Who's representing Sioux Falls in the state legislature?

Megan Raposa -

Simplified: Statewide, Republicans maintained their majority in the South Dakota legislature. In the Sioux Falls area, though, many races are still yet to be decided as of 6:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Why it matters

  • The individuals who'll represent folks in the House and Senate are the closest the average citizen can get to having an impact on statewide policies.
  • It took until Wednesday afternoon to know the final results of several local races after delays counting ballots in Minnehaha County.

So, who's representing me?

Here's a look at the winners, by district:

District 2

Your district was decided in the primary election back in June. You'll be represented by:

  • Sen. Steve Kolbeck (R)
  • Rep. David Kull (R)
  • Rep. John Sjaarda (R)

District 6

  • Sen. Ernie Otten (R) – decided in primary
  • Rep. Herman Otten (R) 42%
  • Rep. Aaron Aylward (R) 48%

Garret Campbell (D), received 21% of the vote in the state representative race.

District 9

  • Sen. Joy Hohn (R) – decided in primary
  • Rep. Bethany Soye (R) 38%
  • Rep. Tesa Schwans (R) 39%

Beverly Froslie Johnson (D) received 23% of the vote.

District 10

  • Sen. Liz Larson (D) – uncontested
  • Rep. Erin Healy (D) 38%
  • Rep. Bobbi L. Andera (R) 32%

Incumbent Kameron Nelson (D) was unseated with 30% of the vote.

District 11

  • Sen. Chris Karr (R) 59%
  • Rep. Keri K Weems (R) 28%
  • Rep. Brian K. Mulder (R) 30%

Republicans swept this district, defeating democratic challenger Steve Natz with 41% of the vote in the senate race. In the state representative race, Aaron Matson (D) took 20% of the vote, and Sonia Mentzer (D) took 22%.

District 12

  • Sen. Arch Beal (R) 56%
  • Rep. Amber Arlint (R) 31%
  • Rep. Greg Jamison (R) 30%

Republicans also swept District 12, defeating Clay Hoffman (D), who received 44% of the vote in the senate race. Erin Royer (D) and JR Anderson (D) received 22% and 18%, respectively, in the state representative race.

District 13

  • Sen. Sue Peterson (R) 58%
  • Rep. Tony Venhuizen (R) – race decided in primary
  • Rep. John Hughes (R) – race decided in primary

Challenger Ali Rae Horsted (D) put up a fight but ultimately was unable to unseat incumbent Sue Peterson in the senate race with only 42% of the vote.

District 14

  • Sen. Larry P. Zikmund (R) 55%
  • Rep. Taylor Rae Rehfeldt (R) 33%
  • Rep. Tony Kayser (R) 27%

Another loss for democrats in the senate race as challenger Sandra Henry (D) got only 45% of the vote. In the state representative race, Keith Block (D) took 21% of the vote and B.J. Motley (D) took another 18%.

District 15

  • Sen. Jamie Smith (D) 52%
  • Rep. Erik Muckey (D) 25%
  • Rep. Kadyn Wittman (D) 26%

This was one of the tightest races of the night as former gubernatorial candidate Jamie Smith earned his way back into the state legislature over Brenda Lawrence (R), who received 48% of the vote.

This is also one to watch for a possible recount as Muckey won by fewer than a dozen votes over Republican Joni Tschetter, who also received 25% of the vote. Brad Lindwurm (R) took 23% of votes.

District 16

  • Sen. Kevin D. Jensen (R) – race decided in primary
  • Rep. Karla J. Lems (R) 44%
  • Rep. Richard Vasgaard (R) 40%

Democratic candidate Matthew Carl Ness took 16% of the vote.

District 25

  • Sen. Tom Pischke (R) 73%
  • Rep. Les Heinemann (R) – race decided in the primary
  • Rep. Jon Hansen (R) – race decided in the primary

Democratic challenger Brian Wirth (D) took 27% of the vote in the senate race.

Correction: Candidate Joni Tschetter's name was spelled incorrectly in a previous version of this story.