Republicans’ already-iron grip on the South Dakota Legislature got tighter this election.
The GOP picked up a seat in both the Senate and the House.
In the Senate, Republican Tamara Grove unseated Democratic incumbent Sen. Shawn Bordeaux in District 26 in south-central South Dakota.
In the House, Republican Jana Hunt defeated Democrat Carl Petersen, taking the District 26A seat held by Democrat Oren Lesmeister, who was term-limited. Republican Bobbie Andera beat Democratic incumbent Kameron Nelson in District 10 in Sioux Falls. Democrats won one seat back when Nicole Uhre-Balk won one of the seats in District 32 in Rapid City, which was previously held by two Republicans.
These results mean in the Senate, Republicans will hold 32 seats to Democrats’ three. And in the House, Republicans have an advantage of 64 to six.
Both are well beyond the two-thirds needed for a supermajority. Republicans have held supermajorities in both chambers for decades.
One race faces a possible recount. In the race for House District 15 in Sioux Falls, Democrat Eric Muckey defeated Republican Joni Tschetter 4,364 to 4,357 - a margin of just seven votes.
All election results are unofficial until the vote is canvassed. Find the full unofficial results at the Secretary of State's website.
