Following the 2024 election, more women have been elected to the South Dakota Legislature than ever before. For the coming legislative term, 37% of the seats in the statehouse will be filled by women.
That number is still well below true population ratio of roughly 50/50, and an amendment to change gendered constitutional language failed in front of voters this election. Despite this, the number marks a milestone in South Dakota.
South Dakota State University political science professor Lisa Hager said it’s hard to pinpoint precisely what causes inequity in the Capitol.
“Obviously, one of the things that always gets pointed out is women are never able to hold elected office in the same proportion of which they’re represented in the population, but that’s the case with really anybody if you’re thinking about different ethnic groups and racial minorities," Hager said. "I think it’s hard to know unless you throw a bunch of variables in and start crunching the numbers.”
Nevertheless, she praised the progress.
“Some of the things that are helping a lot is there’s more of an emphasis on getting young girls interested in politics and getting them to realize that is an arena which they can see themselves in the future," Hager said. "Just from the standpoint of looking at it from getting more women and girls interested in areas that are typically male dominated. So, you see efforts like that with STEM careers, especially engineering.”
And for young women, recently reelected State Republican Sen. Helene Duhamel knows exactly where to start.
“Those are our pages," Duhamel said. "Those are the young women from the different high schools who are coming to the legislature who are asking us to be their sponsors. They look at us when we stand up, on the floor, in debate, when we chair committees. We become their role models, and they see themselves in these roles.”
The application period for the upcoming sessions page program is closed, but application materials easily can be found online for future sessions.
Duhamel comes from a family with deep political ties in South Dakota and served as her party’s whip in the last legislative session.
“When women represent half of the population, it only makes sense that our goal should be women represent half in the legislature," Duhamel said. "My very first session, I might have had one bill, but I was very quiet, very observant, and trying to learn the ropes. Every year, you actually become a better legislator.”
After winning her reelection campaign, Duhamel is now among the longest-tenured Senators in the state.
"There’s so much to learn, you don’t know what you don’t know until you get there," Duhamel said. "You need a great mentor, and I gotta believe all the female veterans will step up and help the female newbies.”
Freshman lawmakers like Rapid City Democratic Representative-elect Nicole Uhre-Balk. With her election, it’s the first time Rapid City has sent a Democrat to Pierre in years.
“I’m very excited, very honored, and just so grateful people trusted me with their vote,” Uhre-Balk said.
Uhre-Balk said getting involved in politics early was crucial to putting her on the road to the statehouse.
“My aunt is the first female lieutenant governor of South Dakota, Carole Hillard. So, that was a huge inspiration," Uhre-Balk said. "I left a lot of envelopes for her campaign when I was little.”
Now, Uhre-Balk said she’s ready to bring her voice to Pierre.
“With my work, I do professional development for teachers all across the state," Uhre-Balk said. "Wanting to support schools, educators, students and families, and I just couldn’t do it from the sidelines anymore. I wanted to get to Pierre to try to help advance education that way.”
Some voices and their experience in the Capitol left in this last election though. Outgoing state Democratic Representative Linda Duba retired from the statehouse to spend more time with her grandchildren. She said the first session is a critical learning experience.
“I find that the most important thing in being a good legislator in Pierre is being willing to listen and build relationships, especially in that first year," Duba said. "I say, listen, learn.”
Duba said building connections is the key to success in the Capitol.
“If you’re bringing a bill of any kind, and a person knows who you are to your core, then they won’t think you have nefarious intent," Duba said. "Now, if somebody burns that bridge on you, remember that. I like to say be a student of the game. Diversity of school of thought is important. Walk in someone else’s shoes or have them help you walk in someone else’s shoes. That’s being a student of the game and building a relationship.”
The 100th South Dakota legislative session kicks off with the Governor’s State of the State address on Jan. 14.