Find S.D. primary election results for the Sioux Falls area

Megan Raposa -

Simplified: The 2025 South Dakota Legislature makeup is looking a bit clearer after Tuesday's primary election. Meanwhile, statewide voter turnout was less than 20%, and turnout in Lincoln County was just under than 12%. Minnehaha County didn't crack 10% turnout.

A quick note: Several Republican races in the state are uncontested, meaning the primary winners will head to Pierre in January. Because there weren't enough democratic or third-party candidates in the Sioux Falls area to warrant any primary races, know that all of the candidates listed below are part of the Republican party unless otherwise noted.

Here's a look at the results for races in the Sioux Falls area:

Minnehaha County Commission

Cole Heisey and incumbent Dean Karsky edged out Roger Russell and Dan Kippley to make the November ballot for the Minnehaha County Commission.

  • The race was quite close, though, with fewer than 100 votes between Karsky and Russell, so it's possible we'll see a recount.

Lincoln County Commission

Betty Otten narrowly bested fellow Republican Duane A.M. Carlson for a seat representing District 2 in Lincoln County. She'll go on to face incumbent James Jibben, the lone democratic candidate in the race, in November.

Over in District 4, Douglas Putnam beat out incumbent Michael Poppens with 53% of the vote. With no democratic challenger, Putman gets to move straight on to the commission.

District 2: House

John Sjaarda, a 47-year-old Valley Springs farmer, will return for another term in the South Dakota House of Representatives, joined by fellow incumbent and former Brandon police chief David Kull.

  • Both men beat out challenger Jake Schoenbeck, a 28-year-old Sioux Falls auditor.

District 6: House

Herman Otten, a 57-year-old contractor, and Aaron Aylward, a 37-year-old recruiter, are one step closer to another term representing District 6 in Pierre.

  • On the November ballot, they'll be joined by Garret M. Campbell.

District 9: Senate

Joy Hohn, a 58-year-old commercial pilot, will represent Hartford and northwest Sioux Falls in Pierre. She defeated incumbent Mark K. Willadsen with 74% of the vote.

District 9: House

Incumbent Bethany Soye, a 36-year-old attorney will join 58-year-old hairdresser Tesa Schwans on the November ballot. They'll be joined by democratic candidate Beverly Froslie Johnson in the race to represent District 9.

District 11: House

This was definitely the closest race of the night in the Sioux Falls area. Brian K. Mulder and Keri K. Weems each received the exact same number of votes, defeating John C. Kunnari by only 10 votes. Also in the race was Bill Linsenmeyer.

  • Because the race was so close, it's possible it'll go to a recount.

The winning two will join democratic challengers Sonja Mentzer and Aaron Matson.

District 12: House

Incumbents Amber Arlint and Greg Jamison defeated challenger Manny Steele, who himself is a former state lawmaker.

  • They'll now advance to the November ballot where they'll race against democratic candidates Erin Royer and JR Anderson.

District 13: House

John Hughes, a 67-year-old attorney, will join incumbent and fellow attorney Tony Venhuizen, 41, representing District 13 in Pierre.

They defeated challengers Brad Jankord and Penny BayBridge.

District 14: House

Incumbent Taylor Rae Rehfeldt will join newcomer Tony Kayser, a 64-year-old financial services professional, on the November ballot. They defeated incumbent Tyler Tordsen.

  • They'll join democratic candidates B.J. Motley and Keith Block in the general election.

District 16: Senate

Incumbent Kevin Jensen, a 69-year-old semi-retired firearms instructor, will return to Pierre, defeating challenger Eric Hohman.

District 16: House

Karla Lems, a 55-year-old small business owner and incumbent, will advance to the November ballot alongisde Richard Vasgaard after defeating 33-year-old mechanical engineer Brian J. Burge in Tuesday's election.

  • The two winners will join democratic candidate Matthew Carl Ness in the general election.

District 25: Senate

Incumbent Tom Pischke took 70% of the vote, defeating 33-year-old business owner Jordan Youngberg. He'll now face off with democratic candidate Brian Wirth in November.