South Dakota has elected it’s first female governor.
In one of the tightest gubernatorial races in recent memory, Noem defeated Democrat Billie Sutton. The Republican won with 51% of the votes to Sutton’s 48%. Libertarian Kurt Evans received 1%.
Beadle County voters gave Noem 52.10% of the votes with Sutton picking up 46.37% and Evans receiving 1.54%.
Noem’s seat in the U.S. House went to Republican Dusty Johnson. He defeated Democrat Tim Bjorkman 60% to 36%. Independent Ron Wieczorek picked up 2% while Libertarian George Hendrickson had 1%
Johnson won Beadle County with 63.40% support. Bjorkman had 32.87% of the votes cast. 2.50% went Wieczorek and 1.23% for Hendrickson.
Voter turnout in Beadle County was 62.68%, with 6,170 of 9,843 registered voters casting ballots.
In District 22 races:
Republican Jim White, the incumbent, defeated Democratic challenger Eric Bliss. White won with 73% to 27% for Bliss.
In Beadle County voting, White received 74% the votes.
In the House race, incumbents Roger Chase and Bob Glanzer retained their seats. Glanzer garnered 40% of the votes, Chase had 34% and Tyler Volesky received 26%.
Beadle County voters gave Glanzer 40% of the votes with 34% for Chase and 26% for Volesky.
In other races:
Huron’s Josh Haeder was elected State Treasurer. The Republican defeated Democrat Aaron Matson 62% to 38%.
Republican Steve Barnett was elected Secretary of State over Democrat Alexandra Frederick.
Jason Ravnsborg was elected Attorney General over Randy Seiler.
Rich Sattgast defeated Tom Cool in the race for State Auditor.
Commissioner of School and Public Lands Incumbent Ryan Brunner won over Woody Houser.
Public Utilities Commissioner Kristie Fiegen won re-election over Wayne Frederick.
South Dakota voted to retain Supreme Court Justice Janine Kern.
Initiated amendment W was defeated 55%-45%. The amendment would have changed campaign finance and lobbying laws, creating a
government accountability board, and changing certain initiative and referendum provisions.
Voters defeated Amendment X 46%-54%. It would have increased the number of votes needed to approve a constitutional amendment.
Voters said yes to Amendment Z by a vote of 68% to 32%. The amendment establishes that a proposed constitutional amendment may embrace only
one subject, and requiring proposed amendments to be presented and voted on separately.
Initiated Measure 24 was approved by voters 56%-44%. The measure prohibits contributions to ballot question committees by non-residents, out-of-state political committees, and entities that are not filed
with the Secretary of State.
Voters defeated Initiated Measure 25 by a vote of 55% to 45%. It would have increased the state tobacco tax and creating a postsecondary technical institute fund for the purposes of lowering student tuition and providing financial support to the State postsecondary technical institutes