PIERRE, S.D. – Some Republican primary voters in South Dakota may be forgiven for getting a case of deja vu when they head to the polls on June 2.
Besides the hotly contested governor's race and the two other statewide contests taking place, some state Senate districts are seeing a rematch of GOP primary opponents from 2024.
"If property rights are important to people, they're not going to forget." – Sen. Mykala Voita
While those who lost two years ago hope higher turnout in this election cycle will work in their favor, those who were successful in 2024 and running for reelection are confident voters will remember the circumstances that got them elected in the first place.
Here are factors driving these rematches and a look at whether a candidate's endorsement in the Republican gubernatorial contest could play a role in the outcome of their own race.
Take me back
Two of the state Senate rematches pit a former incumbent looking to reclaim their seat versus an opponent who was successful in ousting them, in part, due to concerns over property rights.
In District 18, which encompasses Yankton, state Sen. Lauren Nelson told News Watch voters she talked to still remember her opponent, former state Sen. Jean Hunhoff, voting in favor of Senate Bill 201 in the 2024 state legislative session.
The legislation was ostensibly meant to put in place restrictions for a potential pipeline. But detractors cried foul over the bill, arguing it reduced local control as it allowed South Dakota's Public Utilities Commission to override county ordinances they deemed to be "unreasonably restrictive."
The bill was ultimately repealed via a referendum, Referred Law 21 (RL 21), in November that year, with 59% voting against the adoption of SB 201.
Get South Dakota news and information in a free email on weekdays. Cancel any time.
"When I talk to people, it goes back to two years ago and SB 201," Nelson told News Watch. "People still have that in the back of their heads. They remember those legislators who voted for SB 201 and precipitated the RL 21 movement we had to go through."
Nelson, who defeated Hunhoff by fewer than 100 votes in the 2024 primary, hopes that issue, along with her voting record the past two years in Pierre, will get her over the line this year.
"I'm just focused on what I need to do," Nelson said. "Whatever happens on June 2 happens."
Hunhoff did not respond to a request for an interview.
'They're not going to forget'
In District 21, which includes Winner, Burke and Platte, state Sen. Mykala Voita is squaring off against former state Sen. Erin Tobin, whom she beat by 48 votes in 2024.
Speaking to News Watch, Voita echoed Nelson's sentiments that SB 201 is still a factor in this year's primary.
"I absolutely think it's relevant (SB 201). When they played that hand with that bill, they showed where their loyalties lied," Voita said. "If property rights are important to people, they're not going to forget."
As with Hunhoff, Tobin voted in favor of SB 201.
Voita argued the vote, similar to the debate over data centers, has showcased a divide in the South Dakota Republican Party between those who favor business interests and those seeking to preserve the state's rural character and tradition for limited government.
"I'm not here to entice big corporations. I'm here to pull government back to its main role, which is securing our rights," Voita said.
Tobin declined a request for an interview.
The gubernatorial factor
While the two other state Senate rematches are not as clear-cut as a former lawmaker looking to reclaim their seat after a controversial vote, they do encapsulate the division Voita alludes to within the GOP that's playing out in the primary race for governor.
In District 3, which encompasses Aberdeen, state Sen. Carl Perry is seeking reelection and will meet against Katie Washnok, whom he defeated in the 2024 GOP primary election.
Washnok said her defeat two years ago was down to a lack of people going to the polls and that the governor's race will drive up those numbers this year.
Alexander Rifaat
"This cycle will be better because of the voter turnout. I think voters will be more engaged," Washnok told News Watch.
Washnok is backing front-runner U.S. House Rep. Dusty Johnson, viewed as representing the more moderate wing of the party, in the GOP gubernatorial race.
"He's never shied away from a question and I've asked him some pretty hard questions over the years," Washnok said. "To me, he was the only candidate that came out of the gate with a solid vision for South Dakota that I was excited about and could totally get behind."
Partner with South Dakota News Watch and support fact-based news and information.
Meanwhile, Perry told News Watch he is for "anybody but Dusty" but wasn't sure yet if he would endorse either state House Speaker Jon Hansen, Gov. Larry Rhoden or Aberdeen businessman Toby Doeden.
"The three other candidates all have their merits. Jon has good experience and is a good guy. I just wish he was better funded. People say that Larry is not well spoken, but I can tell you he's a good thinker and a good man. And Toby has a lot of enthusiasm for his campaign," Perry said.
