South Dakota voters delivered decisive results in Tuesday, June 2 primary contests for U.S. Senate and House seats, along with a gubernatorial primary that is moving toward a runoff. President Donald Trump also said he isn’t worried Iran will hurt Republican m
On Tuesday, June 2, South Dakota voters moved several key 2026 midterm contests one step closer to Washington. By the time results started to solidify, the state had selected nominees for U.S. House, U.S. Senate and governor—races that will help shape the party fight heading into November.
President Donald Trump, meanwhile, said he isn’t worried about the 2026 midterm elections even as effects of the war in Iran could threaten Republican chances.
South Dakota House primary results came first, with Republicans delivering a clear winner. Marty Jackley won the Republican primary, defeating James Bialota with 79.2% of the votes to 20.8%, with an estimated 99% of votes counted.
On the Democratic side, Nikki Gronli won the race uncontested.
The Senate primary produced another decisive Republican result. Incumbent Sen. Mike Rounds won the Republican primary with 75.8% of the votes to Justin McNeal’s 24.2%, again with an estimated 99% of votes counted.
The Democratic primary didn’t play out the way voters might have expected. It was canceled after Julian Beaudion garnered enough signatures to appear on the November ballot, according to Ballotpedia.
The governor’s race is headed for a narrower fight. As of early Wednesday, Republican Toby Doeden led the field with 30.6% of the votes and advanced to a runoff, with an estimated 99% of votes counted.
One additional candidate will also advance among the remaining Republicans: South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden at 25.2%, Republican Dusty Johnson at 23.4%, and Jon Hansen at 20.8%.
The results across these races all point to the same shift: South Dakota has largely finished narrowing its options on the ballot before the fall campaign season begins. The House and Senate primaries locked in Republican nominees quickly. while the gubernatorial contest remains partially undecided as a runoff is set to determine who goes forward.
For voters watching the national political climate, the state-level outcomes arrive alongside Trump’s insistence that the Iran-related fallout won’t damage GOP momentum in the midterms.
South Dakota primary results 2026 midterm elections U.S. Senate primary U.S. House primary gubernatorial runoff Mike Rounds Marty Jackley Toby Doeden Nikki Gronli