South Dakota Democrats posted one small blue splash in the 2026 general election. They increased their presence in the South Dakota Legislature by 38%
To be clear, that’s three more Democratic legislators, up from eight currently, in a Legislature of 105 members.
Democrats held all five of their current House seats and won four more, all in Sioux Falls. Two of those new Democratic Representatives-Elect, Sonja Mentzer in District 11 and Ali Rae Horsted in District 13, had to beat incumbent Republican Representatives to make it to Pierre. Well done, Sonja and Ali Rae!
But Dems lost a seat in the Senate, thanks to party-pooper Peri Pourier. After bailing on the party last winter, Rep. Pourier ran for District 27 Senate as an independent to take the seat nominally Democratic Senator Red Dawn Foster left open. Pourier came in third with 19% of the vote, but she split the vote that could have gone to dynamic Democrat Celestine Stadnick, allowing Republican Anthony Kathol to take the Pine Ridge Senate seat with 43% of the vote.
Only two Senators and nine Representatives won’t give Democrats procedural power to stop much Republican madness in either chamber. Even if they can get the one victorious independent in the Legislative contests, Rep.-Elect Elizabeth Lone Eagle in District 27, to caucus with them, they’ll still lack the 12 votes necessary to smoke out bills and make other parliamentary mischief.
But up from eight to eleven—that’s more Democratic voices and more progress!