South Dakota Democrats gain legislative seats in 2026 elections

South Dakota Democrats gain legislative seats despite statewide Republican sweep

Democratic candidates in South Dakota failed to capture any statewide offices in the 2026 elections, but the party managed to secure several legislative seats, marking a break in a long-standing trend of stagnation. While Republicans maintained their dominance across the state, Democrats successfully flipped seats in Sioux Falls, cutting into a Republican supermajority.

No Democratic candidate for a statewide position broke the 40% threshold, with most finishing in the mid-30% range. This performance mirrored the party’s historical standing in recent election cycles. However, the legislative results provided a different narrative. The party picked up four state seats, all located in Sioux Falls, ending an 18-year period during which Democrats failed to add seats to the legislature.

South Dakota Searchlight reported that Tuesday’s voter turnout was less than 50%, the lowest level recorded in the last 62 years. In Minnehaha County, which contains the majority of Sioux Falls, turnout sat at 48.8%, while Lincoln County saw 51.5%.

Demographic shifts and candidate pipelines in Sioux Falls

Political analysts suggest that the concentrated Democratic gains in Sioux Falls are tied to changing local demographics and a larger pool of candidates. Emily Wanless, an associate professor of government and international affairs at Augustana University, noted that the city is seeing increased diversity and a move toward more liberal policy preferences.

South Dakota democrats celebrate legislative gains despite losing big races

“One, I think the demographics of the city are changing. We are seeing more diversity, more liberal policy coming throughout,” Wanless said. “And as a result, I think that the party itself has gotten some traction.”

A primary example of this shift occurred in District 13, where Democrat Ali Rae Horsted unseated the Republican incumbent, Rep. John Hughes. Horsted’s victory is notable because the party did not run a candidate for House in that district during the 2024 cycle.

Larson echoed this sentiment regarding the importance of experience.

“There were a lot of folks who didn’t make it but were really close—and even closer than I thought in some cases. So, I hope those people run again,” Larson said. “The first time I ran I lost, and I think it’s a great exercise to go through because you understand what a campaign is… So, I’m hoping that those folks who got close this last time will consider it again.”

Low turnout and the Republican “three-alarm fire”

Wanless suggested that because the Republican primary was so highly contested regarding the governorship and legislative leadership, many voters felt the “real choice” had already happened. The ballot measures lacked the polarization necessary to drive high turnout.

While the Democrats saw localized success, the broader political climate remains heavily tilted toward the GOP. However, some Republican observers believe the party should not be complacent. Pat Powers, a Republican commentator, argued that the Democratic gains represent a warning sign for the state’s Republican establishment.

“They need to do a lot more than just hit snooze on the clock thinking it’s going to go away. This should be a warning for a three-alarm fire because the structure that’s given the Republican Party in South Dakota success over the last 18-20 years is kind of burning down,” Powers said.

Powers attributed the Democratic performance to better organizational efforts, specifically citing increased spending on candidates. He noted that the Democratic party appears to have regained a focus on candidate recruitment that had been missing for roughly 15 years.

The results reflect a growing sense of frustration among voters, though the direction of that anger varies. Larson noted that some national frustration was leaking into state-level races, while Powers pointed to campaign fundraising reports showing Democrats spending more on candidates than their Republican counterparts.

The new legislative group is scheduled to convene in January for the 2027 State of the State Address.