Secretary of State of South Dakota
Statewide — all of South Dakota
General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026
- Incumbent Secretary of State Monae Johnson, a Republican, lost the nomination at the June 27, 2026 Republican state convention to Heather Baxter, who received 59% of delegate votes. Johnson has since endorsed Democratic nominee Terrence Davis.[2][3]
- South Dakota's major parties choose their secretary of state nominees at conventions rather than primaries; Davis and Lesnar are the Democratic and Libertarian nominees.[1]
On the ballot · 3 candidates
Issue evidence — side by side
Recorded votes, documented positions and candidates’ own words are shown with sources. “In their own words” quotes a candidate on the topic without inferring a stance. Votes describe specific bills or motions; they do not establish overall support or opposition to a broad issue. A dash means our research has no evidence on that topic, not that the candidate has no position.
Require documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote
- Heather BaxterIn their own words[4]
“I will protect and enforce South Dakota’s proof of citizenship laws”
On her campaign website's home page
- Terrence Davis—
- Tamara Lesnar—
Research notes & limits
Slate: the South Dakota Secretary of State's official 2026 General Election Candidate List shows Davis (DEM), Lesnar (LIB) and Baxter (REP), matching South Dakota Searchlight. Davis's campaign site and Baxter's site were read in full; Davis's and Lesnar's positions on documentary proof of citizenship were not found. Baxter's tabulator bill number was not located (cited from Searchlight rather than the legislature's site). Mentions of Baxter's 2024 House election and committees come from Ballotpedia.
Sources · 15
Researched 2026-10-19. Green citations are official government records.
- 1.2026 General Election Candidate List · South Dakota Secretary of State · 2026-10-19 Official record
- 2.State's top election official loses nomination to challenger who supports hand-counting · South Dakota Searchlight · 2026-06-27 News report
- 3.Positions on election hand-counting split candidates in South Dakota's secretary of state race · South Dakota Searchlight · 2026-10-14 News report
- 4.Heather Baxter for Secretary of State · Heather Baxter for Secretary of State Candidate's own words
- 5.Terrence Davis for South Dakota Secretary of State · Terrence Davis for South Dakota Secretary of State Candidate's own words
- 6.Lesnar for South Dakota · Lesnar for South Dakota Candidate's own words
- 7.Positions on election hand-counting split candidates in South Dakota's secretary of state race · South Dakota Searchlight · 2026-10-14 News report
- 8.Heather Baxter for Secretary of State · Heather Baxter for Secretary of State Candidate's own words
- 9.State's top election official loses nomination to challenger who supports hand-counting · South Dakota Searchlight · 2026-06-27 News report
- 10.State Rep announces candidacy for South Dakota Secretary of State · KOTA (Dakota News Now) · 2026-10-19 News report
- 11.Terrence Davis for South Dakota Secretary of State · Terrence Davis for South Dakota Secretary of State Candidate's own words
- 12.Positions on election hand-counting split candidates in South Dakota's secretary of state race · South Dakota Searchlight · 2026-10-14 News report
- 13.Positions on election hand-counting split candidates in South Dakota's secretary of state race · South Dakota Searchlight · 2026-10-14 News report
- 14.Lesnar for South Dakota · Lesnar for South Dakota Candidate's own words
- 15.Musk DOGE cuts motivate former U.S. Senate candidate to run again · South Dakota Searchlight · 2026-10-19 News report