U.S. House, South Dakota At-Large Congressional District · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in South Dakota's At-Large Congressional District?
Nikki Gronli has the strongest record in South Dakota's At-Large Congressional District. Nikki Gronli scores 64 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Marty Jackley at 55, as of October 6, 2026. Nikki Gronli's highest marks are accountability and relevant experience. Marty Jackley's highest marks are relevant experience and roots in the constituency. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Democratic
Strongest record
Nikki Gronli
On the ballot as Nicole "Nikki" Gronli
64 / 100
Public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 56
- Qualifications
- 70
- Performance
- NR
Republican
Marty Jackley
55 / 100
Public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 55
- Performance
- 75
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Nikki Gronli
- On the record2026-09-30
Released economic proposals including removing the Social Security taxable maximum and a $35 monthly insulin cap.
Source: SD Searchlight via News From The States, Sept. 30, 2026
- On the record2026-10-01
Debated Republican nominee Marty Jackley on Oct. 1, 2026 at SDPB in Sioux Falls.
- On the record2025-spring
Held town hall meetings across South Dakota with other Democrats in spring 2025 before entering the House race.
Source: SD Searchlight via News From The States, Sept. 8, 2025
- Credit2022-03
Was appointed USDA Rural Development state director for South Dakota in March 2022 and served until 2025.
Sources: DRG News, March 17, 2022, SD Searchlight via News From The States, Sept. 8, 2025
Marty Jackley
- Mark against2017-12
A federal jury awarded former DCI agent Laura Zylstra Kaiser $1.2 million on retaliation and discrimination claims against the DCI; Jackley, who oversees the DCI, had denied her grievance.
Sources: AP via Mitchell Republic, Dec. 21, 2017, AP via DRG News, May 23, 2018
- On the record2026-10-01
In the Oct. 1, 2026 House debate he said President Trump's push to import Argentine beef was the wrong approach.
- On the record2026-10-01
Debated Democratic nominee Nikki Gronli on Oct. 1, 2026 at SDPB in Sioux Falls.
- On the record2018-05
In May 2018 a federal judge ordered DCI Director Bryan Gortmaker to court after the state had not paid the roughly $1.5 million owed to Zylstra Kaiser.
Source: AP via DRG News, May 23, 2018
- Credit2025-12-08
The nation's attorneys general unanimously elected him president-elect of the National Association of Attorneys General for 2026, the second time he has held the post.
Sources: Dakota News Now, Dec. 8, 2025, National Association of Attorneys General, press release
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Nikki Gronli. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC from Aug. 26, 2025 through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine and no official ethics finding found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, coverage dates, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00918961
Marty Jackley. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine and no official ethics finding found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, coverage dates, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00909689
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Nikki Gronli. No public record found.
Marty Jackley. In the Oct. 1, 2026 debate criticized President Trump's push to import Argentine beef, a break with his party's president.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Nikki Gronli. Took part in the Oct. 1, 2026 SDPB and South Dakota News Watch debate and a KELOLAND interview, and in spring 2025 held town hall meetings across South Dakota with other Democrats.
Sources: SD Searchlight via Yahoo News, Oct. 2, 2026, SD Searchlight via News From The States, Sept. 8, 2025
Marty Jackley. Took part in the Oct. 1, 2026 SDPB and South Dakota News Watch U.S. House debate and a KELOLAND News candidate interview.
Sources: SD Searchlight via Yahoo News, Oct. 2, 2026, KELOLAND News via Yahoo News, Sept. 18, 2026
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Nikki Gronli. Led USDA Rural Development in South Dakota from 2022 to 2025 and has held nonprofit board posts with no formal conduct finding found.
Source: DRG News, March 17, 2022
Marty Jackley. Has served as U.S. attorney and attorney general since 2006, apart from 2019 to 2022, with no personal censure or conduct finding found. A 2017 jury verdict against his office's DCI is in the Record.
Source: Ballotpedia, Marty Jackley
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Nikki Gronli. Served as a federal appointee, USDA Rural Development state director for South Dakota, from 2022 to 2025. No official finding of misuse of office found.
