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2022 United States Senate election in South Dakota

{{short description|none}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}

{{Infobox election

| election_name = 2022 United States Senate election in South Dakota

| country = South Dakota

| type = presidential

| ongoing = no

| previous_election = 2016 United States Senate election in South Dakota

| previous_year = 2016

| next_election = 2028 United States Senate election in South Dakota

| next_year = 2028

| election_date = November 8, 2022

| image1 = John Thune 117th Congress portrait cropped.jpg

| nominee1 = John Thune

| party1 = Republican Party (United States)

| popular_vote1 = 242,316

| percentage1 = 69.63%

| image2 = 3x4.svg

| nominee2 = Brian Bengs

| party2 = Democratic Party (United States)

| popular_vote2 = 91,007

| percentage2 = 26.15%

| map_image = 2022 United States Senate election in South Dakota results map by county.svg

| map_size = 260px

| map_caption = County results

Thune: {{legend0|#ffb2b2|40–50%}} {{legend0|#e27f7f|50–60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60–70%}} {{legend0|#d72f30|70–80%}} {{legend0|#c21b18|80–90%}} {{legend0|#a80000|>90%}}

Bengs: {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}} {{legend0|#584cde|70–80%}}

| title = U.S. Senator

| before_election = John Thune

| before_party = Republican Party (United States)

| after_election = John Thune

| after_party = Republican Party (United States)

}}

{{ElectionsSD}}

The 2022 United States Senate election in South Dakota was 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, was first elected in 2004, defeating Democratic incumbent Tom Daschle, the then-Senate Minority Leader. He ran for reelection to a fourth term. The Democratic nominee was 26-year Navy, Air Force JAG Corps veteran, and former college professor Brian Bengs. Thune was ultimately reelected, becoming the first Senator from South Dakota to be elected to a fourth term since Karl Mundt in 1966, and only the second to do so after Mundt.{{Cite news |title=South Dakota's Thune wins reelection to 4th U.S. Senate term |language=en-US |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/thune-looks-for-decisive-election-win-in-bid-for-4th-term/2022/11/08/e2bed432-5f54-11ed-a131-e900e4a6336b_story.html |access-date=2022-11-09 |issn=0190-8286}}

Republican primary

On December 23, 2020, then-President Donald Trump said Thune would face a primary challenger after Thune refused to support a challenge of the 2020 Electoral College results, tweeting:{{Cite web|last=Williams|first=Jordan|date=2020-12-22|title=Trump attacks Thune: 'He will be primaried in 2022'|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/531387-trump-attacks-thune-he-will-be-primaried-in-2022|access-date=2020-12-23|website=The Hill|language=en}} "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!!!" South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem stated she would not challenge Thune for the seat.{{Cite web|last=Budryk|first=Zack|date=2020-12-23|title=Noem rules out Thune challenge after Trump criticizes senator|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/531430-noem-rules-out-thune-challenge-after-trump-criticizes-senator|access-date=2020-12-23|website=The Hill|language=en}} On January 1, 2021, Trump tweeted that Noem should challenge Thune in a primary, despite Noem previously saying she would not do so, instead running for re-election as Governor in 2022.{{cite news |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/532326-trump-again-calls-for-noem-to-primary-thune-despite-her-refusal |title=Trump again calls for Noem to primary Thune despite her refusal |last=Coleman |first=Justine |work=The Hill |date= 1 January 2021 |access-date= 1 January 2021}}

=Candidates=

==Nominee==

  • John Thune, incumbent U.S. Senator (2005–present) and Senate Minority Whip (2021–present){{cite news|url= https://www.politico.com/news/2022/01/08/senate-minority-whip-john-thune-to-run-for-reelection-526794 |title= Senate Minority Whip John Thune to run for reelection |last=Levine|first=Marianne|newspaper=Politico|date=January 8, 2022|access-date=January 8, 2022}}

