Codington County, South Dakota

South Dakota Senate District 5

One candidate is tracked for South Dakota Senate District 5 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Glen A. Vilhauer. Candidate information follows official Codington County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Glen A. Vilhauer (Republican) is the only candidate on the November 3, 2026 ballot for South Dakota Senate District 5; unopposed candidates still appear on South Dakota ballots, so the race is on the ballot but is not contested. Glen A. Vilhauer is the sitting member, per the Legislature's 2026 session roster. Party nominees were chosen at the June 2, 2026 primary, per the South Dakota Secretary of State's 2026 general-election candidate list.

What this office does

State legislator. State legislators write and vote on state laws and the state budget, which fund schools, roads, prisons, universities and health programs, and set the rules for local governments and elections. Each member represents one district and serves on committees that shape bills before a floor vote. Terms are two years in most state houses and four in most state senates.

This race. Elected by district: only voters who live in the district see this race on their ballot. The sitting officeholder, Glen A. Vilhauer, is on the ballot. One name is on the ballot for this seat.

South Dakota › Codington County › South Dakota Senate District 5

Glen A. Vilhauer

Republican Incumbent

Top priorities

Supporting agriculture, working families, and small businesses
Regional economic development and local control over state mandates
A fiscally conservative approach to balancing South Dakota's budget

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Glen Vilhauer is the Republican incumbent state senator for South Dakota Senate District 5, which includes Watertown, running unopposed for reelection in 2026, per South Dakota Public Broadcasting. He is a retired CPA and small-business owner who also serves on the Watertown city council, per his campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

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Questions about this race

Who is running for South Dakota Senate District 5 in 2026?

When is the South Dakota Senate District 5 election in South Dakota?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for South Dakota are on the South Dakota election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Codington County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Codington County and state election office filings, last verified September 25, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official South Dakota election office, or see the full Codington County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Codington County ballot

10 tracked races in Codington County, South Dakota. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot

South Dakota House District 5 Codington County County Auditor Codington County Commissioner, District 1 See all 10 Codington County races

Candidate profiles

Glen A. Vilhauer, full profile Official South Dakota election office