Sources: DRG News, March 17, 2022, SD Searchlight via News From The States, Sept. 30, 2026
Marty Jackley. Took the oaths of U.S. attorney and attorney general. No official finding of misuse of office and no recorded action to reject certified election results found.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Marty Jackley, Marty Jackley for Congress
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Nikki Gronli. USDA Rural Development state director for South Dakota from 2022 to 2025, former vice chair of the state Democratic Party, president of the marketing firm Flatlander Strategies, and a marketing career of nearly 30 years.
Sources: SD Searchlight via News From The States, Sept. 8, 2025, SD Searchlight via News From The States, Sept. 30, 2026
Marty Jackley. South Dakota attorney general from 2009 to 2019 and since 2023, and U.S. attorney for South Dakota from 2006 to 2009. Has not served in a legislature or Congress.
Source: Ballotpedia, Marty Jackley
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Nikki Gronli. Published specific proposals: removing the Social Security taxable maximum, a $35 monthly insulin cap, broader Medicare drug-price bargaining, and more meat-processing grant funding.
Source: SD Searchlight via News From The States, Sept. 30, 2026
Marty Jackley. Campaign issue page states positions on crime, the border, agriculture, guns and federal spending in general terms. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Marty Jackley for Congress, issues, Ballotpedia, Marty Jackley
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Nikki Gronli. Publishes a priorities page, took part in the Oct. 1 debate, and held town halls in 2025. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Nikki G for SD, priorities, SD Searchlight via Yahoo News, Oct. 2, 2026, Ballotpedia, Nicole Gronli
Marty Jackley. Publishes an issue page and took part in the Oct. 1 SDPB debate (two channels under E8); also gave a KELOLAND News interview. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Marty Jackley for Congress, issues, SD Searchlight via Yahoo News, Oct. 2, 2026, KELOLAND News via Yahoo News, Sept. 18, 2026
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Nikki Gronli. Returned to South Dakota in 2001 and lives near Dell Rapids. FEC by-state totals for 2026 show about 89 percent of itemized individual receipts from South Dakota.
Sources: DRG News, March 17, 2022, South Dakota Secretary of State candidate list
Marty Jackley. Raised in Sturgis and graduated from Sturgis High School in 1988; lists a Pierre address. FEC by-state totals for 2026 show about 90 percent of itemized individual receipts from South Dakota.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Marty Jackley, South Dakota Secretary of State candidate list
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Nikki Gronli. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC with no debt owed and no administrative fine.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00918961
Marty Jackley. Heads the attorney general's office. In December 2017 a federal jury awarded a former Division of Criminal Investigation agent $1.2 million on retaliation claims; he had denied her grievance. Campaign reports are on file with no FEC fine.
Sources: AP via Mitchell Republic, Dec. 21, 2017, AP via DRG News, May 23, 2018, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00909689
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Nikki Gronli. No public record found.
Marty Jackley. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Nikki Gronli. No public record found.
Marty Jackley. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Nikki Gronli. No public record found.
Marty Jackley. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Nikki Gronli. No public record found.
Marty Jackley. Elected unanimously by the nation's attorneys general of both parties as president-elect of the National Association of Attorneys General in December 2025, the second time he has held the post.
Sources: Dakota News Now, Dec. 8, 2025, National Association of Attorneys General, press release
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Nikki Gronli. No public record found.
Marty Jackley. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 6, 2026; scorecard updated October 9, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in South Dakota's At-Large Congressional District?
Nikki Gronli has the strongest record in South Dakota's At-Large Congressional District. Nikki Gronli scores 64 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Marty Jackley at 55, as of October 6, 2026. Nikki Gronli's highest marks are accountability and relevant experience. Marty Jackley's highest marks are relevant experience and roots in the constituency. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in South Dakota's At-Large Congressional District in 2026?
Nikki Gronli (Democratic), Marty Jackley (Republican). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Nikki Gronli a good candidate for Congress?
Nikki Gronli scores 64 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria: character 56 of 100, qualifications 70 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Marty Jackley a good candidate for Congress?
Marty Jackley scores 55 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 55 of 100, performance 75 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every South Dakota race scored, and the South Dakota 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.