==Eliminated in primary==

  • Mark Mowry, musician and rancher{{Cite news|date=June 22, 2021|title=Mowry to challenge Thune in 2022 primary|work=Rapid City Journal|url=https://rapidcityjournal.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/mowry-to-challenge-thune-in-2022-primary/article_7bd92bf8-a9b8-548d-bc6a-7bb0cccac359.html|url-status=live|access-date=July 3, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210703125920/https://rapidcityjournal.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/mowry-to-challenge-thune-in-2022-primary/article_7bd92bf8-a9b8-548d-bc6a-7bb0cccac359.html|archive-date=July 3, 2021|issn=1079-3410|oclc=2250546}}
  • Bruce Buffalo Dreamer Whalen, Oglala Sioux tribal administrator, former chair of the Oglala Lakota County Republican Party, and nominee for {{ushr|SD|AL}} in 2006{{cite web|title=State Rep. Taffy Howard expected to announce bid for US Congress|website=KEVN|url=https://www.blackhillsfox.com/2021/07/27/state-rep-taffy-howard-expected-announce-bid-us-congress/|date=July 27, 2021|first=Austin|last=Goss}}

==Withdrew==

  • Patrick Schubert, software executive{{Cite web|url=https://rapidcityjournal.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/two-west-river-men-to-challenge-thune-in-2022-republican-primary/article_0a78b689-0af0-55ee-9148-9efdd61a8e97.html| title=Two West River men to challenge Thune in 2022 Republican primary | date=August 25, 2021 }}

==Declined==

  • Marty Jackley, former South Dakota Attorney General (2009–2019) and candidate for Governor of South Dakota in 2018 (ran for Attorney General){{Cite web|url=https://www.argusleader.com/story/opinion/2021/12/18/ellis-column-john-thune-retirement-from-senate-could-cause-bedlam-south-dakota-republicans/8937559002/|title = Ellis: Thune retirement could cause GOP bedlam in South Dakota}}{{cite web |last1=Bartels |first1=Deb |title=Marty Jackley running for his old job of attorney general |url=https://www.capjournal.com/news/marty-jackley-running-for-his-old-job-of-attorney-general/article_faf52070-7bbb-11eb-b5b0-4b3fe603cc58.html |website=www.capjournal.com |publisher=Capital Journal |access-date=28 December 2021 |date=2 March 2021}}
  • Dusty Johnson, U.S. Representative from {{ushr|SD|AL}} (2019–present) (ran for re-election){{cite web|last=Heemstra|first=Jody|date=January 31, 2022|title=Dusty Johnson announces he is running for re-election|publisher=DRG News|url=https://drgnews.com/2022/01/31/dusty-johnson-announces-re-election-campaign|access-date=January 31, 2022}}
  • Kristi Noem, Governor of South Dakota (2019–present) and former U.S. Representative for {{ushr|SD|AL}} (2011–2019) (ran for re-election)

=Endorsements=

{{Endorsements box

|title=John Thune

|list=

Organizations

  • American Israel Public Affairs Committee
  • Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions{{cite web |title=Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions Announces Second Round of Congressional Endorsements for the 2022 Election Cycle |url=https://cresenergy.com/pressreleases/citizens-for-responsible-energy-solutions-announces-second-round-of-congressional-endorsements-for-the-2022-election-cycle/ |website=cresenergy.com |publisher=Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions |access-date=7 June 2022 |date=4 May 2022 |archive-date=21 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220821091958/https://cresenergy.com/pressreleases/citizens-for-responsible-energy-solutions-announces-second-round-of-congressional-endorsements-for-the-2022-election-cycle/ |url-status=dead }}
  • NRA Political Victory Fund{{cite web|url=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/398/john-thune|title=John Thune's Ratings and Endorsements - Vote Smart|website=justfacts.votesmart.org|access-date=September 24, 2022}}

}}

=Polling=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;text-align:center;"
valign=bottom

! Poll source

! Date(s)
administered

! Sample
size{{efn|name="Key"}}

! Margin
of error

! style="width:60px;"| Mark
Mowry

! style="width:60px;"| John
Thune

! style="width:60px;"| Bruce
Whalen

! Undecided

style="text-align:left;"|South Dakota State University[https://www.sdstate.edu/news/2022/05/incumbents-have-solid-support-republican-primary-and-south-dakotans-support South Dakota State University]

|May 2–15, 2022

|– (LV)

|± 3.0%

|4%

|{{party shading/Republican}}|46%

|10%

|41%

{{hidden begin|titlestyle=background:#cff|title=Hypothetical polling|contentstyle=border:solid 1px silver; padding:8px; background:white;}}

class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;text-align:center;"
valign=bottom

