> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.sdnewswatch.org/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Poll: Voters split on Thune and Trump job performance - URL: https://www.sdnewswatch.org/poll-voters-split-on-thune-and-trump-job-performance/ - Published: 2026-10-28T09:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-28T11:03:21.000Z - Description: Latest South Dakota Poll also found a majority are opposed to data centers being built in the state and believe artificial intelligence has negative effects. - Author: Molly Wetsch - Tags: News/Investigations More than half of South Dakotans generally oppose data centers and believe artificial intelligence has a negative impact on society, according to the latest South Dakota Poll sponsored by News Watch and the Chiesman Center for Democracy at the University of South Dakota. The Oct. 12-14 survey of 500 likely voters by Mason-Dixon Polling and Strategy, [ranked as one of the least-biased and most-factual pollsters](https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/mason-dixon-polling-bias-and-credibility/?ref=sdnewswatch.org), also found that support in the state for President Donald Trump and U.S. Sen. John Thune is evenly split. Respondents were asked their opinions on a range of topics, from job approval ratings for sitting politicians to their thoughts on the state of democracy in the U.S. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/ab/cbabab5e-2dc6-462c-94a0-b72956c0d224/content/images/2026/10/SD-Poll-3.jpg) ## Job approval ratings for Thune, Trump Thune has served as U.S. Senate majority leader for almost two years. Trump is in the midst of his second term as president. The South Dakota Poll asked likely voters whether they approved of Thune and Trump's performance in their job. They were also asked if Trump administration policies in South Dakota have seriously changed the state economy. ### Takeaways - Every Democrat and a majority of independents polled disapprove of Trump's job performance. Few said they were unsure of where they stand on Trump's job performance. - Over half of respondents said Trump policies have somewhat or significantly hurt the economy. - Thune sees a lower approval rating than U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds – 49% of those polled approve of Thune's job performance, compared to 61% for Rounds. Thune's lower approval rating than Rounds could be because of his status as Senate majority leader, said Jon Schaff, professor of government and director of the Center for Public History and Civic Engagement at Northern State University in Aberdeen. "South Dakota has a bias against big. When they perceive a politician is getting too big for his britches, they don't mind taking him down a peg," Schaff said. "Thune is a leader in Washington, and so he's going to get grief that he wouldn't otherwise get. I don't think he's really in electoral peril, but I think there's enough there that if I were John Thune, I'd be sweating it a little bit." Schaff said those numbers mean that Thune could reconsider what another term in the Senate would look like. His current term ends in January 2029, so he's up for re-election in 2028\. ****Get free, fact-based South Dakota news and information** in a weekday email. No spam. Cancel any time. [Subscribe ](https://www.sdnewswatch.org/#/portal) Trump's favorability numbers, on the other hand, signal growing dissatisfaction with the president in a state that handily voted for him three elections in a row. He won with 63% of the vote in 2024, 62% in 2020 and 61% in 2016\. Schaff said that while Trump still maintains relatively even approval and disapproval ratings in the state and strong favorability among Republicans, the precedent of previous elections means those numbers could – and maybe should – be higher. "In the more rural parts, even if you look at the west river numbers, Trump is kind of underwater in the state. If he's at 50/50, that's not great in a state as red as South Dakota, a very pro-Trump state," Schaff said. "The farmers are very angry at Donald Trump. These farmers are Donald Trump fans. They voted for Donald Trump, and they are mad at Donald Trump. When he talked about importing Argentinian beef, they were mad about that. I think the fact that he's losing the support of rural voters in South Dakota is itself interesting." --- ## Voters' thoughts on data centers, AI Likely voters were also asked their opinions on AI's impact on society and data centers in South Dakota. ### Takeaways - More Democrats oppose data centers than Republicans. - One-fifth of respondents aren't sure if they think AI has more positive or more negative effects on society. The issue of data centers and AI crosses party lines more than other questions asked by pollsters. More Democrats and Republicans opposed data centers in South Dakota and said that AI has a negative effect on society. Julia Hellwege, associate professor of political science at USD in Vermillion, said that because the issues tend to be complex, politicians are not staking campaigns on either the side of proposition or opposition. She said that