South Dakota Democrats Gain Legislative Seats After Election

Shane Merrill, chair of the South Dakota Democratic Party, spoke at the party’s election night watch party in downtown Sioux Falls on Nov. 3, 2026. Though they did not win any statewide seats, South Dakota Democrats gained ground in the Legislature after Tuesday’s election, increasing their numbers from eight to 12 out of 105 total legislators.

Merrill joined the Searchlight Report podcast to discuss the legislative wins and how the party can use the momentum from the blue ‘ripple’ in South Dakota, compared to the ‘tsunami’ that swept Democrats into power in Congress.

The podcast also featured longtime South Dakota journalist Kevin Woster, who analyzed how Democratic numbers became so low and where the party could go after Tuesday’s wins.