Share on WeChat
https://www.powervoter.us:443/office
Copy the link and open WeChat to share.
 Share on WeChat
Copy the link and open WeChat to share.
 Share on WeChat
Scan QRCode using WeChat,and then click the icon at the top-right corner of your screen.
 Share on WeChat
Scan QRCode using WeChat,and then click the icon at the top-right corner of your screen.

South Dakota, State House, District 4

South Dakota House of Representatives District 4
Current incumbentsJohn Mills Republican Party
Fred Deutsch Republican Party

South Dakota's fourth state house district is represented by Republican Representatives John Mills and Fred Deutsch.

South Dakota state representatives represent an average of 23,262 residents. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 21,567 residents.

About the chamber

Members of the South Dakota House of Representatives serve two-year terms with term limits. South Dakota legislators assume office the first day of session after election (Jan. 11).

Qualifications

To be eligible to serve in the South Dakota House of Representatives, a candidate must be:

  • A U.S. citizen at the time of filing
  • 21 years old at the filing deadline time
  • A two-year resident of South Dakota at the filing deadline time
  • May not have been convicted of bribery, perjury or other infamous crime; may not have illegally taken "public moneys"
  • A qualified voter. A qualified voter is someone who is:
* A U.S. citizen
* Reside in South Dakota
* At least 18 years old old on or before the next election
* Not currently serving a sentence for a felony conviction which included imprisonment, served or suspended, in an adult penitentiary system
* Not be judged mentally incompetent by a court of law
* Not have served 4 consecutive terms

Salaries

State legislators
SalaryPer diem
$11,379/session$144/legislative day

Term limits

The South Dakota legislature is one of 15 state legislatures with term limits. Voters enacted the South Dakota Term Limits Act in 1992. That initiative said that South Dakota representatives are subject to term limits of no more than four consecutive two-year terms, or eight consecutive years. Representatives can run again after they have been out of office for a term.

The South Dakota State Legislature has tried on more than one occasion, each time unsuccessfully, to persuade the state's voters to repeal term limits. The most recent such failed attempt was when Amendment J lost in 2008 by 75-25%.

The first year that the term limits enacted in 1992 impacted the ability of incumbents to run for office was in 2000.

Vacancies

Under the state constitution, the Governor is responsible for appointing a replacement in the event a vacancy happens in the house. There are no deadlines set in the state constitution to when the Governor has to fill the vacancy.

Elections

2020

Elections for the office of South Dakota House of Representatives will take place in 2020. The general election will be held on November 3, 2020. A primary is scheduled for June 2, 2020, and a primary runoff is scheduled for August 11, 2020. The filing deadline is March 31, 2020.

2018

General election
General election for South Dakota House of Representatives District 4 (2 seats)

Fred Deutsch (R) and incumbent John Mills (R) defeated Kathy Tyler (D), Jim Chilson (D), and Daryl Root (L) in the general election for South Dakota House of Representatives District 4 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Fred Deutsch (R)
32.3
5,934

John Mills (R)
28.8
5,285

Kathy Tyler (D)
21.8
4,002

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Jim Chilson (D)
14.6
2,674

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Daryl Root (L)
2.5
457

Total votes: 18,352
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for South Dakota House of Representatives District 4 (2 seats)

Melissa Meidinger and Jim Chilson advanced from the Democratic primary for South Dakota House of Representatives District 4 on June 5, 2018.

Candidate

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Melissa Meidinger (D)

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Jim Chilson (D)

Republican primary election
Republican primary for South Dakota House of Representatives District 4 (2 seats)

Fred Deutsch and incumbent John Mills advanced from the Republican primary for South Dakota House of Representatives District 4 on June 5, 2018.

Candidate

Fred Deutsch (R)

John Mills (R)

2016

Elections for the South Dakota House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election was held on June 7, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was March 29, 2016. Incumbents John Wiik (R) and Fred Deutsch (R) did not seek re-election.

Jason Kettwig and John Mills defeated Peggy Schuelke and Matt Rosdahl in the South Dakota House of Representatives District 4 general election.

South Dakota House of Representatives, District 4 General Election, 2016

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.png Jason Kettwig 31.40% 6,050
Republican Green check mark transparent.png John Mills 30.92% 5,959
Democratic Peggy Schuelke 22.71% 4,377
Democratic Matt Rosdahl 14.97% 2,884
Total Votes 19,270
Source: South Dakota Secretary of State

Matt Rosdahl and Peggy Schuelke were unopposed in the South Dakota House of Representatives District 4 Democratic primary.

South Dakota House of Representatives, District 4 Democratic Primary, 2016

Party Candidate
Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Matt Rosdahl
Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Peggy Schuelke

Jason Kettwig ran unopposed in the South Dakota House of Representatives District 4 Republican primary.

South Dakota House of Representatives, District 4 Republican Primary, 2016

Party Candidate
Republican Green check mark transparent.png Jason Kettwig (unopposed)

2014

Elections for the South Dakota House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 3, 2014. The general election took place on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 25, 2014. Incumbent Kathy Tyler and Peggy Schuelke were unopposed in the Democratic primary. Fred Deutsch and John Wiik were unopposed in the Republican primary. Deutsch and Wiik defeated Schuelke and Tyler in the general election.

South Dakota House of Representatives, District 4, General Election, 2014

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.pngFred Deutsch 29.4% 4,426
Republican Green check mark transparent.pngJohn Wiik 26.1% 3,932
Democratic Kathy Tyler Incumbent 23.8% 3,590
Democratic Peggy Schuelke 20.7% 3,126
Total Votes 15,074
Source: South Dakota Secretary of State

2012

Elections for the office of South Dakota House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on June 5, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 27, 2011. Jim Peterson (D) and Kathy Tyler (D) defeated Fred Deutsch (R) and James Gilkerson (R) in the general election.

South Dakota House of Representatives, District 4, General Election, 2012

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngKathy Tyler 26.7% 5,131
Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngJim Peterson 25.8% 4,958
Republican Fred Deutsch 24.1% 4,624
Republican James Gilkerson 23.4% 4,495
Total Votes 19,208

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for South Dakota House of Representatives District 4 raised a total of $392,288. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $11,538 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, South Dakota House of Representatives District 4

Year Amount Candidates Average
2016 $68,272 5 $13,654
2014 $119,696 4 $29,924
2012 * $30,168 2 $15,084
2010 $44,332 3 $14,777
2008 $21,805 3 $7,268
2006 $25,367 3 $8,456
2004 $29,354 6 $4,892
2002 $28,332 4 $7,083
2000 $24,962 4 $6,241
Total $392,288 34 $11,538
* Campaign finance data for 2012 is incomplete for this district.