2022 United States Senate election in South Dakota

The 2022 United States Senate election in South Dakota will be held on November 8, 2022, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of South Dakota.

Incumbent three-term Republican U.S. Senator John Thune, who is the Senate Minority Whip, has stated that he intends to run for a fourth term.^[1] However, by late October 2021, he again hinted he may retire.^[2]

Republican primary[]

On December 23, 2020, Donald Trump said Thune would face a primary challenger after Thune refused to support a challenge of the 2020 Electoral College results, tweeting: “Republicans in the Senate so quickly forget. Right now they would be down 8 seats without my backing them in the last Election. RINO John Thune, “Mitch’s boy”, should just let it play out. South Dakota doesn’t like weakness. He will be primaried in 2022, political career over!!!”^[3] South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem stated she would not challenge Thune for the seat.^[4] On January 1, 2021, President Trump tweeted that Noem should challenge Thune in a primary, despite Noem previously saying she will not do so, instead running for re-election as Governor in 2022.^[5]

Candidates[]

Declared[]

Mark Mowry, musician and rancher^[6]
Bruce Whalen, Oglala Sioux tribal administrator, former chair of the Oglala Lakota County Republican Party and nominee for South Dakota's at-large congressional district in 2006^[7]

Publicly expressed interest[]

John Thune, incumbent U.S. Senator (2005–present)^[1]^[8]

Declined[]

Dusty Johnson, U.S. Representative from South Dakota's at-large congressional district (2019–present) (running for re-election)^[9]
Kristi Noem, Governor of South Dakota (2019–present) and former U.S. Representative for South Dakota's at-large congressional district (2011–2019) (running for re-election)^[4]

Democratic primary[]

Candidates[]

Declared[]

Brian Bengs, former university professor and air force veteran^[10]

Publicly expressed interest[]

Troy Heinert, Minority Leader of the South Dakota Senate (2019–present)^[11]

Potential[]

Billie Sutton, former Minority Leader of the South Dakota Senate (2015–2019) and nominee for Governor in 2018^[12]^[13]

Declined[]

Brendan Johnson, former U.S. Attorney for South Dakota (2009–2015) and son of former U.S. Senator Tim Johnson^[13]
Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, president of Augustana University (2017–present) and former U.S. Representative for South Dakota's at-large congressional district (2004–2011)^[13]

General election[]

Predictions[]

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report^[14]	Solid R	July 16, 2021
Inside Elections^[15]	Solid R	October 8, 2021
Sabato's Crystal Ball^[16]	Safe R	March 11, 2021

References[]

^ ^a ^b Nelson, Nick (April 10, 2021). "Thune says he plans to run for re-election". ABC News. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
^ Vondracek, Christopher (October 22, 2021). "Sen. John Thune plays his own tune as the three-term Republican eyes a run at re-election". Grand Forks Herald. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
^ Williams, Jordan (2020-12-22). "Trump attacks Thune: 'He will be primaried in 2022'". TheHill. Retrieved 2020-12-23.
^ ^a ^b Budryk, Zack (2020-12-23). "Noem rules out Thune challenge after Trump criticizes senator". TheHill. Retrieved 2020-12-23.
^ Coleman, Justine (1 January 2021). "Trump again calls for Noem to primary Thune despite her refusal". The Hill. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
^ "Mowry to challenge Thune in 2022 primary". Rapid City Journal. June 22, 2021. ISSN 1079-3410. OCLC 2250546. Archived from the original on July 3, 2021. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
^ Austin Goss (July 27, 2021). "State Rep. Taffy Howard expected to announce bid for US Congress". KEVN.
^ Lawrence, Tom (September 17, 2021). "John Thune once again raises the idea that he might retire rather than run for re-election to the Senate in 2022". The South Dakota Standard. Archived from the original on September 21, 2021. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
^ Lawrence, Tom (August 23, 2021). "2022 draws closer, and South Dakota Democrats still need to find and field candidates in state, national races". The South Dakota Standard. Archived from the original on August 24, 2021. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
^ Sand, Elisa (November 12, 2021). "'Democracy has to be the answer': Aberdeen man announces intention to run for U.S. Senate". Aberdeen News. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
^ 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.
^ Nord, James (December 14, 2018). "After close governor race, Sutton hints at political future". Rapid City Journal. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c 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?". . Retrieved January 18, 2021.
^ "2022 Senate Race ratings". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
^ "Senate ratings". Inside Elections. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
^ "2022 Senate". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved January 28, 2021.

