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Statewide race · South Dakota

Governor and Lieutenant Governor

South Dakota. Election Day was Nov. 3, 2026. Two candidates are on the official list.

Who is running

Candidate list published by South Dakota Secretary of State, as of Oct 15, 2026. Official list

Names and parties are copied exactly from the official list. Blue marks Democrats, red marks Republicans, and gray marks every other party or none; each is also labeled in words.

Worth knowing

Each fact is worked out from the official records linked beside it. None is a prediction or a rating.

Past results

Party of South Dakota's governors since 1951Each band is one governor's term, by the years the National Governors Association prints.
  • Democratic
  • Republican
  • Other parties
  • No party printed
Party of South Dakota's governors since 1951Timeline with 1 band from 1951 to 2027. The same spans are in the data table below.1960198020002020GovernorGovernor: Sigurd Anderson (Republican), 1951 to 1955RGovernor: Joseph Jacob Foss (Republican), 1955 to 1959RGovernor: Ralph E. Herseth (Democratic), 1959 to 1961Governor: Archie Gubbrud (Republican), 1961 to 1965RGovernor: Nils Andreas Boe (Republican), 1965 to 1969RGovernor: Frank Leroy Farrar (Republican), 1969 to 1971Governor: Richard Francis Kneip (Democratic), 1971 to 1978DGovernor: Harvey Wollman (Democratic), 1978 to 1979Governor: William J. Janklow (Republican), 1979 to 1987RGovernor: George S. Mickelson (Republican), 1987 to 1993RGovernor: Walter D. Miller (Republican), 1993 to 1995Governor: William J. Janklow (Republican), 1995 to 2003RGovernor: Mike Rounds (Republican), 2003 to 2011RGovernor: Dennis Daugaard (Republican), 2011 to 2019RGovernor: Kristi Noem (Republican), 2019 to 2023RGovernor: Kristi Noem (Republican), 2023 to 2025Governor: Larry Rhoden (Republican), 2025 to 2027Party of South Dakota's governors since 1951Timeline with 1 band from 1951 to 2027. The same spans are in the data table below.1960197019801990200020102020GovernorGovernor: Sigurd Anderson (Republican), 1951 to 1955RGovernor: Joseph Jacob Foss (Republican), 1955 to 1959RGovernor: Ralph E. Herseth (Democratic), 1959 to 1961DGovernor: Archie Gubbrud (Republican), 1961 to 1965RGovernor: Nils Andreas Boe (Republican), 1965 to 1969RGovernor: Frank Leroy Farrar (Republican), 1969 to 1971RGovernor: Richard Francis Kneip (Democratic), 1971 to 1978DGovernor: Harvey Wollman (Democratic), 1978 to 1979Governor: William J. Janklow (Republican), 1979 to 1987RGovernor: George S. Mickelson (Republican), 1987 to 1993RGovernor: Walter D. Miller (Republican), 1993 to 1995RGovernor: William J. Janklow (Republican), 1995 to 2003RGovernor: Mike Rounds (Republican), 2003 to 2011RGovernor: Dennis Daugaard (Republican), 2011 to 2019RGovernor: Kristi Noem (Republican), 2019 to 2023RGovernor: Kristi Noem (Republican), 2023 to 2025RGovernor: Larry Rhoden (Republican), 2025 to 2027R

Each span runs from its first year up to, but not including, its last year. A span with no label has no room for one; its group is in the key and the table.

Data table: Party of South Dakota's governors since 1951
Party of South Dakota's governors since 1951
BandGroupFromUp to
GovernorSigurd Anderson (Republican)19511955
GovernorJoseph Jacob Foss (Republican)19551959
GovernorRalph E. Herseth (Democratic)19591961
GovernorArchie Gubbrud (Republican)19611965
GovernorNils Andreas Boe (Republican)19651969
GovernorFrank Leroy Farrar (Republican)19691971
GovernorRichard Francis Kneip (Democratic)19711978
GovernorHarvey Wollman (Democratic)19781979
GovernorWilliam J. Janklow (Republican)19791987
GovernorGeorge S. Mickelson (Republican)19871993
GovernorWalter D. Miller (Republican)19931995
GovernorWilliam J. Janklow (Republican)19952003
GovernorMike Rounds (Republican)20032011
GovernorDennis Daugaard (Republican)20112019
GovernorKristi Noem (Republican)20192023
GovernorKristi Noem (Republican)20232025
GovernorLarry Rhoden (Republican)20252027

Source: National Governors Association (NGA), Former Governors and Governors pages. As of the dates NGA prints.

Every governor of South Dakota

How South Dakota voted for president, 1976 to 2024Percent of all presidential votes counted in the state. This is the state's presidential vote, not past results for this office.
  • Democratic ticket
  • Republican ticket
How South Dakota voted for president, 1976 to 2024Line chart with 2 series from 1976 to 2024. The same figures are in the data table below. A gap in a line means no figure.0%20%40%60%80%198020002020Democratic ticket, 1976: 48.91%Democratic ticket, 1980: 31.69%Democratic ticket, 1984: 36.53%Democratic ticket, 1988: 46.51%Democratic ticket, 1992: 37.14%Democratic ticket, 1996: 43.03%Democratic ticket, 2000: 37.56%Democratic ticket, 2004: 38.44%Democratic ticket, 2008: 44.75%Democratic ticket, 2012: 39.87%Democratic ticket, 2016: 31.74%Democratic ticket, 2020: 35.61%Democratic ticket, 2024: 34.24%Republican ticket, 1976: 50.39%Republican ticket, 1980: 60.53%Republican ticket, 1984: 63%Republican ticket, 1988: 52.85%Republican ticket, 1992: 40.66%Republican ticket, 1996: 46.49%Republican ticket, 2000: 60.3%Republican ticket, 2004: 59.91%Republican ticket, 2008: 53.16%Republican ticket, 2012: 57.89%Republican ticket, 2016: 61.53%Republican ticket, 2020: 61.77%Republican ticket, 2024: 63.43%34.2%63.4%How South Dakota voted for president, 1976 to 2024Line chart with 2 series from 1976 to 2024. The same figures are in the data table below. A gap in a line means no figure.0%20%40%60%80%19801990200020102020Democratic ticket, 1976: 48.91%Democratic ticket, 1980: 31.69%Democratic ticket, 1984: 36.53%Democratic ticket, 1988: 46.51%Democratic ticket, 1992: 37.14%Democratic ticket, 1996: 43.03%Democratic ticket, 2000: 37.56%Democratic ticket, 2004: 38.44%Democratic ticket, 2008: 44.75%Democratic ticket, 2012: 39.87%Democratic ticket, 2016: 31.74%Democratic ticket, 2020: 35.61%Democratic ticket, 2024: 34.24%Republican ticket, 1976: 50.39%Republican ticket, 1980: 60.53%Republican ticket, 1984: 63%Republican ticket, 1988: 52.85%Republican ticket, 1992: 40.66%Republican ticket, 1996: 46.49%Republican ticket, 2000: 60.3%Republican ticket, 2004: 59.91%Republican ticket, 2008: 53.16%Republican ticket, 2012: 57.89%Republican ticket, 2016: 61.53%Republican ticket, 2020: 61.77%Republican ticket, 2024: 63.43%Democratic ticket 34.2%Republican ticket 63.4%
Data table: How South Dakota voted for president, 1976 to 2024
How South Dakota voted for president, 1976 to 2024
YearDemocratic ticketRepublican ticket
197648.91%50.39%
198031.69%60.53%
198436.53%63%
198846.51%52.85%
199237.14%40.66%
199643.03%46.49%
200037.56%60.3%
200438.44%59.91%
200844.75%53.16%
201239.87%57.89%
201631.74%61.53%
202035.61%61.77%
202434.24%63.43%

Source: MIT Election Data and Science Lab, U.S. President 1976 to 2024. As of Nov 2, 2026.

