South Dakota became the 40th state on November 2, 1889.

Its civic life reflects Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota nations, agriculture, tourism, public lands, the Black Hills, small towns, and rural service challenges. Public decisions about schools, health care, roads, tribal-state relations, water, emergency services, and land use often turn on distance, local capacity, and history. Start here to find South Dakota’s congressional delegation, state government structure, and the official channels for tracking public decisions.

Under God the People Rule

State Motto
U.S. Representatives1Population-based districts
U.S. Senators2Same for every state
StatehoodNovember 2, 188940th state admitted
Federal Delegation

South Dakota's voice in Congress.

Every state has two senators. Its number of representatives is set by population and can change after each census.

3Members total
1Districts
119thCurrent Congress
About Congress About the Senate About the House State Election Office

South Dakota's Delegation

Choose a member to see their contact information, congressional work, and committee assignments.

Senator

John Thune (Republican)

Senator

Mike Rounds (Republican)

At-Large

Dusty Johnson (Republican)

The states are the laboratories of democracy.

Justice Louis Brandeis

State Leadership

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Governor

Larry Rhoden (Republican)

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Lieutenant Governor

Tony Venhuizen (Republican)

Quick Facts

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Capital

Pierre

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Population

Approximately 935,094

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Electoral votes

3

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Congressional districts

1

Official Links

Use these sources to check current state records, filings, elections, and public notices.

SD.gov

Official South Dakota state government portal.

South Dakota Legislature

State bill text, committee schedules, and session information.

Elections Office

Elections, voter registration, and official filings.

Congress.gov

Federal bill text, actions, sponsors, and public laws.

How South Dakota government works

South Dakota government works through executive agencies, the state legislature, and state courts. Use this tab to choose the right path: agencies for services, the legislature for bills and hearings, and courts for cases, records, forms, and legal-help resources.

Executive Branch

Governor, agencies, and public services

South Dakota’s executive branch is led by the governor and supported by statewide offices, departments, boards, and agencies. This is usually the best starting point for public services, licenses, benefits, public safety, transportation, revenue, employment, education, and other state-administered programs.

Legislative Branch

South Dakota Legislature

South Dakota’s legislature introduces bills, holds committee hearings, debates policy, approves state budgets, conducts oversight, and represents districts across South Dakota.

Judicial Branch

Courts, records, and legal help

South Dakota’s judicial branch handles trial-court cases, appeals, court administration, records, forms, and legal-help resources. Visitors dealing with a court date, filing, case search, legal form, or self-help question should start with the official state judiciary resources.

South Dakota voting guide

This state-page tab brings together practical voting resources for South Dakota voters. You can register or update your registration, check registration status, find where to vote, review ballot resources, learn about mail or absentee voting, and use official election-calendar links for final deadlines and dates.

Voting Tools

Plain-language tools that open inside this state voting tab.

SD Links

Official South Dakota election-office links for deadlines, registration, polling places, ballots, accessibility, rights, and state election calendars.

Official election officeRegister to vote or update registrationCheck registration statusAbsentee, mail, and early voting informationFind your polling placeFind ballot and election informationVoting accessibility resourcesVoting rights resourcesElection calendar and dates

While we do our best to provide accurate information, be sure to use your official state election calendar for final details.