Potter County Sample Ballot & Voter Guide 2026
4 candidates are on the November 3, 2026 ballot across 2 Potter County races, led by the South Dakota Senate District 23 contest.
By address
These seats are elected by district; only the district covering your address is on your ballot.
Find your districts by addressSouth Dakota Senate District 23Mark Lapka (R)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Mark Lapka Republican Incumbent
- Focus on data centers and state budgeting
- Increase government transparency
- Address school funding in the district
Per the South Dakota Public Broadcasting.
About Mark Lapka
Mark Lapka is the incumbent state senator for South Dakota Senate District 23, per the South Dakota Legislature's official roster. He is a farmer and rancher who was elected to the Senate in 2024 and has served as vice chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, per South Dakota Public Broadcasting. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.
Mark Lapka (Republican) is the only candidate on the November 3, 2026 ballot for South Dakota Senate District 23; unopposed candidates still appear on South Dakota ballots, so the race is on the ballot but is not contested. Mark Lapka 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.
Full race pageSouth Dakota House District 23Garett Heinz (Independent) · Dick Werner (R) · Spencer Gosch (R)
Garett Heinz Independent
Garett Heinz, of Ipswich, is a dairy farmer, per Dakota Free Press. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.
Dick Werner Republican
Dick Werner is a fourth-generation farmer who co-owns Schulte TA Inc., a powerline construction company, per the Ipswich Tribune. He has served as president of Herreid Area Housing Development Inc. for the past decade and sits on the board of Campbell County Bank, per the same report. He previously served as a Republican member of the South Dakota House of Representatives for District 22 from 2013 to 2017, per the Ipswich Tribune. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.
Spencer Gosch Republican Incumbent
Spencer Gosch is the sitting Republican state representative for District 23, per the South Dakota Legislature's official roster. His listed occupation is rancher and farmer, per the same roster. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.
Garett Heinz (Independent), Dick Werner (Republican), Spencer Gosch (Republican) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for South Dakota House District 23. Voters choose two. Spencer Gosch 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.
Full race pageSee your full ballot
Voting info and more
Voting info and more
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Cross-check every race and candidate with the official election office. Official sources are the final word.
South Dakota's field is the Secretary of State's general election candidate list. Party nominees were chosen at the June 2, 2026 primary; candidates for some offices are nominated at party conventions. Each of the 35 legislative districts elects one senator and two representatives, so House races say voters choose two, except the single-member House districts 26A, 26B, 28A and 28B. Unopposed candidates still appear on the ballot.
Who is on the ballot in Potter County, South Dakota on November 3, 2026?
Potter County sample ballot 2026: who is running for south dakota house and south dakota senate, with bios, priorities and campaign sites. Every candidate profile on this page names the official filing or campaign source it came from.
When is the 2026 general election in South Dakota?
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for South Dakota are listed on the South Dakota election hub. South Dakota election hub →
How do I see my exact Potter County ballot?
Enter your ZIP code in the lookup for the statewide and congressional races on every ballot in the county, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location. Look up your ballot →
South Dakota statewide racesEvery South Dakota race on this county's ballot.All South Dakota ballot measures4 statewide ballot measures