Gov. Larry Rhoden's signing of SB 135, a data center regulation bill also known as the "Data Center Bill of Rights," points to the complexity of the issue. "If you have a more complex view on it, that makes it harder to put in a campaign stump speech," Hellwege said. "I do think South Dakotans are wondering what is happening on the issue, but I think that the state legislative bill has pushed that down to more local levels. So I think we're more likely to see this issue come up at the local levels rather than at the state level." South Dakota News Watch invests in scientific polls to let elected leaders know how constituents think they're doing and also survey people's opinions on important issues. But a good poll isn't cheap, so if you value these stories, please consider helping cover the cost. Thank you! [Donate and make these polls possible ](https://www.sdnewswatch.org/donate/) Emily Wanless, associate professor of government and international affairs at Augustana University in Sioux Falls, said that the complexity of the issue can also contribute to who sees the most success in either regulating or stimulating the data center issue in the state. "I think if data centers continue to be this nebulous, we're not really sure what we mean by this bill of rights, then I think the people who can articulate it clearly and then actually turn out the vote will see success," Wanless said. "Whereas if you continue just to use buzzwords like AI and data center and rely on national traction, I don't know that that will overcome necessarily the boots on the ground that you see with anybody whose personal land or backyard might be affected." Part of the opposition to data centers could also be tied to growing anti-AI sentiments nationwide, Wanless said. Where the conversation has, in the past, centered around the economic opportunity of data centers in rural areas, Wanless said that some new discussion about data centers is whether they contribute to concern about AI. "The narrative surrounding data centers has changed. You phrase it as economic development, and I think that's how it originally started. And now, in the last months, we've changed the tenor on AI in general and all the the potential downfalls of it," Wanless said. "I think that the data center is kind of getting lumped into this like anti-AI movement. I don't know how big it is, but I just think that the economic development side of the argument has kind of been lost or muddied." --- ## The state of democracy and accountability of SD public officials Finally, likely voters were asked how they believe democracy is working in the United States, whether South Dakota's public officials are held accountable and the level of out-of-state impact on South Dakota's elections. ### Takeaways - About 70% of respondents believe there is a "great deal" or "fair amount" of out-of-state influence on elections in South Dakota. - About half of Democrats and independents are "very unsatisfied" with how democracy is working, compared to 10% of Republicans. - Half of respondents said South Dakota officials are "somewhat accountable." Only 17% said they are very accountable. Hellwege said that part of the reason parties differ in their views of democracy is tied to which party is currently seeing success in government. Because Republicans currently control Congress, the presidency and state government, they may be more inclined to believe that democracy is working. "Some of what I found in other research is that Democrats and Republicans may be interpreting that question a little bit differently, and partly because of what position they're in. Those who are winners, those who are currently sitting in the government, might think of democracy as how are things working now. Democracy must be working because my party is in power. Whereas losers might feel the opposite," Hellwege said. But the national parties' behavior and attitudes toward democracy may also impact how those polled interpret the question as a whole – that means questioning democracy as a concept versus in practice. "The Democratic Party has made a concerted effort, especially nationally, but also in the states, to push the idea that the Democrats are not only 'capital D' Democrats, but are the ones who are sort of guardians of democracy and understand and care about democratic ideals, and so they have been sort of pushing that narrative already. That also pushes Democrats to think about democracy in more conceptual terms as opposed to practical terms," Hellwege said. --- ### Our polling methods Mason-Dixon Polling and Strategy, [ranked as one of the least-biased and most-factual pollsters](https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/mason-dixon-polling-bias-and-credibility/?ref=sdnewswatch.org), conducted the poll of 500 registered voters Oct. 12-14 using random selections from a telephone-matched state voter registration list that included both landline and cellphone numbers from across the state. All respondents indicated they were likely to vote in the November general election. The margin for error is no more than ± 4.5 percentage points. For bios on the candidates and other information about the race, see our South Dakota voter guide at the link below. Plus, view our other South Dakota Poll stories. [South Dakota voter guideWhat South Dakotans need to know about voting in statewide elections, and who and what are on the ballot.