! Poll source

! Date(s)
administered

! Sample
size{{efn|Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear|name="Key"}}

! Margin
of error

! style="width:60px;"| Dusty
Johnson

! style="width:60px;"| Kristi
Noem

! style="width:60px;"| John
Thune

! Undecided

style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"|Fabrizio Lee (R)[https://archive.today/20220113193625/https://twitter.com/tomlobianco/status/1481710957931991046 Fabrizio Lee (R)]{{efn-ua|name="APF"|This poll was sponsored by the American Potential Fund}}

|rowspan="2"|January 2022

|rowspan="2"|400 (LV)

|rowspan="2"|± 4.9%

|30%

|–

|{{party shading/Republican}}|47%

|23%

–

|{{party shading/Republican}}|49%

|40%

|10%

{{hidden end}}

=Results=

[[File:2022 United States Senate Republican primary election in South Dakota results map by county.svg|thumb|260px|Results by county

{{collapsible list

| title = {{legend|#E27F7F|Thune}}

|{{legend|#E27F7F|50–60%}}

|{{legend|#D75D5D|60–70%}}

|{{legend|#D72F30|70–80%}}

|{{legend|#C21B18|80–90%}}

}}

]]

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Republican primary results{{cite web |title=2022 Primary Election Official State Canvass Results |work=Secretary of State of South Dakota |date=June 14, 2022 |access-date=August 4, 2022 |url=https://sdsos.gov/elections-voting/assets/2022PrimaryStateCanvassReport.pdf}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = John Thune (incumbent)

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 85,613

| percentage = 72.24%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Bruce Whalen

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 24,071

| percentage = 20.31%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Mark Mowry

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 8,827

| percentage = 7.45%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 118,511

| percentage = 100.0%

}}

{{Election box end}}

Democratic primary

=Candidates=

==Nominee==

  • Brian Bengs, U.S. Navy and Air Force veteran, and former Northern State University political science professor{{cite news|url=https://www.thepublicopinion.com/story/news/local/2021/11/12/aberdeen-south-dakota-man-brian-bengs-announces-intention-run-democrat-u-s-senate/6372058001/|title='Democracy has to be the answer': Aberdeen man announces intention to run for U.S. Senate|last=Sand|first=Elisa|newspaper=Aberdeen News|date=November 12, 2021|access-date=December 1, 2021}}

==Declined==

  • Troy Heinert, Minority Leader of the South Dakota Senate (2019–present) from the 26th district (2015–present){{Cite web|url=https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/2021/12/16/south-dakota-minority-leader-heinert-passes-run-governor-joining-private-sector-after-term|title = South Dakota Minority Leader Heinert passes on run for Governor, joining private sector after term| date=16 December 2021 }}
  • Brendan Johnson, former U.S. Attorney for South Dakota (2009–2015) and son of former U.S. Senator Tim Johnson{{cite news|url=https://www.sdstandardnow.com/home/is-it-just-a-south-dakota-political-legend-or-eerie-fate-will-sen-john-thune-end-the-curse-of-karl-in-2022|title=Is it just a South Dakota political legend or eerie fate: Will Sen. John Thune end the 'Curse of Karl' in 2022?|last=Lawrence|first=Tom|newspaper=The South Dakota Standard|date=November 29, 2020|access-date=January 18, 2021|archive-date=January 8, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220108225239/https://www.sdstandardnow.com/home/is-it-just-a-south-dakota-political-legend-or-eerie-fate-will-sen-john-thune-end-the-curse-of-karl-in-2022|url-status=dead}}
  • Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, president of Augustana University (2017–present) and former U.S. Representative for {{ushr|SD|AL}} (2004–2011)
  • Billie Sutton, former Minority Leader of the South Dakota Senate (2015–2019) from the 21st district (2011–2019) and nominee for governor in 2018{{cite news|url=https://www.sdpb.org/politics/2022-02-23/suttons-political-time-will-come-again-but-not-just-yet|title=Sutton's political time will come again, but not just yet|last=Woster|first=Kevin|newspaper=South Dakota Public Broadcasting|date=February 23, 2022|access-date=March 5, 2022}}

