Nick Fosness Wins District 1 House Seat
Fosness, appointed in July 2025, won a first full term representing South Dakota's District 1 in the state House.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Elections
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Nick Fosness was voted in to represent South Dakota's District 1 in the state House for a first full term on Tuesday, after Governor Larry Rhoden appointed him to the seat in July 2025. He will serve alongside Daniel Kjos of Webster, who also won a District 1 House seat.
Why it matters
The election keeps the District 1 seat in Republican hands for the state's upcoming legislative session, with South Dakota Republicans holding their own even as the party lost majorities in the U.S. House and Senate nationwide. The outcome gives Fosness a full term to pursue legislation in Pierre after his initial appointment.
Nick Fosness and Daniel Kjos won the two House seats in South Dakota's District 1 on Tuesday, according to the election results. Specific vote counts and margins were not reported in the available details.
The players
Nick Fosness
A Britton native appointed to the South Dakota House by Governor Larry Rhoden in 2025, Fosness is now a publicly elected state legislator.
Daniel Kjos
A Webster resident who won a District 1 House seat in the same election, Kjos will serve in the South Dakota Legislature in Pierre.
Larry Rhoden
The Governor of South Dakota who appointed Fosness to fill the District 1 House vacancy in July 2025.
The details
Fosness was appointed by Governor Larry Rhoden in July 2025 to finish the District 1 House term previously held by Christopher Reder, a native of Britton. Voters returned Fosness to the seat for a first full term, and Daniel Kjos of Webster will join him in Pierre.
Timeline
July 2025: Governor Larry Rhoden appoints Nick Fosness to the District 1 House seat.
Tuesday, November 3, 2026: Voters elect Fosness to a first full term and Daniel Kjos to the second District 1 seat.
January 12, 2027: The 2027 legislative session begins in Pierre.
Season Trajectory
The result follows the South Dakota pattern in which governor-appointed legislators seek voter confirmation at the next general election. Republicans retaining the seat matches the party's overall performance in the state even as the national party lost House and Senate majorities.
District 1 residents now have Fosness and Kjos representing them in Pierre for the next legislative term. Constituents can contact their state representatives about bills and local concerns once the session begins.
The takeaway
Voters in South Dakota's District 1 confirmed a governor-appointed legislator and elected a new colleague, shaping the state House delegation heading into 2027.
What happens next
The 2027 legislative session begins January 12, 2027, when Fosness and Kjos take their seats in Pierre.
Further reading
Explore more in Elections coverage of South Dakota's state legislative races.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Hub City Radio.
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