2022 United States Senate election in South Dakota
← 2016 November 8, 2022 2028 →
 
Nominee John Thune Brian Bengs
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 242,316 91,007
Percentage 69.63% 26.15%
County results

Thune:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%

Bengs:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
U.S. senator before election

John Thune
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

John Thune
Republican

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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.[1] The Democratic nominee was 26-year Navy, Air Force JAG Corps Veteran, and former college professor Brian Bengs. Thune was ultimately reelected.[2]

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:[3] "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.[4] On January 1, 2021, 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

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

Withdrew

Declined

Endorsements

John Thune
Organizations

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size[a] 		Margin
of error 		Mark
Mowry 		John
Thune 		Bruce
Whalen 		Undecided
South Dakota State University May 2–15, 2022 – (LV) – 4% 46% 10% 41%
Hypothetical polling
Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size[a] 		Margin
of error 		Dusty
Johnson 		Kristi
Noem 		John
Thune 		Undecided
Fabrizio Lee (R)[A] January 2022 400 (LV) ± 4.9% 30% – 47% 23%
– 49% 40% 10%

Results

Results by county
  Thune
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  •   80–90%
Republican primary results[14]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John Thune (incumbent) 85,613 72.24%
Republican Bruce Whalen 24,071 20.31%
Republican Mark Mowry 8,827 7.45%
Total votes 118,511 100.0%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Declined

Libertarian convention

Candidates

Nominee

General election

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[20] Solid R November 19, 2021
Inside Elections[21] Solid R January 7, 2022
Sabato's Crystal Ball[22] Safe R November 3, 2021
Politico[23] Solid R April 1, 2022
RCP[24] Safe R January 10, 2022
Fox News[25] Solid R May 12, 2022
DDHQ[26] Solid R July 20, 2022
538[27] Solid R June 30, 2022
The Economist[28] Safe R September 7, 2022

Endorsements

Brian Bengs (D)
Organizations
John Thune (R)
Organizations

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size[a] 		Margin
of error 		John
Thune (R) 		Brian
Bengs (D) 		Tamara
Lesnar (L) 		Undecided
South Dakota State University September 28 – October 10, 2022 565 (RV) ± 4.0% 53% 28% – 20%
Lake Research Partners (D) September 6–11, 2022 400 (LV) ± 4.9% 46% 33% 8% 11%
Moore Information Group (R) March 14–19, 2022 400 (LV) ± 5.0% 59% 24% 6% 11%

Results

2022 United States Senate election in South Dakota[36]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican John Thune (incumbent) 242,316 69.63% -2.20%
Democratic Brian Bengs 91,007 26.15% -2.02%
Libertarian Tamara Lesnar 14,697 4.22% N/A
Total votes 348,020 100.0% N/A
Republican hold

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
Partisan clients
  1. ^ This poll was sponsored by the American Potential Fund

References

  1. ^ a b Levine, Marianne (January 8, 2022). "Senate Minority Whip John Thune to run for reelection". Politico. Retrieved January 8, 2022.
  2. ^ "South Dakota's Thune wins reelection to 4th U.S. Senate term". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  3. ^ Williams, Jordan (December 22, 2020). "Trump attacks Thune: 'He will be primaried in 2022'". The Hill. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  4. ^ a b Budryk, Zack (December 23, 2020). "Noem rules out Thune challenge after Trump criticizes senator". The Hill. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  5. ^ Coleman, Justine (January 1, 2021). "Trump again calls for Noem to primary Thune despite her refusal". The Hill. Retrieved January 1, 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.
  7. ^ Goss, Austin (July 27, 2021). "State Rep. Taffy Howard expected to announce bid for US Congress". KEVN.
  8. ^ "Two West River men to challenge Thune in 2022 Republican primary".
  9. ^ "Ellis: Thune retirement could cause GOP bedlam in South Dakota".
  10. ^ Bartels, Deb (March 2, 2021). "Marty Jackley running for his old job of attorney general". www.capjournal.com. Capital Journal. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  11. ^ Heemstra, Jody (January 31, 2022). "Dusty Johnson announces he is running for re-election". DRG News. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  12. ^ a b c d "John Thune's Ratings and Endorsements - Vote Smart". justfacts.votesmart.org. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
  13. ^ a b "Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions Announces Second Round of Congressional Endorsements for the 2022 Election Cycle". cresenergy.com. Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions. May 4, 2022. Archived from the original on August 21, 2022. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
  14. ^ "2022 Primary Election Official State Canvass Results" (PDF). Secretary of State of South Dakota. June 14, 2022. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ a b 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?". The South Dakota Standard. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  17. ^ "South Dakota Minority Leader Heinert passes on run for Governor, joining private sector after term". December 16, 2021.
  18. ^ Woster, Kevin (February 23, 2022). "Sutton's political time will come again, but not just yet". South Dakota Public Broadcasting. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  19. ^ "Libertarian House candidate, Sturgis rancher Collin Duprel: I am running to give South Dakota voters a choice".
  20. ^ "2022 Senate Race ratings". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  21. ^ "Senate ratings". Inside Elections. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  22. ^ "2022 Senate". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  23. ^ "South Dakota Senate Race 2022". Politico. April 1, 2022.
  24. ^ "Battle for the Senate 2022". RCP. January 10, 2022.
  25. ^ "2022 Election Forecast". Fox News. May 12, 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  26. ^ "2022 Election Forecast". DDHQ. July 20, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  27. ^ "2022 Election Forecast". FiveThirtyEight. June 30, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  28. ^ "Economist's 2022 Senate forecast". The Economist. September 7, 2022. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
  29. ^ "2022 PACE Endorsements". www.socialworkers.org. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
  30. ^ "NRA-PVF - Grades - South Dakota". nrapvf.org. NRA-PVF. Archived from the original on November 8, 2022.((cite web)): CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  31. ^ "Vote Freedom First. Vote John Thune for U.S. Senate!". nrapvf.org. NRA-PVF. Archived from the original on October 28, 2022.
  32. ^ "National Right to Life Endorses John Thune in South Dakota Senate Race". www.nrlc.org. July 21, 2022. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
  33. ^ "National Wildlife Federation Action Fund Endorses Sen. Thune for Re-Election". nwfactionfund.org. August 11, 2022. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
  34. ^ "INTERNATIONAL FRANCHISE ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES JUNE 2022 CONGRESSIONAL ENDORSEMENTS". www.franchise.org. May 31, 2022. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
  35. ^ "Endorsed Candidates". animalwellnessaction.org. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
  36. ^ "2022 General Election Official State Canvass Results" (PDF). sdsos.gov.

External links

Official campaign websites
(2021 โ†) ย  2022 United States elections ย  (โ†’ 2023)
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