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Nov. 4, 2026 · 5 min read

Sioux Falls 2026 election results, in plain words

Unofficial results for Sioux Falls. How the four amendments did, who won each legislative district, the county and statewide races, and the four races close enough to be possible recounts.

The votes are counted. These are unofficial results from the South Dakota Secretary of State, updated Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. with every precinct reporting. They become official after the county and state canvasses.

Statewide, 49.4% of registered voters cast a ballot. That's 310,298 people.

Want every vote count? Our 2026 election results page has every race, every candidate and every district.

Illustration of neighbors outside a polling place with a ballot box and a rising sun

The four amendments

Two passed and two failed. Each one needed a simple majority.

Results for the four amendments. Amendment I, Medicaid expansion and federal funding, failed with 44.2% yes and 55.8% no. Amendment J, citizenship and voting, passed with 61.5% yes and 38.5% no. Amendment K, unclaimed property trust fund, passed with 60.9% yes and 39.1% no. Amendment L, 60% to pass future amendments, failed with 42.4% yes and 57.6% no.

  • Amendment I, Medicaid expansion and federal funding: failed. Yes 44.2%, no 55.8%. The Medicaid expansion voters approved in 2022 stays in place no matter what share the federal government pays.
  • Amendment J, citizenship and voting: passed. Yes 61.5%, no 38.5%. The constitution now says outright that people who aren't U.S. citizens can't vote.
  • Amendment K, unclaimed property trust fund: passed. Yes 60.9%, no 39.1%. Unclaimed property money now goes into a trust fund in the constitution.
  • Amendment L, 60% to pass future amendments: failed. Yes 42.4%, no 57.6%. Future constitutional amendments still need a simple majority.

Your legislators

Every Sioux Falls voter picked one state senator and up to two state representatives. Here are the winners in each district.

  • District 2: Senate, John Sjaarda (R). House, Adam Long (R) and Manuel Luschas (R).
  • District 6: Senate, Ernie Otten (R). House, Jerry Jongeling (R) and Elliott Neff (R).
  • District 9: Senate, Joy Hohn (R). House, Tesa Schwans (R) and Megan Tschetter (R). Possible recount.
  • District 10: Senate, Liz Larson (D). House, Kathleen Brudvig (D) and Adam Bair (D).
  • District 11: Senate, Chris Karr (R). Possible recount. House, Sonja Mentzer (D) and Brian Mulder (R). Possible recount.
  • District 12: Senate, Kari Shanard-Koenders (R). Possible recount. House, Stephanie Arne (D) and Amber Arlint (R).
  • District 13: Senate, Sue Peterson (R). House, Jack Kolbeck (R) and Ali Rae Horsted (D).
  • District 14: Senate, Larry Zikmund (R). House, Taylor Rehfeldt (R) and Erinn Williams (D).
  • District 15: Senate, Erik Muckey (D). House, Kadyn Wittman (D) and June CopperStad (D).
  • District 25: Senate, Bart Sample (R). House, Carrie Sanderson (R) and Nick Buchholz (R).

Not sure which district you live in? Tap the map on our results page.

Too close to call

The Secretary of State lists four Sioux Falls races as possible recounts because the margins are so close.

Possible recounts. District 11 Senate, 34 votes separate Chris Karr and Aaron Matson. District 11 House, 129 votes separate Brian Mulder and Keri Weems for the second seat. District 12 Senate, 132 votes separate Kari Shanard-Koenders and Joe Zweifel. District 9 House, 157 votes separate Megan Tschetter and Amanda Potter for the second seat.

  • District 11 Senate: 34 votes separate Chris Karr and Aaron Matson.
  • District 11 House: 129 votes separate Brian Mulder and Keri Weems for the second seat.
  • District 12 Senate: 132 votes separate Kari Shanard-Koenders and Joe Zweifel.
  • District 9 House: 157 votes separate Megan Tschetter and Amanda Potter for the second seat.

The candidate listed first in each race is ahead in the unofficial count. If a recount changes anything, we'll update our results page.

Statewide and county

Statewide: Mike Rounds (U.S. Senate), Marty Jackley (U.S. House), Larry Rhoden and Tony Venhuizen (governor and lieutenant governor), Heather Baxter (secretary of state), Lance Russell (attorney general), Catherine Barranco (auditor), Melissa Hull (treasurer), Brock Greenfield (school and public lands) and Don Haggar (Public Utilities Commission).

Minnehaha County: Leah Anderson won county auditor. Kenny Anderson Jr., Jen Bleyenberg and Brent Hoffman won the three at-large county commission seats. Stephanie Wollman and Reid Christopherson won the two conservation district seats. Lincoln County had no contested county races on the ballot.

What happens next

  1. The count becomes official. County canvass boards review their results, then the state canvass certifies them.
  2. Recounts, if requested. Candidates in the close races can ask for one.
  3. Meet your legislators. Once results are certified, we'll introduce the full Sioux Falls delegation before the 2027 legislative session. You'll know who represents you, how to reach them and what they're working on.

Elections pick the people. What happens next is up to all of us showing up. The next chance is close: Mayor Erickson's Sioux Falls Listens session is Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at Levitt at the Falls. Every date that matters is on our new civic calendar.

It's always been our city, and now is our moment. Let's rise together.

Sources

Vince DanhCommunity builder, storyteller, and Sioux Falls' unofficial hype man.

Have a tip or a story idea? Email issues@risingtogethersf.com.

Let's rise together