South Dakota News Watch, Inc.

10/29/2026

Some polls have garnered conflicting results. Read more about the process for the South Dakota Poll below.

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Some political polls have garnered conflicting results. The latest findings of the South Dakota Poll, sponsored by News Watch and the Chiesman Center for Democracy at USD, are out. All the details will be published Friday.

10/28/2026

A majority of South Dakotans are opposed to data centers being built in the state and believe artificial intelligence has negative effects.

Plus, Trump's approval rate is about 50/50. Read more at the link below ⬇️

Latest South Dakota Poll also found a majority are opposed to data centers being built in the state and believe artificial intelligence has negative effects.

10/27/2026

South Dakota Poll: Secretary of state race is contentious with three candidates vying for office and low name recognition. Read about that plus other executive offices below.

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https://buff.ly/NaHRwZ1

10/26/2026

South Dakota Poll: Find out where South Dakotan's stand on the four ballot measures on this year's ballot, plus who is backing the amendments.

Read more ⬇️

South Dakota Poll shows support for non-citizen voting and unclaimed property ballot issues but higher opposition for changes to Medicaid and the threshold to amend the constitution.

10/23/2026

"There's a lot of doom and gloom on our reservation, but there's a few pockets of hope that are happening ... I believe we are part of that new hope."

Red Cloud Renewable Energy Center houses and trains students to work in the solar power industry, and the nonprofit was recently given a national award for its efforts.

Read more ⬇️

Red Cloud Renewable Energy Center houses and trains students to work in the solar power industry, and the nonprofit was recently given a national award for its efforts.

10/22/2026

South Dakota Poll: Republican Sen. Mike Rounds leads Independent challenger Brian Bengs 56% to 37%.

View more findings and analysis from the poll below, sponsored by News Watch and the Chiesman Center for Democracy at the University of South Dakota.
https://buff.ly/VyvPepF

10/21/2026

Campaign finance reports show Gov. Larry Rhoden out-raised his Democratic opponent by a wide margin. Rhoden's campaign saw over $1 million in individual donations from the June 2 primary to Oct. 14, compared to Democrat Dan Ahlers' $146,000.

Read more ⬇️

Gov. Larry Rhoden saw over $1 million in individual donations while secretary of state candidate Heather Baxter received $105,000, in part from legislators and the Freedom Caucus.

10/21/2026

South Dakota Poll: In the race for South Dakota's lone congressional seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, Republican Attorney General Marty Jackley leads Democrat Nikki Gronli 60% to 32%.

Full poll results ⬇️

Republican Marty Jackley is South Dakota's attorney general. Democrat Nicki Gronli was formerly the state's director for the Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development program.

10/20/2026

Campaign finance reports for the democratic candidates for SD governor and Secretary of State shows support from individual donors.

Read more ⬇️
https://buff.ly/Vlbx20J

10/19/2026

➡️ Thirty-five percent of voters polled did not recognize Ahlers’ name, versus just 1% for Rhoden
➡️ Fifty percent of South Dakotans have a favorable view of Rhoden
➡️ For the most part, voters are sticking with their party

More at sdnewswatch.org.