Libertarian convention

=Candidates=

==Nominee==

  • Tamara Lesnar, small business owner{{cite web | url=https://www.sdstandardnow.com/home/libertarian-house-candidate-duprel-i-am-running-to-give-south-dakota-voters-a-choice | title=Libertarian House candidate, Sturgis rancher Collin Duprel: I am running to give South Dakota voters a choice | access-date=July 23, 2022 | archive-date=July 23, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220723141915/https://www.sdstandardnow.com/home/libertarian-house-candidate-duprel-i-am-running-to-give-south-dakota-voters-a-choice | url-status=dead }}

General election

=Predictions=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

!Source

!Ranking

!As of

align=left | The Cook Political Report{{cite web |title=2022 Senate Race ratings |url=https://cookpolitical.com/ratings/senate-race-ratings |website=The Cook Political Report |access-date=January 14, 2021}}

| {{USRaceRating|Solid|R}}

|November 19, 2021

align=left | Inside Elections{{cite web |title=Senate ratings |url=https://www.insideelections.com/ratings/senate|website=Inside Elections |access-date=January 18, 2021}}

| {{USRaceRating|Solid|R}}

|January 7, 2022

align=left | Sabato's Crystal Ball{{cite web |title=2022 Senate |url=https://centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/2022-senate/ |website=Sabato's Crystal Ball |access-date=January 28, 2021}}

| {{USRaceRating|Safe|R}}

|November 3, 2021

align="left" |Politico{{cite web |url= https://www.politico.com/2022-election/race-forecasts-ratings-and-predictions/south-dakota/senate/|title=South Dakota Senate Race 2022|date=April 1, 2022 |work=Politico}}

|{{USRaceRating|Solid|R}}

|April 1, 2022

align="left" |RCP{{cite web |url= https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2022/senate/elections-map.html|title=Battle for the Senate 2022|date=January 10, 2022 |publisher=RCP}}

|{{USRaceRating|Safe|R}}

|January 10, 2022

align=left |Fox News{{cite web |title=2022 Election Forecast |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/power-rankings-ohio-senate-governor|publisher=Fox News |date=12 May 2022 |access-date=May 12, 2022}}

| {{USRaceRating|Solid|R}}

|May 12, 2022

align="left" |DDHQ{{cite web |title=2022 Election Forecast |url=https://forecast.decisiondeskhq.com/senate|website=DDHQ |date=July 20, 2022 |access-date=July 20, 2022}}

|{{USRaceRating|Solid|R}}

|July 20, 2022

align="left" |538{{cite web |title=2022 Election Forecast |url=https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2022-election-forecast/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630140054/https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2022-election-forecast/|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 30, 2022|website=FiveThirtyEight |date=June 30, 2022 |access-date=June 30, 2022}}

|{{USRaceRating|Solid|R}}

|June 30, 2022

align="left" |The Economist{{cite news |title=Economist's 2022 Senate forecast |url=https://www.economist.com/interactive/us-midterms-2022/forecast/senate/|newspaper=The Economist |date=September 7, 2022 |access-date=September 7, 2022}}

|{{USRaceRating|Safe|R}}

|September 7, 2022

=Post-primary endorsements=

{{Endorsements box

|title=Brian Bengs (D)

|list=

Organizations

  • National Association of Social Workers{{Cite web |title=2022 PACE Endorsements |url=https://www.socialworkers.org/Advocacy/Political-Action-for-Candidate-Election-PACE/Elections/2022-PACE-Endorsements |access-date=2023-09-11 |website=www.socialworkers.org}}
  • Let America Vote{{Cite web|title=Endorsements |url=https://twitter.com/BrianBengs/status/1580635658192056320}}
  • End Citizens United{{Cite web |title=Endorsements |url=https://twitter.com/BrianBengs/status/1580635658192056320}}
  • Common Defense{{Cite web |title=Endorsements |url=https://twitter.com/commondefense/status/1580276483615883264}}
  • Sisters United - South Dakota.{{Cite web|title=Endorsements |url=https://twitter.com/BrianBengs/status/1577460255885516800}}
  • Teamsters Local 120 {{Cite web|title=Endorsements |url=https://twitter.com/BrianBengs/status/1570173613021470720}}

