Republican David Johnson Wins Rapid City Senate Seat
Johnson takes the District 33 state Senate seat as Democrat Nicole Uhre-Balk holds her District 32 House seat in Rapid City's legislative races.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Legislative Policy
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Republican David Johnson won the District 33 state Senate seat in South Dakota's November 3 general election, while Democrat Nicole Uhre-Balk won re-election as District 32 state representative, the only Democratic win among Rapid City's legislative races. Incumbents held their seats in all four legislative districts that span into or lie within Rapid City.
Why it matters
Uhre-Balk's re-election makes her the first Democrat to win reelection to the South Dakota Legislature from Rapid City in 36 years, a notable result for the city's partisan balance. The outcomes leave Rapid City's delegation in Pierre largely unchanged in partisan terms.
In District 33, David Johnson (Republican) won 6,427 votes (65%) to Christopher Baumgartner's 3,448 (35%) in the Senate race. Results are unofficial figures from the South Dakota Secretary of State's Office and remain subject to certification.
The players
David Johnson
Johnson is a South Dakota Republican who won the District 33 state Senate seat after defeating incumbent Curt Massie in the June primary.
Nicole Uhre-Balk
Uhre-Balk is a Democratic state representative from Rapid City who won re-election in District 32, the only Democratic win among the city's legislative races.
The details
In District 32, Helene Duhamel (Republican) received 3,317 votes (53%) and Jeff Shelton (Democrat) received 3,015 votes (48%) in the Senate race, while in District 34 Taffy Howard (Republican) received 4,943 votes (52%) to Michael Calabrese's 4,508 (48%). Greg Blanc (Republican) ran unopposed in the District 34 Senate race and received 4,213 votes; each district contains one Senate seat and two House seats.
Timeline
June 2026: Johnson won the Republican primary, beating incumbent Curt Massie by 303 votes.
November 3, 2026: General election held for Rapid City legislative districts.
January 2027: Winning candidates will be sworn in for two-year terms.
Legislative Policy Landscape
Uhre-Balk's win is the first Democratic legislative reelection from Rapid City in 36 years, breaking a long stretch in which the city's legislative delegation was dominated by Republicans. The result marks a departure from that established pattern, though Republicans still hold the majority of Rapid City's legislative seats.
Rapid City voters now have a state Senate representative in District 33 who is a Republican, while District 32 keeps a Democratic House member. The two-year terms mean these legislators will shape state policy affecting Rapid City residents starting in 2027.
The takeaway
Rapid City's 2026 legislative results show a split delegation, with Republicans holding most seats and Democrat Nicole Uhre-Balk's reelection marking a rare breakthrough for the city's Democrats. Residents following state policy should watch how this mixed representation shapes debates in Pierre beginning in January 2027.
What happens next
Winning candidates are scheduled to be sworn in January 2027 and begin two-year terms in the South Dakota Legislature.
Further reading
Explore more on Legislative Policy to see how state lawmaking shapes Rapid City's representation in Pierre.
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