HURON — In an historic election, U.S. voters opted to return former president Donald Trump to the White House, as he overcame criminal prosecution convictions to become only the second person elected to the presidency in non-consecutive terms.

Trump defeated vice president Kamala Harris in both the popular vote and the electoral college to re-take the White House in a race that came down to a handful of states and even counties, as counting went into early Wednesday morning.

As voters across the nation cast ballots in a presidential election, those in South Dakota voice their wishes on a variety of ballot measures, in two statewide elected official races and in every state House and Senate contest.

With 90 percent of precincts reporting on Wednesday morning, the picture was clear on the voter’s decisions.

It was a tough night for ballot measures as all but one of the seven saw the “No” votes outweigh “Yes” votes. That one measure was Constitutional Amendment F, which will require a work requirement for individuals eligible for the expanded Medicaid benefits.

In races for local and representation, Republican David Wheeler of Huron was re-elected to the S.D. State Senate, as he tallied 7,271 votes, or 73%, to the 2,666 (27%) votes gathered by Democratic challenger Jim Schmidt.

Republicans Kevin Van Diepen and Lana Greenfield were unopposed in the District 22 House race.

Trump won South Dakota handily, 65% to 33% over Harris and the margin of victory for U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson was even greater, as the incumbent Republican defeated Democratic challenger Sheryl Johnson 73% to 27%.

Incumbent Public Utilities Commissioners Kristie Fiegen was also returned to her seat on the regulatory commission, as the Republican notched 69% of the ballots cast in the race, to 26% for Democrat Forrest Wilson and 5% for Libertarian A. Gideon Oakes.

Supreme Court Justice Scott Myren received 80% yes votes for retention to the state’s highest court.

Statewide, more than 63% of registered voters cast ballots, largely driven to the polls by the seven ballot measures facing voters. From the earliest returns posted on the S.D. Secretary of State’s website (sdsos.gov) margins fluctuated throughout the counting, but in every case the side with the advantage after the first votes were counted remained in the lead.

Ballot measures

Referred Law 21 (Pipeline regulation)
Seen as a showdown between carbon pipeline company and landowners, voter referred the law passed this past legislative session by the State Senate - SB201 - by a 60% to 40% margin. In Beadle County, the margin was virtually identical, as the measure failed 57%-43%.

Constitutional Amendment G (Abortion access)
In a race that would have established a woman’s right to an abortion in the state’s constitution, voters said 60% to 40% that that was not their wish. Several states had similar measures on their respective ballots, with many states approving the issue. South Dakota and Florida each declined to approve access to abortion.

In Beadle County, the margin was wider, as the measure failed 64% to 35%.

Initiated Measure 29 (Recreational marijuana)
Recreational marijuana, taking its third turn on the ballot, failed to gain approval, as the “No” votes accounted for 56% of those cast in the race. In 2022, a different initiated measure failed 53%-47%, while in 2020, recreational marijuana passed 54%-46%, when packaged with a requirement that allowed access to medicinal marijuana and required written legislation regarding hemp production in the state. The S.D. Supreme Court struck down the recreational marijuana portion of the question as being unconstitutional in 2021.

Beadle County results in 2024 saw a 59% to 40% percent “No” majority.

Initiated Measure 28 (Food tax)
The No votes for the initiated measure that would have eliminated the sales tax on ‘consumable’ items, had the widest margin on the night, falling by a 70% to 30% difference. While the measure sought to build upon an idea that was brought up in the state legislature, opponents questioned the wording of the 2024 initiated measure, particularly as it pertained to “consumable” and also questioned where the money to replace the tax, if the measure passed, would come from.

The margin was wider in Beadle County, as the measure failed 74% to 36%.

Constitutional Amendment H (Open elections)
The open election proposed amendment saw the No votes with 66% as an attempt to change voting in primary elections failed. The measure was likely doomed earlier in the year, when neither the Democratic or Republican parties in the state supported the proposed constitutional amendment.

Beadle County voters nixed Amendment H as well, 66% to 33%.

Constitutional Amendment F (Medicare work requirement)
Surprisingly the only ballot measure where the Yes votes had an edge is Amendment F, which authorizes the state to impose a work requirement on individuals eligible for the expanded Medicaid program, which voters passed 56-44 in 2022. On Tuesday, 56% of those voting said “Yes” to the added requirement.

Beadle County voters were again in-step with those in the rest of the state, approving the proposed amendment, 54% to 45%.

Constitutional Amendment E (Gender references)
In perhaps the most confusing outcome of the 2024 ballot race, “No” votes on a proposed amendment to the constitution that would have updated gender references for certain office holders and others accounted for 58% of the votes cast. Beadle County voted down the measure 62% to 37%.