South Dakota Voters to Decide Senate Race, Measures

The November 3 ballot includes a competitive state Senate contest and four proposed constitutional amendments.

Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Elections

Bold flat-color editorial illustration showing a monolithic pillar against a stark horizon, evoking the gravity of a state election. — South Dakota voters head to the polls on November 3 to decide the District 25 state Senate race and four constitutional amendments. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Should constitutional changes require at least 60% voter approval to pass in your state?

South Dakota voters will head to the polls on November 3 to determine the outcome of a District 25 state Senate race and four separate constitutional amendments. Residents will also select representatives for the state House during this election cycle.

Why it matters

This election features significant policy decisions regarding Medicaid funding, voting eligibility, and the state legislative threshold for passing future constitutional amendments. The ballot also reflects local political shifts, including the replacement of a candidate facing felony charges.

Amendment I conditions Medicaid expansion on a 90% federal funding threshold, while Amendment L proposes raising the approval requirement for future constitutional changes to 60%.

The players

Bart Sample

He is the Republican candidate selected to replace Tom Pischke on the District 25 state Senate ballot.

Bryan J. Breitling

He is a candidate for the District 25 state Senate seat who served in the chamber from 2021 to 2025.

Tom Pischke

The former candidate faces two felony charges of offering a false or forged instrument for filing.

The details

Bart Sample will appear on the ballot for the District 25 state Senate seat after being selected by Republican officials to replace Tom Pischke, who ended his campaign in July. Pischke currently faces two felony charges for offering a false or forged instrument for filing and has pleaded not guilty.

Tom Pischke ended his reelection campaign on July 1, 2026.
District 25 Republicans selected Bart Sample as a replacement on August 6, 2026.
The midterm election is scheduled for November 3, 2026.

Political Context

Opponents of Amendment L argue that raising the voter approval threshold to 60% limits the public's ability to enact policy changes. Conversely, supporters suggest that higher thresholds protect the state constitution from frequent changes by special interest groups.

Voters can view their specific sample ballots by accessing the South Dakota secretary of state's Voter Information Portal. Additionally, informational packets regarding the ballot measures are available for public review at the Moody County Courthouse.

The takeaway

Voters in District 25 should verify their polling location and review the specific language of the four amendments before casting their ballots. Understanding these measures is essential, as the passage of Amendment L would permanently alter the process for future state constitutional amendments.