# South Dakota's 1st legislative district

South Dakota's 1st legislative district is one of 35 districts in the South Dakota Legislature. Each district is represented by 1 senator and 2 representatives. In the Senate, It has been represented by Republican Michael Rohl since 2021, and in the House, it has been represented by Republicans Joe Donnell since 2023 and Tamara St. John since 2019.

## Geography

The district is located in Northeastern South Dakota. It contains Brown, Day, Marshall and Roberts County. Its largest city is Sisseton.

## Recent election results

South Dakota legislators are elected to two-year terms, with each permitted to serve a maximum of four consecutive two-year terms. Elections are held every even-numbered year.

### State senate elections

| Year | Incumbent | Party | First elected | Result | General election | Primary elections |
| 2022 | Michael Rohl | Republican | 2020 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Michael Rohl (Republican) 58.9% ▌Susan Wismer (Independent) 41.1% | Republican: ▌Y Michael Rohl 70.5% ▌Joe Donnell 29.5% |
| 2020 | Susan Wismer | Democratic | 2018 | Incumbent defeated. Republican gain. | ▌Y Michael Rohl (Republican) 55.2% ▌Susan Wismer (Democratic) 44.8% |
| 2018 | Jason Frerichs | Democratic | 2010 | Incumbent retired. Democratic hold. | ▌Y Susan Wismer (Democratic) 100% | Democratic: ▌Y Susan Wismer 69.9% ▌ Thomas Bisek 15.7% ▌ Allison Renville 14.4% |
| 2016 | Jason Frerichs | Democratic | 2010 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Jason Frerichs (Democratic) 100% |
| 2014 | Jason Frerichs | Democratic | 2010 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Jason Frerichs (Democratic) 100% |
| 2012 | Jason Frerichs | Democratic | 2010 | Incumbent re-elected. | ▌Y Jason Frerichs (Democratic) 100% | |

### State house elections

In 33 of the 35 legislative districts, both representatives are elected at-large. The top two candidates in each party's primaries will be their respective party's nominees for the general election.
| Year | Incumbents | Party | First elected | Result | General election | Primary elections |
| 2022 | ▌Tamara St. John ▌Jennifer Healy Keintz | Republican Democratic | 2018 2020 | Incumbent re-elected. Incumbent lost nomination. Republican gain. | ▌Y Tamara St. John (Republican) 31.8% ▌Y Joe Donnell (Republican) 28.5% ▌Steven McCleerey (Democratic) 22.0% ▌Kay Nikolas (Democratic) 17.7% | |
| 2020 | ▌Tamara St. John ▌Steven McCleerey | Republican Democratic | 2018 2014 | Incumbent re-elected. Incumbent lost re-election. Mixed hold. | ▌Y Tamara St. John (Republican) 41.3% ▌Y Jennifer Healy Keintz (Democratic) 30.2% ▌ Steven McCleerey (Democratic) 28.5% | |
| 2018 | ▌Steven McCleerey ▌Susan Wismer | Democratic | 2014 2016 | Incumbent re-elected. Incumbent retired. Republican gain. | ▌Y Tamara St. John (Republican) 35.9% ▌Y Steven McCleerey (Democratic) 32.6% ▌ H. Paul Dennert (Democratic) 31.4% | Democratic: ▌Y Steven McCleerey 38.7% ▌Y H. Paul Dennert (Democratic) 33.8% ▌ Robert Whitmyre (Democratic) 27.4% |
| 2016 | ▌Dennis Feickert ▌Steven McCleerey | Democratic | 2008 2014 | Incumbent retired. Incumbent re-elected. Democratic hold. | ▌Y Susan Wismer (Democratic) ▌Y Steven McCleerey (Democratic) | |
| 2014 | ▌Dennis Feickert ▌Susan Wismer | Democratic | 2008 | Incumbent re-elected. Incumbent retired. Democratic hold. | ▌Y Dennis Feickert (Democratic) ▌Y Steven McCleerey (Democratic) | Democratic: ▌Y Dennis Feickert 42.5% ▌Y Steven McCleerey 35.1% ▌ Dustina Gill 22.4% |
| 2012 | ▌Dennis Feickert ▌Susan Wismer | Democratic | 2008 | Incumbents re-elected. | ▌Y Dennis Feickert (Democratic) ▌Y Susan Wismer (Democratic) |