Candidates Emerge as Filing Deadline Passes for June 2 Primary in South Dakota

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - The filing period for the 2026 primary election has officially closed, and the final rosters from the South Dakota Secretary of State and the Codington County Auditor are locked in. With major transitions coming to the County Commission and a high-profile showdown for the Watertown Senate seat, Northeast Radio SD has your complete wrap-up of the field, starting with the races right here in our community.

Codington County Commission: A New Chapter

The Codington County Board of Commissioners is set for nearly 50% turnover, as two long-term seats will be filled by new representatives in 2027.

·         District 1: Following the decision by incumbent Lee Gabel not to seek re-election, Chris Hupke has officially filed as a Republican to fill the vacancy.

·         District 3: While incumbent Myron Johnson initially filed for another term, he has officially withdrawn his candidacy. Nathan Graf has entered the race as the Republican candidate for the District 3 seat.

·         District 5: Incumbent Randall (Randy) Schweer has formalized his bid for a second term, running to maintain continuity for the county’s southern and eastern rural interests.

Codington County Administrative Offices

For the countywide administrative roles, the incumbents are largely seeking to maintain their positions, though one incumbent will face a general election challenge in November.

·         County Auditor: Incumbent Republican Brenda Hanten has filed for re-election. While she is unopposed in the primary, she faces a November challenge from Independent candidate Debbie Melville.

·         County Sheriff: Incumbent Brad Howell (REP) has officially filed to continue his leadership of the Sheriff’s Office.

·         Register of Deeds: Ann Rasmussen (REP) has formalized her bid for another term in the office.

·         Other Offices: The offices of Treasurer and State’s Attorney are not on the ballot for this specific primary cycle.

Watertown and Regional School Boards

In a notable trend of stability, the Watertown School Board will see no contest this spring. Incumbent Roshal Rossman is running unopposed for her second three-year term. This lack of opposition is mirrored across several surrounding districts:

·         Florence: Incumbents Cory Rislov and Scott Maag are returning unopposed.

·         Waverly/South Shore: Penny Thyen and Amber Koustrup return, while incumbent Tyson Zemlicka opted not to run.

·         Henry: Austin Page and Hanna Owen are returning unopposed.

Legislative District 5: The Watertown Senate

The legislative spotlight in Watertown and the surrounding townships is on a major Republican Senate primary battle.

·         Senate District 5: Incumbent Senator Glen A. Vilhauer faces a significant primary challenge from current State Representative Josephine Garcia. Vilhauer is running on his record with the Appropriations Committee, while Garcia is seeking to make the move from the House to the Senate.

·         House District 5: This race has settled into a scenario of total continuity. Incumbents Byron I. Callies and Matt Roby are the only candidates running for the two available seats, as former challenger Seth Phillips did not submit petitions.

Legislative District 4: Crowded House and a Democrat Entry

District 4, covering the broader Glacial Lakes region, features the most competitive House field in the northeast.

·         House District 4: Five Republicans are vying for two seats in a crowded primary: incumbents Dylan C. Jordan and Kent Roe, alongside challengers Fred Deutsch, Gary William Hudiburgh III, and Ryan Kohl. The winners will move on to the general election to face Democrat Emelia Enquist, who has officially filed for the seat.

·         Senate District 4: Incumbent Stephanie Sauder of Bryant faces a Republican primary challenge from former legislator Timothy Begalka of Clear Lake.

The State Stage: Governor and Congress

Heading the ballot is a four-way Republican “battleground” primary for Governor. Following the transition of the previous administration to federal service, the candidates are:

·         Larry Rhoden (i): The current Governor running with Lt. Gov. Tony Venhuizen.

·         Dusty Johnson: The current U.S. Representative.

·         Jon Hansen: The current Speaker of the South Dakota House.

·         Toby Doeden: An Aberdeen businessman proposing the total elimination of property taxes.

On the Democratic side, Dan Ahlers and Robert Arnold will compete for their party’s nomination. If no gubernatorial candidate receives at least 35% of the primary vote, a runoff will be held on July 28.

For federal representation, incumbent Republican Mike Rounds faces a primary challenge from Justin McNeal for the U.S. Senate. For the U.S. House, Republicans Marty Jackley and James Bialota will compete in the primary, while the Democratic field includes Nikki Gronli, Billy Mawhiney, and Scott Schlagel.

Important Dates for Voters

·         April 17: Absentee voting begins for the primary.

·         May 18: Last day to register to vote for the primary election.

·         June 2: Primary Election Day. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Stay tuned to Northeast Radio SD for in-depth candidate interviews as we approach the June 2 primary. 2026 Primary Election Candidate List Candidate List