South Dakota State Senate District 6

South Dakota State Senate District 6 is represented by Herman Otten (R).

As of the 2020 Census, South Dakota state senators represented an average of 25,333 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 23,262 residents.

About the chamber[edit]

Members of the South Dakota State Senate serve two-year terms with term limits.^[1] South Dakota legislators assume office the second Tuesday in January after the general election.^[2]

Qualifications[edit]

See also: State legislature candidate requirements by state

To be eligible to serve in the South Dakota Senate, a candidate must be:^[3]

• 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[edit]

See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries

State legislators
Salary	Per diem
$12,851/year	$151/day. Legislative days only. Unvouchered.

Term limits[edit]

See also: State legislatures with 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 senators are subject to term limits of no more than four consecutive two-year terms, or eight consecutive years. State senators can run again after they have been out of office for a term.^[4]

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[edit]

See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures

If there is a vacancy in the South Dakota State Legislature, the governor is responsible for appointing a replacement. Under the state constitution, there are no deadlines set in the state constitution requiring when the governor has to fill a vacancy.^[5]

See sources: South Dakota Const. Art. 3, Sec. 10

District map[edit]

The map below shows this district's current boundaries, not those enacted as part of the 2020 redistricting cycle.

Redistricting[edit]

2020-2022[edit]

See also: Redistricting in South Dakota after the 2020 census

South Dakota enacted new state legislative districts after the legislature approved a compromise between two competing proposals. Both chambers voted to approve the final proposal, known as the Sparrow map, on November 10, 2021. The House approved the new districts in a 37-31 vote and the Senate by a vote of 30-2. Gov. Kristi Noem (R) signed the proposal into law later that night.^[6]

Both chambers approved their own versions of the final map on the first day of the special legislative session, which began on November 8, 2021. The House passed its Grouse 2.0 plan by a vote of 48-20, and the Senate approved its plan, known as the Blackbird 2.0 map, in a 20-15 vote. The two proposals mainly differed in their approach to Native American reservations and the rural areas around Rapid City, and the Sparrow addressed both preserving Native American districts and reconfiguring the districts covering Rapid City.^[6] These maps take effect for South Dakota's 2022 legislative elections.

How does redistricting in South Dakota work? South Dakota is home to a single at-large congressional district; as such, congressional redistricting is not necessary. State legislative districts are drawn by the state legislature. A simple majority vote in each chamber is required to pass a redistricting plan, which is subject to veto by the governor.^[7]

The South Dakota Constitution mandates that state legislative districts be contiguous and compact. State statutes "ask that districts protect communities of interest and respect geographical and political boundaries." Because these latter requirements are statutory, they can be modified by the state legislature at its discretion.^[7]

Elections[edit]

2022[edit]

See also: South Dakota State Senate elections, 2022

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Chandler Losing (L)

The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Herman Otten advanced from the Republican primary for South Dakota State Senate District 6.

2020[edit]

See also: South Dakota State Senate elections, 2020

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Nancy Kirstein advanced from the Democratic primary for South Dakota State Senate District 6.

2018[edit]

See also: South Dakota State Senate elections, 2018

2016[edit]

See also: South Dakota State Senate elections, 2016

Elections for the South Dakota State Senate 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.

Incumbent Ernie Otten defeated Kyle Boese in the South Dakota State Senate District 6 general election.^[8][9]

South Dakota State Senate, District 6 General Election, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Ernie Otten Incumbent	68.85%	7,697
	Democratic	Kyle Boese	31.15%	3,482
Total Votes				11,179
Source: South Dakota Secretary of State

Kyle Boese ran unopposed in the South Dakota State Senate District 6 Democratic primary.^[10][11]

Incumbent Ernie Otten ran unopposed in the South Dakota State Senate District 6 Republican primary.^[10][11]

2014[edit]

See also: South Dakota State Senate elections, 2014

The general elections for the office of South Dakota State Senate took place on November 4, 2014. A primary election took place on June 3, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 25, 2014. Mel Zelmer was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Incumbent Ernie Otten was unopposed in the Republican primary. Otten defeated Zelmer in the general election.^[12][13][14]

South Dakota State Senate, District 6, General Election, 2014
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Ernie Otten Incumbent	71.8%	4,877
	Democratic	Mel Zelmer	28.2%	1,915
Total Votes				6,792
Source: South Dakota Secretary of State

2012[edit]

See also: South Dakota State Senate elections, 2012

Elections for the office of South Dakota State Senate 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. Ernie Otten (R) defeated Richard Schriever (D) in the general election and defeated Gene Abdallah in the Republican primary. Schriever was unopposed in the Democratic primary.^[15][16]

South Dakota State Senate, District 6, General Election, 2012
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Ernie Otten	65.4%	6,011
	Democratic	Richard Schriever	34.6%	3,176
Total Votes				9,187

South Dakota State Senate District 6 Republican Primary, 2012
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Ernie Otten	58.9%	772
Gene Abdallah	41.1%	538
Total Votes		1,310

Campaign contributions[edit]

From 2000 to 2018, candidates for South Dakota State Senate District 6 raised a total of $153,121. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $8,059 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money

Campaign contributions, South Dakota State Senate District 6
Year	Amount	Candidates	Average
2018	$3,819	1	$3,819
2016	$15,700	2	$7,850
2014	$11,200	2	$5,600
2012	$28,127	2	$14,064
2010	$3,757	1	$3,757
2008	$11,381	2	$5,691
2006	$19,455	3	$6,485
2004	$10,286	2	$5,143
2002	$23,327	2	$11,664
2000	$26,069	2	$13,035
Total	$153,121	19	$8,059

See also[edit]

• South Dakota State Legislature
• South Dakota State Senate
• South Dakota House of Representatives

External links[edit]

• The South Dakota State Legislature

Footnotes[edit]

	v • e State of South Dakota Pierre (capital)
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