External links[]

Official campaign websites

[Thunerunning-1] Nelson, Nick (April 10, 2021). "Thune says he plans to run for re-election". ABC News. Retrieved April 10, 2021.

[2] Vondracek, Christopher (October 22, 2021). "Sen. John Thune plays his own tune as the three-term Republican eyes a run at re-election". Grand Forks Herald. Retrieved November 15, 2021.

[3] Williams, Jordan (2020-12-22). "Trump attacks Thune: 'He will be primaried in 2022'". TheHill. Retrieved 2020-12-23.

[HillNoem-4] Budryk, Zack (2020-12-23). "Noem rules out Thune challenge after Trump criticizes senator". TheHill. Retrieved 2020-12-23.

[5] Coleman, Justine (1 January 2021). "Trump again calls for Noem to primary Thune despite her refusal". The Hill. Retrieved 1 January 2021.

[6] "Mowry to challenge Thune in 2022 primary". Rapid City Journal. June 22, 2021. ISSN 1079-3410. OCLC 2250546. Archived from the original on July 3, 2021. Retrieved July 3, 2021.

[Howard-7] Austin Goss (July 27, 2021). "State Rep. Taffy Howard expected to announce bid for US Congress". KEVN.

[8] Lawrence, Tom (September 17, 2021). "John Thune once again raises the idea that he might retire rather than run for re-election to the Senate in 2022". The South Dakota Standard. Archived from the original on September 21, 2021. Retrieved September 22, 2021.

[draws-9] Lawrence, Tom (August 23, 2021). "2022 draws closer, and South Dakota Democrats still need to find and field candidates in state, national races". The South Dakota Standard. Archived from the original on August 24, 2021. Retrieved August 28, 2021.

[10] Sand, Elisa (November 12, 2021). "'Democracy has to be the answer': Aberdeen man announces intention to run for U.S. Senate". Aberdeen News. Retrieved December 1, 2021.

[Potential-11] 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.

[12] Nord, James (December 14, 2018). "After close governor race, Sutton hints at political future". Rapid City Journal. Retrieved January 9, 2021.

[SDSNov-13] 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?". . Retrieved January 18, 2021.

[Cook_PR-14] "2022 Senate Race ratings". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 14, 2021.

[Inside_Elections-15] "Senate ratings". Inside Elections. Retrieved January 18, 2021.

[Sabato's_Crystal_Ball-16] "2022 Senate". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved January 28, 2021.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

v t (2021 ←) 2022 United States elections (→ 2023)
U.S. Senate	Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maryland Missouri Nevada New Hampshire New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania South Carolina South Dakota Utah Vermont Washington Wisconsin
U.S. House	Alabama Alaska American Samoa Arizona Arkansas California 22nd sp Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida 20th sp Georgia Guam Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Northern Mariana Islands Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas U.S. Virgin Islands Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming
Governors	Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Lt. Gov Colorado Connecticut Florida Georgia Lt. Gov Guam Hawaii Idaho Illinois Iowa Kansas Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Mexico New York Northern Mariana Islands Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Lt. Gov U.S. Virgin Islands Vermont Wisconsin Wyoming
Attorneys general	Alabama Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Idaho Illinois Iowa Kansas Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Nevada New Mexico New York North Dakota Ohio Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Texas Vermont Washington, D.C. Wisconsin
State legislatures	Arizona Senate California Assembly Senate Idaho House Senate Illinois House Senate Indiana House Senate Iowa House Senate Michigan Senate Minnesota Senate Nebraska Nevada Assembly Senate New York Assembly Senate North Carolina House Senate Oklahoma House Senate Pennsylvania House Senate Tennessee Senate Texas Senate Washington House Senate Wyoming House Senate
Mayors	Austin, TX Charlotte, NC Columbia, MO Los Angeles, CA Louisville, KY Oakland, CA Oklahoma City, OK Providence, RI Raleigh, NC San Jose, CA Tallahassee, FL Washington, D.C.
Local	Cook County, IL San Francisco, CA Board of Education (recall) District Attorney (recall) Washington, DC
Statewide	Alabama Alaska American Samoa Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Guam Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Northern Mariana Islands Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas U.S. Virgin Islands Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming