PIERRE, S.D. – The field is set for the 2026 South Dakota Primary Election on June 2 for state legislative races as well as governor, U.S. House and U.S. Senate.
Since Democrats had only one nominee qualify for each of the three statewide primary contests, those candidates are automatically that party's nominee for the Nov. 3 general election and will not appear on the June ballot.
While the deadline for candidates to submit the required signatures was March 31, it typically takes state election workers several days to verify their veracity. Challenges to a candidate's signatures must be filed by 5 p.m. today, Friday, April 10.
Here is a rundown of the June 2 primary election races.
Statewide, legislative, local offices
Governor: Aberdeen businessman Toby Doeden, state House Speaker Jon Hansen, U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson and Gov. Larry Rhoden all qualified for the GOP primary contest after collecting the required 2,171 signatures. Now each candidate will hope they get 35% of the vote and avoid a runoff election eight weeks later. The winner of the contest will meet Democrat Dan Ahlers in the general election.
U.S. House of Representatives: Since Johnson has declined to seek reelection for Congress to run for governor, the state's only congressional seat is open. Attorney General Marty Jackley is being challenged by James Bialota Jr. for the GOP nomination and the chance to face off against Democrat Nicole "Nikki" Gronli in November.
U.S. Senate: Incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds is being challenged by Justin McNeal on the GOP primary ballot. The winner of that contest will take on Democrat Julian Beaudion in the general election.
Alexander Rifaat
Legislature, county and local races: In addition to statewide offices, hundreds of other candidates qualified for legislative and county and local races, including county treasurer, auditor, finance officer, sheriff, register of deeds, coroner and county commissioner as well as school board, mayor, city council and others. That full list is available on the Secretary of State's website.
Voter portal: Find out if you're registered to vote and which legislative district you live in through the Voter Information Portal.
Constitutional and statutory offices
While voters elect candidates for governor in the primary election, political parties choose other state executive candidates at conventions.
Here are the constitutional and statutory offices that have elections in 2026: lieutenant governor, attorney general, auditor, secretary of state, treasurer, commissioner of School and Public Lands and Public Utilities Commission.
The South Dakota Democratic Party holds its convention June 6 in Sioux Falls. The Republican party's convention is June 25-27 in Rapid City.
Temperature check: Republican
Republican Sen. Jim Mehlhaff of Pierre, majority leader of the state Senate, expects comfortable wins for Jackley and Rounds in their respective primary races. He thinks the gubernatorial contest could come down to either Johnson or Rhoden, pouring skepticism on a poll released last month that showed Doeden ahead of the current governor.
"I don't think it will hold water in the long term," Mehlhaff told News Watch. "It doesn't mean Toby Doeden isn't running a hard race, I just don't think he's there yet."
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In terms of the state legislative races, Mehlhaff, who faces two primary challengers for his seat in District 24, said a theme he has noticed this election cycle is several incumbent state senators who lost their seat in 2024 are attempting to make a comeback.
That includes former Sen. Jean Hunhoff of Yankton challenging current Sen. Lauren Nelson for the GOP nomination in District 18. Hunhoff lost to Nelson by fewer than 100 votes in the 2024 Republican primary.
Other examples Mehlhaff cited include former Democratic Sen. Erin Tobin, who is looking to take back District 21 from Republican Sen. Mykala Voita, and District 3, where there will be a rematch between former Sen. Katherine "Katie" Washnok and the incumbent, fellow Republican Sen. Carl Perry.
Melhalff said the 2024 primary results could have been impacted by the lack of competitive statewide races, something that isn't the case this year with the high-profile contests, including statewide races for governor, U.S. House and U.S. Senate.
"There was no big draw to drive turnout, and this time obviously there is, so I think we are going to see a much bigger turnout," Melhaff said. "It will be interesting to see how that affects all those rematches."
Temperature check: Democrat
On the Democratic side, Rep. Erik Muckey of Sioux Falls praised his party's nominees for statewide office and believes, with Republicans set to be engaged in a number of vicious primary battles, his party could give the GOP a run for its money in the general election.
"Above all, they each possess something South Dakotans value: ability to cast a vision for the future and focus on the state above partisanship. That's something we sorely lack right now as a state," Muckey told News Watch in a text message.
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In addition to laying out their plan to address issues pertinent to South Dakota, Muckey said Democrats across the state will highlight growing public disapproval of President Donald Trump's performance, including his handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, cuts to Medicare and Medicaid and the war against Iran.
"Republican leadership locally and nationally consistently places party above state and country. It's time for South Dakotans to be prioritized over politics, and our candidates will bring the message and the actions to back it up," he said.
South Dakota News Watch is an independent nonprofit. Read, donate and subscribe for free at sdnewswatch.org. Contact politics and statehouse reporter Alexander Rifaat: 605-736-4396/alexander.rifaat@sdnewswatch.org.
