South Dakota's seventh state senate district is represented by Republican Senator V.J. Smith.

South Dakota state senators represent an average of 23,262 residents. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 21,567 residents.

About the chamber

Members of the South Dakota State Senate serve two-year terms with term limits. South Dakota legislators assume office the first day of session after election (Jan. 11).

Qualifications

To be eligible to serve in the South Dakota Senate, a candidate must be:

• A U.S. citizen at the time of filing
• 21 years old at the filing deadline time
• A two-year resident of South Dakota at the filing deadline time
• May not have been convicted of bribery, perjury or other infamous crime; may not have illegally taken "public moneys"
• A qualified voter. A qualified voter is someone who is:

* A U.S. citizen

* Reside in South Dakota

* At least 18 years old old on or before the next election

* Not currently serving a sentence for a felony conviction which included imprisonment, served or suspended, in an adult penitentiary system

* Not be judged mentally incompetent by a court of law

* Not have served 4 consecutive terms

Salaries

Term limits

The South Dakota legislature is one of 15 state legislatures with term limits. Voters enacted the South Dakota Term Limits Act in 1992. That initiative said that South Dakota senators are subject to term limits of no more than four consecutive two-year terms, or eight consecutive years. State senators can run again after they have been out of office for a term.

The South Dakota State Legislature has tried on more than one occasion, each time unsuccessfully, to persuade the state's voters to repeal term limits. The most recent such failed attempt was when Amendment J lost in 2008 by 75-25%.

The first year that the term limits — enacted in 1992 — impacted the ability of incumbents to run for office was in 2000.

Vacancies

Under the state constitution, the Governor is responsible for appointing a replacement in the event a vacancy happens in the senate. There are no deadlines set in the state constitution to when the Governor has to fill the vacancy.

Elections

2020

Elections for the office of South Dakota State Senate will take place in 2020. The general election will be held on November 3, 2020. A primary is scheduled for June 2, 2020, and a primary runoff is scheduled for August 11, 2020. The filing deadline is March 31, 2020.

2018

No Democratic candidates ran in the primary.

2016

Elections for the South Dakota State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election was held on June 7, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was March 29, 2016.

Incumbent Larry Tidemann defeated Mary Perpich in the South Dakota State Senate District 7 general election.

South Dakota State Senate, District 7 General Election, 2016

Mary Perpich ran unopposed in the South Dakota State Senate District 7 Democratic primary.
Incumbent Larry Tidemann defeated Doug Post in the South Dakota State Senate District 7 Republican primary.

South Dakota State Senate, District 7 Republican Primary, 2016

2014

The general elections for the office of South Dakota State Senate took place on November 4, 2014. A primary election took place on June 3, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 25, 2014. Jay Vanduch was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Incumbent Larry Tidemann was unopposed in the Republican primary. Tidemann defeated Vanduch in the general election.

South Dakota State Senate, District 7, General Election, 2014

2012

Elections for the office of South Dakota State Senate consisted of a primary election on June 5, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 27, 2011. Incumbent Larry Tidemann (R) defeated Pamela Merchant (D) in the general election. Neither candidate faced opposition in their primary.

South Dakota State Senate, District 7, General Election, 2012

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for South Dakota State Senate District 7 raised a total of $236,917. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $13,162 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, South Dakota State Senate District 7