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South Dakota, Governor

Kristi Noem (R) defeated Billie Sutton (D) and Kurt Evans (L) in the 2018 general election for governor of South Dakota.

Incumbent Dennis Daugaard (R) was prevented from running for election to a third term in 2018 due to term limits, leaving the seat open. He was last elected in 2014 by a margin of 45 percentage points. The Republican candidate had won each of the ten preceding gubernatorial elections. In the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump (R) carried the state by a margin of 30 percentage points. Election forecasters predicted a close race; as of November 2018, two ratings agencies rated the race a toss-up and a third rated it Leans Republican.

Noem's victory preserved the state's Republican trifecta. At the time of the election, South Dakota had been a Republican trifecta since Republicans gained a majority in the state senate in 1995. The winner of this election stood to influence the state's redistricting process following the 2020 census. Under state law, the governor may veto state legislative district maps proposed by the state legislature.

South Dakota was one of 36 states that held an election for governor in 2018. Democrats gained seven previously Republican-held seats, and Republicans gained one previously independent-held seat. Heading into the 2018 elections, there were 16 Democratic governors, 33 Republican governors, and one independent governor. In 2018, 26 of the 33 states with a Republican governor held a gubernatorial election, while nine out of the 16 states with a Democratic governor held a gubernatorial election. Seventeen of the 36 seats up for election were open seats (four Democratic, 12 Republican, and one independent), meaning that the sitting governor was not seeking re-election.

Polls

Governor of South Dakota, 2018

Poll Poll sponsor Kristi Noem (R) Billie Sutton (D)Kurt Evans (L)Undecided/OtherMargin of ErrorSample Size
Mason-Dixon Polling and Strategy
(October 29-31, 2018)
The Argus Leader
KELO TV
47%44%1%8%+/-4.5500
Mason-Dixon Polling and Strategy
(October 18-22, 2018)
The Argus Leader
KELO TV
45%45%1%9%+/-4.5500
Anzalone Lizst Grove Research
(September 20-24, 2018)
The Sutton campaign 42%45%3%10%+/-4.4500
Anzalone Lizst Grove Research
(July 19-25, 2018)
The Sutton campaign 46%42%0%13%+/-4.4500



Race ratings

Race ratings: South Dakota gubernatorial election, 2018

Race trackerRace ratings
November 5, 2018October 30, 2018October 23, 2018October 16, 2018
The Cook Political ReportToss-upToss-upToss-upToss-up
Inside Elections with Nathan L. GonzalesTilt RepublicanLean RepublicanLean RepublicanLean Republican
Larry J. Sabato's Crystal BallToss-upToss-upLean RepublicanLean Republican

Election history

2014

Governor and Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota, 2014

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.pngDennis Daugaard/Matthew Michels Incumbent 70.5% 195,477
Democratic Susan Wismer/Susan Blake 25.4% 70,549
Indpendent Mike Myers/Lora Hubbel 4.1% 11,377
Total Votes 277,403
Election results via South Dakota Secretary of State

2010

On November 2, 2010, Dennis Daugaard/Matt Michels won election to the office of Governor/Lt. Governor of South Dakota. They defeated Scott Heidepriem/Ben Arndt in the general election.

Governor/Lt. Governor of South Dakota, 2010

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.pngDennis Daugaard/Matt Michels 61.5% 195,046
Democratic Scott Heidepriem/Ben Arndt 38.5% 122,037
Total Votes 317,083
Election results via South Dakota Secretary of State.

2006

On November 7, 2006, Mike Rounds/Dennis Daugaard won re-election to the office of Governor/Lt. Governor of South Dakota. They defeated Jack Billion/Eric Abrahamson, Steven J. Willis/Larry Johnsen and Tom Gerber/Bette Rose Ryan in the general election.

Governor/Lt. Governor of South Dakota, 2006

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.pngMike Rounds/Dennis Daugaard Incumbent 61.7% 206,990
Democratic Jack Billion/Eric Abrahamson 36.1% 121,226
Constitution Steven J. Willis/Larry Johnsen 1.2% 4,010
Libertarian Tom Gerber/Bette Rose Ryan 1% 3,282
Total Votes 335,508
Election results via South Dakota Secretary of State.

2002

On November 5, 2002, Mike Rounds/Dennis Daugaard won election to the office of Governor/Lt. Governor of South Dakota. They defeated Jim Abbott/Mike Wilson, James P. Carlson/Ron Bosch and Nathan A. Barton/Eric Risty in the general election.

Governor/Lt. Governor of South Dakota, 2002

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.pngMike Rounds/Dennis Daugaard 56.8% 189,920
Democratic Jim Abbott/Mike Wilson 41.9% 140,263
Independent James P. Carlson/Ron Bosch 0.7% 2,393
Libertarian Nathan A. Barton/Eric Risty 0.6% 1,983
Total Votes 334,559
Election results via South Dakota Secretary of State.

Demographics

Demographic data for South Dakota

South DakotaU.S.
Total population:857,919316,515,021
Land area (sq mi):75,8113,531,905
Gender
Female:49.8%50.8%
Race and ethnicity**
White:85%73.6%
Black/African American:1.6%12.6%
Asian:1.2%5.1%
Native American:8.6%0.8%
Pacific Islander:0%0.2%
Two or more:2.6%3%
Hispanic/Latino:3.3%17.1%
Education
High school graduation rate:90.9%86.7%
College graduation rate:27%29.8%
Income
Median household income:$50,957$53,889
Persons below poverty level:15.3%11.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015)
for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in South Dakota.

As of July 2016, South Dakota's three largest cities were Sioux Falls (pop. est. 177,000), Rapid City (pop. est. 74,000), and Aberdeen (pop. est. 28,000).