The 2022 South Dakota gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 2022, electing the governor of South Dakota. Incumbent Republican governor Kristi Noem defeated Democratic nominee Jamie Smith to win a second term.[1]

Despite speculation about this race potentially being competitive, Noem improved on her 2018 performance by 11 percentage points and flipped 17 counties that had been won by Billie Sutton. She also received over 44,000 more raw votes than she did in the previous election, setting a record for the most votes received by a candidate for governor in South Dakota.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

Former state house speaker Steven Haugaard challenged Noem in the primary but lost.

Declined

Endorsements

Kristi Noem
U.S. Executive Branch officials
U.S. representatives
State officials

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size[a]
Margin
of error
Steven
Haugaard
Kristi
Noem
Undecided
South Dakota State UniversityMay 2–15, 2022– (LV)17%61%22%

Results

Results by county
  Noem
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  •   80–90%
Republican primary results[10]
PartyCandidateVotes%
RepublicanKristi Noem (incumbent) 91,661 76.4
RepublicanSteven Haugaard28,31523.6
Total votes119,976 100.0

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Declined

Libertarian convention

Candidates

Nominee

  • Tracey Quint, coordinator[20]
    • Running mate: Ashley Strand[21]

Independents

Candidates

Withdrew

General election

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political Report[22]Solid RMarch 4, 2022
Inside Elections[23]Solid RMarch 4, 2022
Sabato's Crystal Ball[24]Safe RJanuary 26, 2022
Politico[25]Likely ROctober 3, 2022
RCP[26]Likely RSeptember 25, 2022
Fox News[27]Solid RMay 12, 2022
538[28]Solid ROctober 5, 2022
Elections Daily[29]Safe RNovember 7, 2022

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size[a]
Margin
of error
Kristi
Noem (R)
Jamie
Smith (D)
OtherUndecided
Emerson CollegeOctober 19–21, 20221,500 (LV)± 2.4%56%37%3%[b]4%
57%39%4%[c]
South Dakota State UniversitySeptember 28 – October 10, 2022565 (RV)± 4.0%45%41%14%

Endorsements

Results

2022 South Dakota gubernatorial election[34]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican
217,035 61.98% +11.01%
Democratic123,14835.17%-12.43%
Libertarian
  • Tracey Quint
  • Ashley Strand
9,9832.85%+1.42%
Total votes350,166 100.00% N/A
Turnout350,16659.40%
Registered electors597,073
Republican hold

Results by county

By county
CountyKristi Noem

Republican

Jamie Smith

Democratic

Tracey Quint

Libertarian

Total

votes

%#%#%#
Aurora73.64%89423.39%2842.97%361,214
Beadle66.84%3,90129.40%1,7163.75%2195,836
Bennett60.39%61935.90%3683.71%381,025
Bon Homme72.52%1,85825.37%6502.11%542,562
Brookings56.12%6,97441.01%5,0962.87%35712,427
Brown60.56%8,45637.00%5,1672.44%34113,964
Brule69.37%1,46327.93%5892.70%572,109
Buffalo36.27%14458.94%2344.79%19397
Butte76.71%3,21119.66%8233.63%1524,186
Campbell84.11%56113.94%931.95%13667
Charles Mix70.75%2,18727.47%8491.78%553,091
Clark76.44%1,22321.31%3412.25%361,600
Clay43.29%2,05454.39%2,5812.32%1104,745
Codington67.87%7,52029.36%3,2532.77%30711,080
Corson56.25%52240.84%3792.91%27928
Custer71.56%3,63325.47%1,2932.97%1515,077
Davison67.51%4,88730.10%2,1792.39%1737,239
Day63.43%1,59934.75%8761.82%462,521
Deuel74.28%1,47923.00%4582.71%541,991
Dewey42.06%66254.76%8623.18%501,574
Douglas85.71%1,27212.67%1881.62%241,484
Edmunds77.66%1,32120.34%3462.00%341,701
Fall River73.04%2,67923.42%8593.54%1303,668
Faulk80.73%77117.49%1671.78%17955
Grant72.41%2,32825.82%8301.77%573,215
Gregory78.77%1,61819.13%3932.09%432,054
Haakon90.37%8928.31%821.32%13987
Hamlin77.58%2,11820.07%5482.34%642,730
Hand78.36%1,17719.31%2902.33%351,502
Hanson77.63%1,26720.59%3361.78%291,632
Harding93.35%6324.87%331.77%12677
Hughes61.38%4,57135.61%2,6523.01%2247,447
Hutchinson78.99%2,50719.03%6041.98%633,174
Hyde80.00%46018.43%1061.57%9575
Jackson67.79%62330.47%2801.74%16919
Jerauld69.75%60427.48%2382.77%24866
Jones83.69%39513.56%642.75%13472
Kingsbury70.25%1,79227.13%6922.63%672,551
Lake63.05%3,13134.64%1,7202.31%1154,966
Lawrence63.27%7,74933.00%4,0413.72%45612,247
Lincoln59.76%16,82838.09%10,7272.15%60628,161
Lyman66.69%87930.73%4052.58341,318
Marshall59.42%1,12338.99%7371.59%301,890
McCook72.67%1,85124.54%6252.79%712,547
McPherson82.82%91115.18%1672.00%221,100
Meade71.46%8,48224.32%2,8874.22%50111,870
Mellette61.27%38633.97%2144.76%30630
Miner72.69%73224.63%2482.68%271,007
Minnehaha52.53%39,23444.69%33,3762.77%2,07274,682
Moody62.97%1,66834.35%9102.68%712,649
Oglala Lakota8.91%22187.58%2,1723.51%872,480
Pennington60.78%27,58635.73%16,2153.49%1,58745,388
Perkins83.24%1,14212.90%1773.86%531,372
Potter81.16%89217.02%1871.82%201,099
Roberts60.70%2,16436.89%1,3152.41%863,565
Sanborn75.40%75722.51%2262.09%211,004
Spink68.61%1,83228.65%7652.73%732,670
Stanley69.04%99928.13%4072.83%411,447
Sully75.76%59721.45%1692.79%22788
Todd20.87%40274.97%1,4444.15%801,926
Tripp82.58%1,87316.05%3641.37%312,268
Turner73.32%2,83423.78%9192.90%1123,865
Union70.07%4,72327.42%1,8482.51%1696,740
Walworth76.62%1,57320.94%4302.44%502,053
Yankton58.89%5,24737.60%3,3503.51%3138,910
Ziebach50.51%34544.51%3044.98%34683
Total61.98%217,03535.17%123,1482.85%9,983350,166
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  2. ^ Quint (L) with 3%
  3. ^ Quint (L) with 4%

References

  1. ^ Mueller, Julia (November 8, 2022). "Noem wins reelection in South Dakota governor's race". The Hill. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  2. ^ Todd, Annie (November 12, 2021). "South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem announces re-election campaign for 2022 election". Argus Leader. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  3. ^ Ellis, Jonathan (May 24, 2022) [May 23, 2022]. "Gov. Kristi Noem's reelection campaign says it has raised $15 million". Argus Leader. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
  4. ^ King, Ryan (November 17, 2021). "Gov. Kristi Noem gets primary challenge from the Right in former state speaker". Washington Examiner. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Former state Rep. Lora Hubbel running for governor again".
  6. ^ Lawrence, Tom (February 15, 2021). "Can Noem be defeated in 2022? History says not a chance ... but her actions as governor could change things". The South Dakota Standard. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
  7. ^ a b Sneve, Joe. "South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem gets endorsement from Donald Trump". www.argusleader.com. Argus Leader. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  8. ^ a b "Governor Kristi Noem and Congressman Dusty Johnson hitting door-to-door this weekend". dakotawarcollege.com. June 4, 2022. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  9. ^ a b "Former political rivals Noem & Jackley endorse each other for upcoming elections". www.dakotanewsnow.com. February 17, 2022. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
  10. ^ "2022 Primary Election Official State Canvass Results" (PDF). Secretary of State of South Dakota. June 14, 2022. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  11. ^ Sneve, Joe. "Democrat Jamie Smith to run for governor in 2022 election". www.argusleader.com. Argus Leader. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  12. ^ Sneve, Joe (July 7, 2022). "Jamie Smith taps Aberdeen-area lawmaker as running mate on Democratic ticket for governor". Argus Leader. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  13. ^ a b c d Sneve, Joe (June 9, 2021). "Analysis: Who will challenge Gov. Kristi Noem in South Dakota's 2022 election? Here are potential candidates". Argus Leader. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  14. ^ a b Vondracek, Christopher (June 9, 2021). "A party waits for Billie Sutton: South Dakota Democrats mull if former legislator will force a '22 rematch with Gov. Noem". www.thedickinsonpress.com. The Dickinson Press. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
  15. ^ Mercer, Bob (June 18, 2018). "Democrats favor Seiler over Means". Capitol Journal. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  16. ^ "South Dakota Minority Leader Heinert passes on run for Governor, joining private sector after term". December 16, 2021.
  17. ^ a b Lawrence, Tom (November 29, 2020). "Is it just a South Dakota political legend or eerie fate: Will Sen. John Thune end the 'Curse of Karl' in 2022?". The South Dakota Standard. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  18. ^ Lawrence, Tom (January 29, 2022). "Democrats set to announce gubernatorial candidate". Black Hills Pioneer. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
  19. ^ Woster, Kevin (February 23, 2022). "Sutton's political time will come again, but not just yet". South Dakota Public Broadcasting. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  20. ^ "Libertarian House candidate, Sturgis rancher Collin Duprel: I am running to give South Dakota voters a choice".
  21. ^ a b "2022 General Election". South Dakota Secretary of State. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
  22. ^ "2022 Governor Race Ratings". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
  23. ^ "Gubernatorial Ratings". Inside Elections. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  24. ^ "2022 Gubernatorial race ratings". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  25. ^ "South Dakota Governor Race 2022". Politico. April 1, 2022.
  26. ^ "2022 Governor Races". RCP. January 10, 2022. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  27. ^ "2022 Election Forecast". Fox News. May 12, 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  28. ^ "2022 Election Forecast". FiveThirtyEight. June 30, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  29. ^ Szymanski, Joe (November 7, 2022). "Elections Daily Unveils Final 2022 Midterm Ratings". Elections Daily. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  30. ^ "Glenn Youngkin, Tulsi Gabbard to campaign for South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem". October 28, 2022.
  31. ^ "Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin to stump for Gov. Kristi Noem's reelection campaign in Sioux Falls".
  32. ^ "South Dakota Grades & Endorsements". nrapvf.org. NRA-PVF. Archived from the original on November 8, 2022. Retrieved February 15, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  33. ^ a b "Kristi Noem's Ratings and Endorsements". justfacts.votesmart.org. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  34. ^ "2022 General Election Official State Canvass Results" (PDF). sdsos.gov.

External links

Official campaign websites