Lance Russell Wins Unchallenged South Dakota AG Race
Russell, a former state lawmaker and current state's attorney, will succeed Marty Jackley, who is running for the U.S. House seat.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Law
Lance Russell won South Dakota's attorney general election after going unchallenged on Election Day, having secured the Republican nomination at the state convention in June. The Democratic Party did not nominate a candidate for the office.
Why it matters
The attorney general oversees the state's legal affairs, and Russell's win means a new officeholder will take over when Marty Jackley leaves to seek the U.S. House seat. Russell's past disciplinary history with the state Supreme Court is part of his record for voters to weigh.
Russell faced no opponent on Election Day, so the result reflects an uncontested race rather than a competitive vote. The source does not provide vote counts or a timeline for his assumption of office.
The players
Lance Russell
Russell is a South Dakota Republican and former state lawmaker who serves as state's attorney for Fall River and Oglala Lakota counties.
Marty Jackley
Jackley is the current South Dakota attorney general who is seeking the state's U.S. House seat.
South Dakota Supreme Court
The state's highest court, which issued the 2011 public censure of Russell for prosecutorial and ethics violations.
The details
Russell is the state's attorney for Fall River and Oglala Lakota counties and a former state lawmaker. In April 2011, the South Dakota Supreme Court publicly censured him for misusing the grand jury process in a golf-course case involving the Hot Springs mayor and for issuing a news release critical of Circuit Judge Jeff Davis, which violated a professional ethics rule.
Timeline
April 20, 2011: South Dakota Supreme Court publicly censures Russell.
June 2026: Russell wins the Republican nomination at the state convention.
October 2026: Russell speaks in Lincoln County about law enforcement issues.
November 3, 2026: Russell wins the unchallenged attorney general election.
Political Context
Russell's 2026 uncontested win comes after the South Dakota Supreme Court publicly censured him in 2011 for misusing the grand jury process and violating an ethics rule against a circuit judge. His record of that discipline is a documented fact voters can weigh alongside his current role as state's attorney.
The attorney general's office handles the state's legal business, so the winner's approach to prosecution and ethics affects how cases move through South Dakota courts. Residents involved in state legal matters may see the effects of Russell's leadership when he takes office.
The takeaway
Voters choosing an attorney general can look beyond party lines to a candidate's record, including formal disciplinary findings from the state Supreme Court. Reviewing those public rulings is a practical way to understand a candidate's past conduct.
Further reading
For more on the legal system behind this race, see Law coverage of South Dakota.