Every presidential result in South Dakota

Map

How each state voted for president in 2024, with South Dakota outlined
  • D = Democratic ticket carried the state
  • R = Republican ticket carried the state
  • No figure
How each state voted for president in 2024, with South Dakota outlinedTile map of the 50 states and the District of Columbia, each state one equal square. Tiles are coloured by group and carry a letter for the group. The same figures are in the data table below.Alaska: Republican ticket carried the stateAKRMaine: Democratic ticket carried the stateMEDVermont: Democratic ticket carried the stateVTDNew Hampshire: Democratic ticket carried the stateNHDWashington: Democratic ticket carried the stateWADIdaho: Republican ticket carried the stateIDRMontana: Republican ticket carried the stateMTRNorth Dakota: Republican ticket carried the stateNDRMinnesota: Democratic ticket carried the stateMNDIllinois: Democratic ticket carried the stateILDWisconsin: Republican ticket carried the stateWIRMichigan: Republican ticket carried the stateMIRNew York: Democratic ticket carried the stateNYDRhode Island: Democratic ticket carried the stateRIDMassachusetts: Democratic ticket carried the stateMADOregon: Democratic ticket carried the stateORDNevada: Republican ticket carried the stateNVRWyoming: Republican ticket carried the stateWYRSouth Dakota: Republican ticket carried the stateSDRIowa: Republican ticket carried the stateIARIndiana: Republican ticket carried the stateINROhio: Republican ticket carried the stateOHRPennsylvania: Republican ticket carried the statePARNew Jersey: Democratic ticket carried the stateNJDConnecticut: Democratic ticket carried the stateCTDCalifornia: Democratic ticket carried the stateCADUtah: Republican ticket carried the stateUTRColorado: Democratic ticket carried the stateCODNebraska: Republican ticket carried the stateNERMissouri: Republican ticket carried the stateMORKentucky: Republican ticket carried the stateKYRWest Virginia: Republican ticket carried the stateWVRVirginia: Democratic ticket carried the stateVADMaryland: Democratic ticket carried the stateMDDDelaware: Democratic ticket carried the stateDEDArizona: Republican ticket carried the stateAZRNew Mexico: Democratic ticket carried the stateNMDKansas: Republican ticket carried the stateKSRArkansas: Republican ticket carried the stateARRTennessee: Republican ticket carried the stateTNRNorth Carolina: Republican ticket carried the stateNCRSouth Carolina: Republican ticket carried the stateSCRDistrict of Columbia: Democratic ticket carried the stateDCDOklahoma: Republican ticket carried the stateOKRLouisiana: Republican ticket carried the stateLARMississippi: Republican ticket carried the stateMSRAlabama: Republican ticket carried the stateALRGeorgia: Republican ticket carried the stateGARHawaii: Democratic ticket carried the stateHIDTexas: Republican ticket carried the stateTXRFlorida: Republican ticket carried the stateFLR

Each state is one equal square, so a small state is as easy to see as a large one. The group is written on each tile and in the table, not only shown by colour.

Data table: How each state voted for president in 2024, with South Dakota outlined
How each state voted for president in 2024, with South Dakota outlined
StateGroup
AlabamaRepublican ticket carried the state
AlaskaRepublican ticket carried the state
ArizonaRepublican ticket carried the state
ArkansasRepublican ticket carried the state
CaliforniaDemocratic ticket carried the state
ColoradoDemocratic ticket carried the state
ConnecticutDemocratic ticket carried the state
DelawareDemocratic ticket carried the state
District of ColumbiaDemocratic ticket carried the state
FloridaRepublican ticket carried the state
GeorgiaRepublican ticket carried the state
HawaiiDemocratic ticket carried the state
IdahoRepublican ticket carried the state
IllinoisDemocratic ticket carried the state
IndianaRepublican ticket carried the state
IowaRepublican ticket carried the state
KansasRepublican ticket carried the state
KentuckyRepublican ticket carried the state
LouisianaRepublican ticket carried the state
MaineDemocratic ticket carried the state
MarylandDemocratic ticket carried the state
MassachusettsDemocratic ticket carried the state
MichiganRepublican ticket carried the state
MinnesotaDemocratic ticket carried the state
MississippiRepublican ticket carried the state
MissouriRepublican ticket carried the state
MontanaRepublican ticket carried the state
NebraskaRepublican ticket carried the state
NevadaRepublican ticket carried the state
New HampshireDemocratic ticket carried the state
New JerseyDemocratic ticket carried the state
New MexicoDemocratic ticket carried the state
New YorkDemocratic ticket carried the state
North CarolinaRepublican ticket carried the state
North DakotaRepublican ticket carried the state
OhioRepublican ticket carried the state
OklahomaRepublican ticket carried the state
OregonDemocratic ticket carried the state
PennsylvaniaRepublican ticket carried the state
Rhode IslandDemocratic ticket carried the state
South CarolinaRepublican ticket carried the state
South DakotaRepublican ticket carried the state
TennesseeRepublican ticket carried the state
TexasRepublican ticket carried the state
UtahRepublican ticket carried the state
VermontDemocratic ticket carried the state
VirginiaDemocratic ticket carried the state
WashingtonDemocratic ticket carried the state
West VirginiaRepublican ticket carried the state
WisconsinRepublican ticket carried the state
WyomingRepublican ticket carried the state

Source: MIT Election Data and Science Lab, U.S. President 1976 to 2024. As of Nov 2, 2026.

Headlines that name a candidate in this race

No headline from the outlets we follow has named a candidate in this race together with South Dakota in the last 30 days.

Headlines are shown as each outlet published them, with a link to the outlet. A headline appears here only when it names a candidate's full name and the state, or comes from a newsroom in the state. They are the outlets' reporting, not Power & Politics findings.

Other races on the same ballot

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Every contest on the South Dakota ballot · Local races in South Dakota

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