This is a deep red state that Trump won in 2016, 2020 and 2024. It is red when it comes to the Senate race, and it is red when it comes to all House races. There is little to no chance of a Democrat winning a national race here. But Democrats can choose to vote third party and swap their vote with someone in a purple state where the Democrat does have a chance of winning a seat.
2026 Primary Election takes place on:
| primary | runoff |
|---|---|
| Tuesday, June 02, 2026 | Tuesday, July 28, 2026 |
For information about voter registration, the candidates, mail-in ballots and early voting, go to vote.org.
STRATEGIC VOTING RECOMMENDATION:
Vote for a progressive candidate in the Democratic Primary who will challenge not only the MAGA Republican madness but also the Democratic Party establishment!
Senate Race
This is a Red state. No matter how you vote, the Republican is going to win this Senate seat! Therefore you are safe voting for a third-party candidate without risking the outcome of this election.
Results of recent Senate races:
| year | Winner | Party | Winner votes | Runner-up | Runner-up votes | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | John Thune | R | 242316 | Brian Bengs | 91007 | 151309 |
| 2020 | Mike Rounds | R | 276232 | Dan Ahlers | 143987 | 132245 |
And if you normally would vote Democrat, you can swap your vote to encourage someone to vote Democrat in a state where it really does matter.
STRATEGIC VOTING RECOMMENDATION:
Vote third party and swap your vote with a voter in a purple state. You are thereby increasing the chances of a Democrat-controlled Senate even though you are not voting Democrat in your own state.
House Races
For information on House races and our strategic voting recommendations, click on your US Congressional District below:
Presidential Election – 2028
Latest Opinion Polling Results in South Dakota:
| state | STATUS | Trump | Harris | other/DK | % gap | date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota | RED | 60.5% | 34% | 5.5% | 26.5% | Oct-24 |
Voting Results in 2020 Election:
| Trump | Biden | Won by | % gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 261,043 | 150,471 | 110,572 | 26.2% |
Voting Results in 2016 Election:
| Trump | Clinton | Won by: | % gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 227,721 | 117,458 | 110,263 | 31.9% |
https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/voting-and-registration/p20-580.html
Do you have a friend, relative, colleague, former neighbor, or somebody else you know who lives in South Dakota?
Click here for more ideas and help in convincing a friend or relative to vote.