South Dakota Sample Ballot 2026: Every Candidate on Your November Ballot

Larry Rhoden is South Dakota's incumbent governor and the Republican nominee for a full term, winning the state's first-ever gubernatorial primary runoff on July 28 with about 71% of the vote over Aberdeen businessman Toby Doeden. A rancher and former lieutenant governor from Meade County, he became governor in January 2025 when Kristi Noem joined the federal cabinet, and faces Democrat Dan Ahlers in the November 3 general.

Dan Ahlers is the Democratic nominee for South Dakota governor, a former state senator and representative from Dell Rapids, small-business owner, and executive director of the state Democratic Party who was the party's 2020 U.S. Senate nominee. His campaign emphasizes putting legislative and business experience to work on costs, education, and health care.

Mike Rounds is South Dakota's incumbent U.S. senator and the Republican nominee for a third term, winning the June 2 primary with President Trump's endorsement. A former two-term governor and insurance business owner who grew up in Pierre as the oldest of eleven, his campaign emphasizes energy independence, low taxes, and cutting red tape.

Brian Bengs is an independent candidate for U.S. Senate in South Dakota who qualified for the November ballot by petition in April 2026. A Navy veteran, retired Air Force JAG lieutenant colonel, former Northern State University professor, and former national park ranger, he was the Democratic nominee for this seat in 2022 and now runs on the cowboy code: tell the truth and take care of your neighbor.

Frank Kloucek, of Scotland, is a lifelong farmer who served eleven consecutive terms in the South Dakota House and Senate beginning with the 1990 election, through a 2012 Senate re-election bid, per KELOLAND. As a legislator he sponsored utility related proposals including tax incentives for energy production, a study of wind power, and bonding requirements for hydrocarbon pipelines, per the same source. He is now running for the Public Utilities Commission on a platform focused on utility rates and consumer protection, per his campaign site.

Don Haggar, of Sioux Falls, represented the city in the South Dakota House of Representatives for three terms and served as speaker pro tem for the 2017-2018 term before leaving the Legislature in 2017 to become the South Dakota state director of Americans for Prosperity, per KELOLAND. He holds a master's degree in business administration from the University of South Dakota and has worked as a registered lobbyist for several clients, per the same source. He is now campaigning for the Public Utilities Commission, per his campaign site.

Raeann Mettler, of Spearfish, holds a PhD in Natural Sciences from Black Hills State University and spent about a decade teaching at Black Hills State University, the South Dakota School of Mines, and Crazy Horse Memorial University, per the South Dakota Democratic Party. She now works as a research specialist for Missouri Breaks Industries Research Inc. in Indigenous public health and wellness and previously directed a STEAM education camp program for youth, per the same source. A third generation South Dakotan raised in Rapid City, she has also run for Spearfish City Council and the Spearfish School Board, per her campaign site.

Brock Greenfield is a lifelong rural South Dakotan who has served in the South Dakota House of Representatives and Senate for the past 22 years, according to his campaign site. He has served 12 years on the Appropriations Committee and 4 years as Senate President Pro Tempore, per the site.

Tony Venhuizen is South Dakota's incumbent lieutenant governor and Governor Larry Rhoden's running mate for the November 3 ballot, per the Rhoden campaign. A former state representative and longtime chief of staff to Governors Dennis Daugaard and Kristi Noem, he also chairs the Rhoden campaign. Under a 2025 law, governor candidates formally designate their lieutenant governor picks by August 11. No campaign website was found as of September 12, 2026.

Steven McCleerey is a farmer from rural Sisseton and Democratic nominee Dan Ahlers's running mate for lieutenant governor, named to the ticket on August 12, 2026, per South Dakota Searchlight. He served six years in the South Dakota House of Representatives from 2015 to 2020, including as assistant House minority leader, and is vice president of the Coteau des Prairies Health Care Systems board of directors, per South Dakota Searchlight. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.

Lance Russell is the state's attorney for Fall River and Oglala Lakota counties, a Hot Springs attorney, and the Republican nominee for South Dakota attorney general, chosen at the June 27 state convention on a second round of delegate voting. A former state senator who also serves as city attorney for several southern Black Hills communities, he holds a law degree from the University of South Dakota and a master of laws in natural resources law from the University of Denver. Per KELOLAND, his is expected to be the only name on the November 3 ballot for the open office, as Democrats did not nominate an opponent and incumbent Marty Jackley is running for U.S. House. No campaign website was found as of September 12, 2026.

Heather Baxter is a state representative from Rapid City, a fitness center owner, and the Republican nominee for South Dakota secretary of state, winning 59% of delegates at the June 27 state convention over incumbent Monae Johnson. A Freedom Caucus member who carried election bills as a freshman legislator, she campaigns on hand-counted paper ballots and election-security reforms, per her campaign announcement and South Dakota Searchlight convention coverage.

Terrence Davis is a former state trooper who served in both Tennessee and South Dakota and the Democratic nominee for secretary of state, chosen at the party's June 6 state convention. He holds a criminal justice degree and a master's in public policy and is pursuing a doctorate in law and policy, per the state party's nominee announcement. His campaign site emphasizes secure and accessible voting, especially for rural communities, and modernizing the office's services.

Melissa Hull has been treasury manager in the South Dakota treasurer's office since 2019 and is the Republican nominee for state treasurer, winning 81% of delegates at the June 27 state convention. A lifelong South Dakotan endorsed by term-limited incumbent Josh Haeder, she campaigns on her day-to-day operational experience inside the office, per her campaign site.

Margaret Kuipers is a lifelong South Dakotan with experience in farming, emergency medical services, emergency management, law enforcement, health care and business ownership, per her campaign site. She served 14 years as treasurer for the South Dakota Emergency Medical Services Association and has worked as a treasurer for several federal campaigns, per the campaign site. She is running for South Dakota State Treasurer, per the campaign site.

Catherine Barranco is a Sioux Falls economist who formerly investigated financial fraud at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Republican nominee for state auditor, winning 53% of delegates on the first round at the June 27 state convention. She holds bachelor's and master's degrees in economics, is a small-business owner and past president of the South Dakota Federation of Republican Women, and is endorsed by term-limited incumbent Rich Sattgast. She entered the race after her husband, Sioux Falls City Councilor David Barranco, stepped away from his campaign following a cancer diagnosis, per The Dakota Scout.

Tom Cool spent nearly four decades as executive director of the Council on College Admissions in South Dakota and is the Democratic nominee for state auditor, chosen at the party's June 6 state convention. Per the state party's nominee announcement, the Sioux Falls Democrat chairs the Democratic Forum of Southeast Dakota and has run statewide before, including for auditor in 2018 and secretary of state in 2022. No campaign website was found as of September 12, 2026.