Government of South Dakota

The office of lieutenant governor is currently vacant, the attorney general is Marty J. Jackley (R), the commissioner of school and public lands is Brock Greenfield (R), the secretary of state is Monae Johnson (R), the state auditor is Rich Sattgast (R), and the treasurer is Josh Haeder (R).

Republicans have won the last 13 gubernatorial elections and have controlled the legislature, with one brief interruption, for over thirty years.

Democrats, however, have been successful in winning election to Congress from South Dakota, including former Senators Tom Daschle, who served as Majority Leader, James Abourezk, George McGovern, and Tim Johnson; and former Representative Stephanie Herseth Sandlin.

In the more than a quarter century between 1979 and 2005, two politicians, one a Republican and one a Democrat, dominated South Dakota politics.

Janklow's career was ended by a motor vehicle manslaughter conviction causing his resignation from Congress.

Democrat Tom Daschle was also a dominant figure in South Dakota politics, serving in Congress, 1979–2005.

In 2004, he lost his Senate seat to a Republican, former United States Representative John Thune, who narrowly defeated Daschle by a 51%-49% margin.

South Dakota has a history of voting out powerful members of the Senate who seek fourth terms.

"West River" is more conservative, with views that are generally more in line with those found in its western neighbors, Montana and Wyoming.

These counties were primarily settled by Protestant Germans from Russia, and be they Mennonite, Lutheran, Baptist or Reformed, they vote overwhelmingly Republican.

56% of the electorate voted to overturn the law, generally considered a direct challenge to Roe v. Wade.

Additionally, the electorate rejected a proposed law permitting the use of marijuana for medical purposes, and narrowly approved a state constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.

Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin defeated Rapid City businessman Chris Lien.

In 2010, Republican Dennis Daugaard defeated Democrat Scott Heidepriem for governor,[20] and Republican Kristi Noem defeated incumbent Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin for South Dakota's at-large seat in the US House of Representatives.

Businesses on the reservation collect the tax and the state refunds to the Indian Tribes the percentage of sales tax collections relating to the ratio of Indian population to total population in the county or area affected.