Offices to be Filled in 2026

The following nominations will be made at the Primary Election held on June 2, 2026:

U.S. Senator: 6-year term
U.S. Representative: 2-year term
Governor and Lieutenant Governor: 4-year term
- *NEW: Candidates for Lieutenant Governor are nominated by Gubernatorial candidates after the Primary Election.*
105 Legislators (35 Senate, 70 House): 2-year term
County Commissioners: 4-year term
County Auditor: 4-year term
County Sheriff: 4-year term
County Register of Deeds: 4-year term
Delegates to State Party Conventions (only if designated to be elected at a Primary Election in the party's bylaws):

Republican Party will elect their delegates/alternates at the Primary Election
Democratic Party will not elect their delegates/alternates at the Primary Election
Libertarian Party will not elect their delegates/alternates at the Primary Election

Precinct Committeemen and Committeewomen (only if designated to be elected at a Primary Election in the party's bylaws):

Republican Party will elect one precinct committeeman and one precinct committeewoman from each precinct at the Primary Election
Democratic Party will not elect precinct committeemen and precinct committeewomen at the Primary Election
Libertarian Party will not elect precinct committeemen and precinct committeewomen at the Primary Election

In those areas of the state which have the following types of districts, nominations will be made in a nonpartisan primary election:

Water Development District Directors - 4-year term
- Water Development District Directors - 2026 Election
- 25 signatures of registered voters in the director area (SDCL 46A-3B-4)
- Filed with the Secretary of State's office
Heartland Consumer Power District Directors - 6-year term
- Certification and Subdivisions - 2026 Election (Coming Soon)
- 50 signatures of registered voters of the district or subdivision of the district (SDCL 49-36-1.3)
- Filed with the Secretary of State's office

The following will be nominated at the 2026 state conventions of each political party:

Public Utilities Commissioner: 6-year term
Attorney General: 4-year term
Secretary of State: 4-year term
State Auditor: 4-year term
State Treasurer: 4-year term
Commissioner of School and Public Lands: 4-year term

In those areas of the state which have the following types of districts, nominations are made in the General Election:

Conservation District Supervisor - 4-year term
- 15 signatures (SDCL 38-8-39)
- Each district will publish its own notice listing positions that will be up for election (SDCL 38-8-39; ARSD 5:02:04:24).
- How to Circulate Conservation District Supervisor Petitions
- The petition shall be filed on or before July first of the year in which the general election is to be held, with the county auditor of the county, or where more than one county is within the territorial limits of the district, with the secretary of state.

Supreme Court Retention Election - Voted on the General Election ballot:

South Dakota Supreme Court Justice: 8-year term

12-6-3. Candidacy for more than one office in same election prohibited--Exceptions. No person's name may appear on the primary election ballot as a candidate for nomination to more than one public office in the same election, except that a person may be the candidate for any public office and the office of President of the United States, vice president of the United States, director of a water development district, or director of a consumer power district. A candidate for any such office is not prohibited from seeking election to one or more party offices as may be provided in chapter 12-5. If a candidate secures a nomination at a state party convention, the candidate shall withdraw as a candidate from one of the offices and submit the withdrawal to the secretary of state on or before the date on which the secretary of state receives the state party certification.

12-16-10.1. Candidacy for more than one office prohibited--Exception. No person's name may appear on the general election ballot as a candidate for election to more than one public office except for the office of President of the United States or vice president of the United States.

12-20-21.2. Write-in votes not to be counted--Other votes on a ballot. If a name is written on a ballot in an attempt to cast a write-in vote, the write-in vote may not be counted. However, all other votes for which the voter's intent may be determined shall be counted.