South Dakota's at-large congressional district is the sole congressional district for the state of South Dakota. Based on area, it is the fourth largest congressional district in the nation.

The district is currently represented by Dusty Johnson.

History

The district was created when South Dakota achieved statehood on November 2, 1889, as one of two for the new state. Following the 1910 United States census South Dakota gained a third seat. The third district was eliminated after the 1930 census. During the redistricting cycle after the 1980 census, the second seat was eliminated, leaving the single at-large district that the state has had since.

Voter registration

+ Voter registration and party enrollment as of 2024 Party Total voters Percentage Democratic 146,090 23.37% Republican 317,117 50.71% Libertarian 2,981 0.48% Independent/ 158,991 25.43% Total 597,069 100%

Statewide election results Year Office Results 2000 PresidentBush 60% - Gore 38% 2004 PresidentBush 60% - Kerry 38% 2008 PresidentMcCain 53% - Obama 45% 2012 PresidentRomney 58% - Obama 40% 2016 PresidentTrump 62% - Clinton 32% 2020 PresidentTrump 62% - Biden 36% 2024 PresidentTrump 63% - Harris 34%

Election history

2004 special Incumbent U.S. Representative Bill Janklow resigned the seat on January 20, 2004, after he was convicted of second-degree manslaughter, triggering a special election. Democrat Stephanie Herseth was selected as the Democratic nominee for this special election and she defeated Republican Larry Diedrich with 51 percent of the vote in a close-fought election on June 1, 2004. Herseth's victory briefly gave the state its first all-Democratic congressional delegation since 1937.

2004 general In the November general election, Herseth was elected to a full term with 53.4 percent of the vote, an increase of a few percentage points compared with the even closer June special elections. Herseth's vote margin in June was about 3,000 votes, but by November it had grown to over 29,000.

Herseth thereby became the first woman in state history to win a full term in the U.S. Congress.

Both elections were hard-fought and close compared to many House races in the rest of the United States, and the special election was watched closely by a national audience. The general election was also viewed as one of the most competitive in the country, but was overshadowed in the state by the highly competitive U.S. Senate race between Democrat Tom Daschle and Republican John Thune, which Thune narrowly won.

2006

2008

2010

2012

2014

2016

2018

2020

2022

2024

List of members representing the district

1889–1913: two seats Two seats were created in 1889.

Years Congress Seat A Seat B Representative Party Electoral history Representative Party Electoral history November 2, 1889 –March 3, 1891 John Pickler Republican Elected in 1889.Re-elected in 1890.Re-elected in 1892.Re-elected in 1894.Retired. Oscar S. Gifford Republican Elected in 1889.Lost renomination. March 4, 1891 –August 14, 1891 John Rankin Gamble Republican Elected in 1890.Died. August 14, 1891 –December 7, 1891 Vacant December 7, 1891 –March 3, 1893 John L. Jolley Republican Elected to finish Gamble's term.Retired. March 4, 1893 –March 3, 1895 William V. Lucas Republican Elected in 1892.Lost renomination. March 4, 1895 –March 3, 1897 Robert J. Gamble Republican Elected in 1894.Lost re-election. March 4, 1897 –March 3, 1899 John Edward Kelley Populist Elected in 1896.Lost re-election. Freeman Knowles Populist Elected in 1896.Lost re-election. March 4, 1899 –March 3, 1901 Charles H. Burke Republican Elected in 1898.Re-elected in 1900.Re-elected in 1902.Re-elected in 1904.Lost renomination. Robert J. Gamble Republican Elected in 1898.Retired to run for U.S. Senator. March 4, 1901 –March 3, 1907 Eben Martin Republican Elected in 1900.Re-elected in 1902.Re-elected in 1904.Retired to run for U.S. Senator. March 4, 1907 –June 26, 1908 Philo Hall Republican Elected in 1906.Lost renomination. William H. Parker Republican Elected in 1906.Died. June 26, 1908 –November 3, 1908 Vacant November 3, 1908 –March 3, 1909 Eben Martin Republican Elected to finish Parker's term.Also elected to next full term.Re-elected in 1910.Redistricted to the . March 4, 1909 –March 3, 1913 Charles H. Burke Republican Elected in 1908.Re-elected in 1910.Redistricted to the .

In 1913, the two at-large seats were replaced by three districts. There were no at-large seats, therefore, until 1983.

1983–present: one seat By 1983, the remaining two district seats were reduced to one at-large seat.

Member Party Years Congress Electoral history Tom Daschle Democratic January 3, 1983 –January 3, 1987 Redistricted from the .and re-elected in 1982.Re-elected in 1984.Retired to run for U.S. Senator. Tim Johnson Democratic January 3, 1987 –January 3, 1997 Elected in 1986.Re-elected in 1988.Re-elected in 1990.Re-elected in 1992.Re-elected in 1994.Retired to run for U.S. Senator. John Thune Republican January 3, 1997 –January 3, 2003 Elected in 1996.Re-elected in 1998.Re-elected in 2000.Retired to run for U.S. Senator. Bill Janklow Republican January 3, 2003 –January 20, 2004 Elected in 2002.Resigned when convicted of vehicular manslaughter. Vacant January 20, 2004 –June 3, 2004 Stephanie Herseth Sandlin Democratic June 3, 2004 –January 3, 2011 Elected to finish Janklow's term.Re-elected in 2004.Re-elected in 2006.Re-elected in 2008.Lost re-election. Kristi Noem Republican January 3, 2011 –January 3, 2019 Elected in 2010.Re-elected in 2012.Re-elected in 2014.Re-elected in 2016.Retired to run for governor of South Dakota. Dusty Johnson Republican January 3, 2019 –present Elected in 2018.Re-elected in 2020.Re-elected in 2022.Re-elected in 2024.Retiring to run for governor of South Dakota.

References

Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present

External links 2004 campaign finance data