The Ballot Brief
Yankton County, South Dakota

South Dakota House District 18

4 candidates are tracked for South Dakota House District 18 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Karen Springer, Jarod Holcomb, John R. Marquardt and Mike Stevens. Candidate information follows official Yankton County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Karen Springer (Democratic), Jarod Holcomb (Democratic), John R. Marquardt (Republican), Mike Stevens (Republican) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for South Dakota House District 18. Voters choose two. Mike Stevens 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. Voters choose 2; the top 2 finishers win seats. Elected by district: only voters who live in the district see this race on their ballot. The sitting officeholder, Mike Stevens, is on the ballot.

South Dakota › Yankton County › South Dakota House District 18

Karen Springer

Democratic

Top priorities
  • Increasing public education funding and staff pay
  • State funding for child care, including daycare centers and in home care
  • Quality, affordable health care access

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Karen Springer served in the United States Air Force for twenty two years, per the campaign site. Springer lives in Yankton, South Dakota, and is running for South Dakota House District 18, per the campaign site.

Jarod Holcomb

Democratic

Top priorities
  • Wants relief from rising property taxes for working families and homeowners in District 18
  • Wants to eliminate South Dakota's grocery tax
  • Opposes approving data center developments over local community objections

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Jarod Holcomb has worked for thirteen years on the casthouse floor at Hydro in Yankton County, per his campaign site. He serves as treasurer of the Yankton County Democrats and sits on the board of Pathways, a Yankton homeless shelter, per his campaign site. He is a homeowner in District 18, per his campaign site.

John R. Marquardt

Republican

Top priorities
  • Supports funding for schools and public safety in District 18
  • Wants the legislature to require fiscal impact statements before imposing new mandates on counties and increase state participation in existing obligations
  • Focuses on infrastructure and managing growth from expanding industries in the district

Per the campaign site.

Biography

John R. Marquardt serves as chairman of the Yankton County Commission, per his campaign site. He was raised on a family farm in the Yankton area, per his campaign site.

Mike Stevens

Republican Incumbent

Biography

Mike Stevens is the sitting Republican state representative for District 18, per the South Dakota Legislature's official roster. His listed occupation is attorney, per the same roster. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.

Next on your ballotYankton County County Auditor

See your full ballot

Your address is only used to match your districts.

Voting info and more

Voting info and more
Questions about this race

Who is running for South Dakota House District 18 in 2026?

4 candidates are tracked for South Dakota House District 18 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Karen Springer, Jarod Holcomb, John R. Marquardt and Mike Stevens. Candidate information follows official Yankton County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the South Dakota House District 18 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 Yankton 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 Yankton County and state election office filings, last verified September 27, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

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

The rest of your Yankton County ballot

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

Also on your ballot
Yankton County Commissioner (At Large)Yankton County SheriffSouth Dakota Senate District 18See all 5 Yankton County races
Candidate profiles
Karen Springer, full profileJarod Holcomb, full profileJohn R. Marquardt, full profileMike Stevens, full profileOfficial South Dakota election office