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/ab/cbabab5e-2dc6-462c-94a0-b72956c0d224/content/images/icon/SDNW-Logo-Vertical-189ceaa6-243c-4e33-8680-71b040229d2c.jpg)South Dakota News WatchMolly Wetsch![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/ab/cbabab5e-2dc6-462c-94a0-b72956c0d224/content/images/thumbnail/2026-06-02-Voting-booths--Sioux-Falls-1-1-1-dd0b072f-23bf-486e-8c79-1d61c941cd82.jpg)](https://www.sdnewswatch.org/south-dakota-voter-guide-primary-general-election/) [Poll: Gov. Rhoden leads challenger Ahlers 56-36%Scientific survey sponsored by South Dakota News Watch and Chiesman Center for Democracy at USD also shows half of voters have a favorable view of Larry Rhoden and half of registered independents support Dan Ahlers.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/ab/cbabab5e-2dc6-462c-94a0-b72956c0d224/content/images/icon/SDNW-Logo-Vertical-0322cf52-d541-4077-aa3b-f99e26c85948.jpg)South Dakota News WatchMolly Wetsch![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/ab/cbabab5e-2dc6-462c-94a0-b72956c0d224/content/images/thumbnail/SD-Governor.gfx-1-235b2573-61bf-45de-8b41-556667971077.png)](https://www.sdnewswatch.org/south-dakota-poll-2026-governor-ahlers-rhoden/) [Poll: Jackley leads Gronli 60-32% for US HouseRepublican Marty Jackley is South Dakota's attorney general. Democrat Nicki Gronli was formerly the state's director for the Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development program.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/ab/cbabab5e-2dc6-462c-94a0-b72956c0d224/content/images/icon/SDNW-Logo-Vertical-f0e579c5-46cb-40f2-8e04-5c8a59578ad7.jpg)South Dakota News WatchMolly Wetsch![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/ab/cbabab5e-2dc6-462c-94a0-b72956c0d224/content/images/thumbnail/US-House.gfx-2-1-c12c2d88-bbae-4c97-95e4-857772b3dc45.png)](https://www.sdnewswatch.org/south-dakota-poll-us-house-jackley-gronli/) [Poll: Sen. Rounds leads challenger Bengs 56-37%Race includes second-time Senate hopeful Independent Brian Bengs challenging incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds, who's seeking his third term.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/ab/cbabab5e-2dc6-462c-94a0-b72956c0d224/content/images/icon/SDNW-Logo-Vertical-37621232-e154-4db2-8e77-c9a63150c3af.jpg)South Dakota News WatchEmily DeCock![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/ab/cbabab5e-2dc6-462c-94a0-b72956c0d224/content/images/thumbnail/US-Senate.gfx-2-5b3b8477-bc4a-4c81-b44a-19378941ec38.png)](https://www.sdnewswatch.org/south-dakota-poll-us-senate-rounds-bengs/) [Poll: 1/3 of voters undecided on Medicaid, unclaimed propertySouth Dakota Poll shows support for non-citizen voting and unclaimed property ballot issues but higher opposition for changes to Medicaid and the threshold to amend the constitution.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/ab/cbabab5e-2dc6-462c-94a0-b72956c0d224/content/images/icon/SDNW-Logo-Vertical-bc156fd2-9893-4648-8af0-4b832aa4fe34.jpg)South Dakota News WatchEmily DeCock![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/ab/cbabab5e-2dc6-462c-94a0-b72956c0d224/content/images/thumbnail/2026-06-02-Empty-absentee-ballot-envelopes-1-5f75babb-7152-44c5-8f48-4025e0e88610.jpg)](https://www.sdnewswatch.org/south-dakota-poll-constitutional-amendments-ballot-measures/) [South Dakota Poll: Secretary of State race anyone's game; other executive officesSecretary of state race is contentious with three candidates vying for office. Other executive offices, including attorney general, treasurer, auditor, school and public lands and public utilities commission outlined.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/ab/cbabab5e-2dc6-462c-94a0-b72956c0d224/content/images/icon/SDNW-Logo-Vertical-85fe551b-9811-43c4-a849-60f3e031d311.jpg)South Dakota News WatchEmily DeCock![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/ab/cbabab5e-2dc6-462c-94a0-b72956c0d224/content/images/thumbnail/Executive-offices-graphic-9f02986f-ada3-47a5-a239-d7449da88a79.png)](https://www.sdnewswatch.org/south-dakota-poll-secretary-of-state-executive-offices/) ****Coming Friday:** Showing our math and methodology [Share your thoughts on this story](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScdTmGFf24Uhwiwd%5FndSxHkv6oBGSAy1LxF9BbwRbhBK5KflA/viewform?usp=sf%5Flink&ref=sdnewswatch.org) **South Dakota News Watch* is an independent nonprofit. *Read*, *subscribe* for free and *donate* at* [*sdnewswatch.org*](http://sdnewswatch.org/?ref=sdnewswatch.org)*. *Contact* reporter/*[*Report for America*](https://www.reportforamerica.org/?ref=sdnewswatch.org) *corps member *Molly Wetsch*: 605-531-7382/* [*molly.wetsch@sdnewswatch.org*](mailto:molly.wetsch@sdnewswatch.org)*. *Contact* reporter *Emily DeCock*:* 605-736-4396*/* [*emily.decock@sdnewswatch.org*](mailto:emily.decock@sdnewswatch.org)*.*