United States Senate election in South Dakota, 2016

United States Senate election in South Dakota, 2016

November 8, 2016

Nominee John Thune Jay Williams Party Republican Democratic

Incumbent U.S. Senator John Thune Republican

The 2016 United States Senate election in South Dakota will take place on November 8, 2016, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of South Dakota, concurrently with the 2016 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.

Incumbent Republican Senator John Thune was considered a potential 2016 presidential candidate, but decided instead to run for a third term in office.^[1]

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

• John Thune, incumbent U.S. Senator

Potential

• Gordon Howie, former State Senator, candidate for Governor in 2010 and Independent candidate for U.S. Senate in 2014^[2]

Declined

• Stace Nelson, former State Representative and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2014^[2]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

• Jay Williams, Chair of the Yankton County Democratic Party, former Yankton School Board member and State House candidate in 2010 and 2014^[3][4]

Potential

• Bernie Hunhoff, State Senator and candidate for Governor in 1998^[5]
• Sam Hurst, filmmaker and television news producer^[6]

Declined

• Tom Daschle, former U.S. Senator^[7][8]
• Cory Heidelberger, teacher and political activist (running for State Senate)^[5][9]
• Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, former U.S. Representative^[10][11]
• Mike Huether, Mayor of Sioux Falls^[5][11]
• Brendan Johnson, former United States Attorney for the District of South Dakota^[10][12]
• Frank Kloucek, former State Senator^[13][14]
• Phil Schreck, KSFY-TV senior meteorologist^[15]
• Billie Sutton, Minority Leader of the South Dakota Senate^[6][16]
• Rick Weiland, businessman, nominee for SD-AL in 1996 and candidate in 2002 and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2014^[17]

Independents and Third Parties

Candidates

Withdrew

• Kurt Evans (Independent), Libertarian nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2002, Libertarian nominee for State Auditor in 2014 and Independent candidate for SD-AL in 1996^[18][19][20]

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report[21]	Safe R	March 25, 2016
Daily Kos[22]	Safe R	April 4, 2016
Roll Call[23]	Safe R	April 4, 2016
Sabato's Crystal Ball[24]	Safe R	March 21, 2016

References

1. Everett, Burgess (January 14, 2015). "Thune: No 'opening' for a White House run". Politico. Retrieved January 14, 2015.
2. Russo, Mark (October 26, 2015). "Thune primary challenge? Not likely!". KELO-TV. Retrieved February 15, 2016.
3. Sneve, Joe (February 19, 2016). "Yankton Democrat expected to challenge Thune". Argus Leader. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
4. Siebold, Jack (February 19, 2016). "Yankton businessman to challenge Thune". KOTA-TV. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
5. Lawrence, Tom (July 1, 2015). "Will anyone take on Thune in 2016?". Prairie Perspective. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
6. Woster, Kevin (August 24, 2015). "Hurst for U.S. Senate in 2016? Well …". KELO-TV. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
7. Mercer, Bob (March 21, 2015). "Are Democrats just a Daschle away from a revival?". Black Hills Pioneer. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
8. Lawrence, Tom (January 26, 2016). "Daschle, Lott: Congress must work together". Black Hills Pioneer. Retrieved February 6, 2016.
9. Heidelberger, Cory (February 8, 2016). "Defend Voters, Support Education, Fight Corruption: Heidelberger Declares for District 3 Senate". Dakota Free Press. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
10. Levinson, Alexis (February 18, 2015). "Brendan Johnson Discusses His Future in South Dakota (Updated)". Roll Call. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
11. Tupper, Seth (December 14, 2015). "Thune frolicking through another opponent-less election season". Rapid City Journal. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
12. Levinson, Alexis (March 18, 2015). "Potential Thune Challenger Bows Out". Roll Call. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
13. Woster, Kevin (August 17, 2015). "Thune vs. Kloucek & Kolaches in 2016? Why not?". KELO-TV. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
14. "Dem Chances for a US Senate candidate looking even more dismal….". South Dakota War College. August 23, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
15. Heidelberger, Cory (August 31, 2015). "Epp Suggests Drafting Schreck to Challenge Thune". Dakota Free Press. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
16. Hendershot, Evan (February 15, 2016). "State Sen. Sutton hasn't counted out run for governor". Mitchell Daily Republic. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
17. "Rick Weiland returns with new nonpartisan political group". Rapid City Journal. March 18, 2015. Retrieved May 20, 2015.
18. Heidelberger, Cory (December 18, 2014). "Kurt Evans Running for Senate in 2016 as Independent". Madville Times. Retrieved February 15, 2016.
19. Heidelberger, Cory (August 14, 2015). "Democrats’ Stepping Stone to Take Thune’s Seat: Kurt Evans?". Dakota Free Press. Retrieved February 15, 2016.
20. Heidelberger, Cory (October 19, 2015). "Evans Ends Independent Bid for U.S. Senate". Dakota Free Press. Retrieved February 15, 2016.
21. "2016 Senate Race Ratings for March 25, 2016". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved April 4, 2016.
22. "Election Outlook: 2016 Race Ratings". Daily Kos. Retrieved April 4, 2016.
23. "2016 Race Ratings". Roll Call. Retrieved April 4, 2016.
24. "2016 Senate". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved April 4, 2016.

External links

Official campaign websites

• John Thune for Senate
• Jay Williams for Senate