifel for SD
- Government transparency: He lists transparency and accountability in government as a priority. Zweifel for SD
Kari Shanard-Koenders(REP)
Shanard-Koenders is a retired pharmacist from Sioux Falls. Her father served in the South Dakota Legislature for nearly two decades; the sources do not specify how long she has lived in the area. (The Ballot Brief)
In their own words
- Safety and education: She identifies public safety, education, and property-tax relief as major priorities. She says law enforcement and the legal system need funding, and that education funding and teacher pay could improve. Sioux Falls Simplified
- Legislative issues: The questionnaire records her support for bills protecting life, expanding educational options, protecting parental rights, and providing reasonable marijuana regulations. Dakota Voter
- Affordability and services: Her listed priorities include addressing public safety and affordability, supporting low taxes and less regulation, and improving healthcare and education in the district. The Ballot Brief
State Senate, District 13
Candidate list from South Dakota Secretary of State, 2026 General Election Candidate List
Sue Peterson(REP)
State Senate, District 14
Candidate list from South Dakota Secretary of State, 2026 General Election Candidate List
Larry P. Zikmund(REP)
State Senate, District 15
Candidate list from South Dakota Secretary of State, 2026 General Election Candidate List
Erik Muckey(DEM)
Brenda Lawrence(REP)
Ballot measures
Constitutional Amendment I
An amendment that ends expanded Medicaid coverage if federal funding for the program falls below 90%.
Candidate list from South Dakota Secretary of State, 2026 General Election Ballot Questions
Constitutional Amendment J
An amendment clarifying that an individual must be a U.S. citizen to be eligible to vote.
Candidate list from South Dakota Secretary of State, 2026 General Election Ballot Questions
Constitutional Amendment K
An amendment establishing a trust for the unclaimed property fund.
Candidate list from South Dakota Secretary of State, 2026 General Election Ballot Questions
Constitutional Amendment L
An amendment requiring an affirmative vote of 60% of votes cast for a constitutional amendment to pass.
Candidate list from South Dakota Secretary of State, 2026 General Election Ballot Questions