While Perry tiptoed around endorsing a candidate, other anti-Johnson state Senate candidates, including Nelson and Voita, are coalescing around Hansen, who has seen his support steadily rise in recent weeks.
Hunhoff and Tobin have not weighed in on the governor's race with an endorsement.
In District 17, which includes Vermillion, Jeffery Church, who is in a rematch against state Sen. Sydney Davis, told News Watch he is backing Hansen, citing his record on property rights and his role in defeating Amendment G in 2024, which would have established abortion rights in South Dakota.
Davis, who beat Church in 2024 by more than 30 percentage points and was one of several lawmakers last year to endorse Johnson, told News Watch she has had "zero comments" from constituents regarding her vote to approve the controversial SB 201.
Voter turnout up in the air
Michael Card, professor emeritus of political science at the University of South Dakota, agreed that voter turnout will be significantly higher this year compared to 2024 but said it's unclear how it will impact the state Senate results.
Card told News Watch, using District 3 as an example, he could see a scenario where the candidate's preference for governor could help, or hurt, their case.
"If the percentages in the governor's race stay the way that they are, that may greatly benefit Katie Washnok in terms of getting more support because Dusty has got a 2-to-1 lead," Card said. "And on the other hand, if Carl Perry is saying 'anybody but Dusty,' that may not help him that much unless somebody is making big strides."
Card said Hansen has the best chance to challenge Johnson, but it remains to be seen whether he can carry the momentum and take those state Senate candidates supporting him along the way to victory.
Alexander Rifaat
In addition to the governor's race, Card said another potential factor in the state Senate races could be recent property tax legislation, specifically Senate Bill 96, which gives counties the option to impose a half-cent sales tax increase in exchange for lowering property taxes.
In a poll sponsored by South Dakota News Watch and the Chiesman Center for Democracy at the University of South Dakota released last month, nearly half of respondents disapproved of the new bill, which was championed by Rhoden.
"SB 96 is really the one to campaign on if property taxes are the main issue," Card said.
On that bill, Voita, Nelson and Davis voted no, while Perry voted yes.
Other key Senate races
Besides the rematches taking place, the 2026 state Senate primary election contain a number of other tightly contested races.
In District 2, which includes Brandon, just east of Sioux Falls, state House Reps. David Kull and John Sjaarda are battling to succeed retiring state Sen. Steve Kolbeck.
Senate President Pro Tempore Chris Karr of District 11, which encompasses parts of Sioux Falls, is being challenged by attorney Graham Oey.
In Senate District 24, which includes Pierre, state Senate Majority Leader Jim Mehlhaff faces not one but two primary challengers. Mehlhaff was the sole senator to vote "no" on Senate Bill 135 in the 2026 legislative session, which was billed the "Data Center Bill of Rights for Citizens" and promoted by Hansen and Karr.
Senate Majority Whip Randy Diebert of Spearfish, representing District 31, also has a primary opponent.
Diebert, who recently received the inaugural Champion of Local Control Award by the South Dakota Municipal League, told News Watch he is optimistic about the outcome of his race.
"I'm hoping they know how engaged I am. When I'm not in Pierre, I've come back to help solve local issues," Diebert said.
SD News Watch
Meanwhile, District 26, which includes Presho, Chamberlain and the Rosebud Indian Reservation, might have the most intriguing of all races. Not only is state Sen. Tamara Gove facing a GOP primary challenger in Rebecca Reimer, on the Democratic side, former state Sen. Shawn Bordeaux, who lost to Gove in the 2024 general election, is attempting a comeback in what is the only competitive Democratic state Senate primary. Bordeaux will face Troy Lunderman.
Speaking to News Watch, Gove is confident of her chances both in the primary and in the general election.
"I said I was going to work for the tribes, and I have, while at the same time saying I will work for those not in Indian Country, which I have, " Gove said. "I feel good about it."
In the governor's race, while she initially backed Doeden, Gove told News Watch she is leaning toward endorsing Hansen, citing his support for placing restrictions on potential data centers.
"If the primary were held today, my vote would go to Jon Hansen and Karla Lems (for lieutenant governor) because I know I can trust them to not force data centers or impose eminent domain," Gove said.
Democratic state Sen. Erik Muckey of District 15, which includes downtown Sioux Falls, believes his party has a strong chance to take back District 26 this year.
"There are large numbers of Democratic voters across the district and a full slate of Democratic House candidates on both sides of the district. With an extremely negative Republican primary rolling out attacks on Democratic voters, a hard-working Democratic campaign that reaches voters across the district can win," Muckey told News Watch.
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.
