Record Number of Democrats Running for the State Legislature
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The South Dakota Democratic Party announced today that 110 Democratic candidates have been certified by the Secretary of State as candidates for the State Legislature, and that the Party is running candidates in every legislative district, contesting a record 101 out of 105 legislative seats.
“I am extremely proud of the number of great candidates we have running for the State Legislature this year,” said Ann Tornberg, South Dakota Democratic Party Chair. Our 110 candidates include people from all walks of life and every part of our great state. It’s also exciting to note that 42 of those candidates are women, 30 are under the age of 40, and 74 are running for the legislature for the very first time. We also have 11 of our great Democratic state legislators running for re-election or running for a seat in another chamber.”
This number of legislative seats that will be contested by Democrats in 2018 is the most legislative seats contested by Democrats in South Dakota in a midterm election since the current format of legislative elections began in 1984, and ties 2008 for the most seats contested in any election cycle in that same period. There are currently eight seats where Democrats have filed and there is no Republican opposition.
“This is yet another sign of the momentum we Democrats have in South Dakota, and around the country. The people of this state are fed up with a state government marked by a culture of corruption and complacency, and a state and federal government that puts the needs of those at the top ahead of the middle class. With exceptional candidates for Governor in State Sen. Billie Sutton an U.S. House in Tim Bjorkman, and a record number of candidates for the State Legislature, I’m confident that 2018 will be a great year for Democrats in South Dakota. It’s time that South Dakota had a state government, and a representative in Congress, who worked for all of South Dakota, not just the powerful special interests.”
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