U.S. Senators

  • Doug Jones, U.S. Senator from Alabama (2018–2021){{cite web |title=Endorsements |url=https://twitter.com/BrianBengs/status/1575639526315528193}}

}}

{{Endorsements box

|title=John Thune (R)

|list=

Organizations

  • Animal Wellness Action{{cite web|url=https://animalwellnessaction.org/endorsed-candidates|title=Endorsed Candidates|website=animalwellnessaction.org|access-date=October 31, 2022|archive-date=November 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221101025731/https://animalwellnessaction.org/endorsed-candidates|url-status=dead}}
  • International Franchise Association{{cite web|url=https://www.franchise.org/media-center/press-releases/international-franchise-association-announces-june-2022-congressional|title=INTERNATIONAL FRANCHISE ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES JUNE 2022 CONGRESSIONAL ENDORSEMENTS|website=www.franchise.org|date=May 31, 2022|access-date=October 31, 2022}}
  • National Right to Life Committee{{cite web|url=https://www.nrlc.org/communications/nrlc-endorses-john-thune-in-south-dakota-senate-race/|title=National Right to Life Endorses John Thune in South Dakota Senate Race|website=www.nrlc.org|date=July 21, 2022|access-date=October 31, 2022}}
  • National Wildlife Federation{{cite web|url=https://nwfactionfund.org/portfolio-item/national-wildlife-federation-action-fund-endorses-sen-thune-for-re-election/|title=National Wildlife Federation Action Fund Endorses Sen. Thune for Re-Election|website=nwfactionfund.org|date=August 11, 2022|access-date=October 31, 2022}}

}}

=Polling=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;text-align:center;"
valign=bottom

! Poll source

! Date(s)
administered

! Sample
size{{efn|name="Key"}}

! Margin
of error

! style="width:100px;"| John
Thune (R)

! style="width:100px;"| Brian
Bengs (D)

! style="width:100px;"| Tamara
Lesnar (L)

! Undecided

style="text-align:left;"|South Dakota State University[https://www.sdstate.edu/news/2022/10/race-governor-tighter-many-expected South Dakota State University]

|September 28 – October 10, 2022

|565 (RV)

|± 4.0%

|{{party shading/Republican}}|53%

|28%

|–

|20%

style="text-align:left;"|Lake Research Partners (D)[https://www.politico.com/newsletters/playbook-pm/2022/09/26/mitch-mcconnell-and-the-tale-of-two-moderate-dems-00058852 Lake Research Partners (D)]

|September 6–11, 2022

|400 (LV)

|± 4.9%

|{{party shading/Republican}}|46%

|33%

|8%

|11%

style="text-align:left;"|Moore Information Group (R)[https://web.archive.org/web/20220728040100if_/https://www.protectingtaxpayers.org/wp-content/uploads/South-Dakota-Memo-and-Topline.pdf Moore Information Group (R)]

|March 14–19, 2022

|400 (LV)

|± 5.0%

|{{party shading/Republican}}|59%

|24%

|6%

|11%

=Results=

{{Election box begin

| title = 2022 United States Senate election in South Dakota{{cite web|url=https://sdsos.gov/elections-voting/assets/2022Generalcanvassreport.pdf|title=2022 General Election Official State Canvass Results|website=sdsos.gov}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|candidate=John Thune (incumbent)|party=Republican Party (United States)|votes=242,316|percentage=69.63%|change=-2.20%}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|candidate=Brian Bengs|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=91,007|percentage=26.15%|change=-2.02%}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|candidate=Tamara Lesnar|party=Libertarian Party (United States)|votes=14,697|percentage=4.22%|change=N/A}}

{{Election box total

| votes = 348,020

| percentage = 100.0%

| change = N/A

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing

| winner = Republican Party (United States)

}}

{{Election box end}}

See also

Notes

{{notelist}}

Partisan clients

{{notelist-ua}}

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

Official campaign websites

  • [https://bengsforsenate.com/ Brian Bengs (D) for Senate]
  • [https://www.johnthune.com/ John Thune (R) for Senate]

{{2022 United States elections}}

2022

South Dakota

United States Senate

Category:John Thune