Attorney General of South Dakota · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the South Dakota attorney general race?
Lance Russell has the strongest record in the South Dakota attorney general race. Lance Russell scores 59 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 6, 2026. Lance Russell'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.
Republican
Strongest record
Lance Russell
59 / 100
Public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 65
- Performance
- NR
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.
Lance Russell
- Mark against2011-04-20
The South Dakota Supreme Court publicly censured him over his release of a grand jury transcript and a press release blaming a judge for a trial delay as Fall River state's attorney.
Source: South Dakota Supreme Court, In re Discipline of Russell, 2011 (FindLaw)
- On the record2026-06-27
Won the Republican convention nomination for attorney general on the second ballot and is the only candidate on the November ballot.
- On the record2013 and 2015
As a Republican legislator opposed the adult and juvenile criminal justice reforms that Republican Gov. Dennis Daugaard signed.
Sources: SD Searchlight via KOTA, Sept. 9, 2026, KELOLAND News via Yahoo News, June 27, 2026
- Credit2009 to 2020
Served four terms in the state House and two in the state Senate between 2009 and 2020.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Lance Russell. No public record found.
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Lance Russell. As a Republican legislator opposed the 2013 adult and 2015 juvenile criminal justice reforms backed by Republican Gov. Dennis Daugaard. Both stands are more than 10 years old (E18).
Sources: SD Searchlight via KOTA, Sept. 9, 2026, KELOLAND News via Yahoo News, June 27, 2026
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Lance Russell. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Lance Russell. Has served as a county prosecutor and legislator since 2000 with no conduct finding within the last 10 years found. A 2011 public censure is outside the 10-year window (E1).
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Lance Russell. Took the oaths of state's attorney and legislator. No official finding of misuse of office within 10 years and no recorded action to reject certified election results found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Lance Russell. Fall River County state's attorney for most of his career and Oglala Lakota County state's attorney; served four terms in the state House and two in the state Senate from 2009 to 2020.
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Lance Russell. Says he will first carry out legislation the office has prepared, then seek changes to the 2013 and 2015 justice reforms and strengthen conflict of interest laws, without a detailed package yet.
Sources: SD Searchlight via KOTA, Sept. 9, 2026, KELOLAND News via Yahoo News, June 27, 2026
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Lance Russell. Explained his positions in a long published interview with South Dakota Searchlight. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: SD Searchlight via KOTA, Sept. 9, 2026, Ballotpedia, Lance Russell
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Lance Russell. A Hot Springs native who lists a Hot Springs address with the Secretary of State.
Sources: SD Searchlight via KOTA, Sept. 9, 2026, South Dakota Secretary of State candidate list
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Lance Russell. Runs the prosecutor's office for Fall River County and also serves as Oglala Lakota County state's attorney.
What they deliver
Performance
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Lance Russell. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Lance Russell. 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. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in the South Dakota attorney general race?
Lance Russell has the strongest record in the South Dakota attorney general race. Lance Russell scores 59 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 6, 2026. Lance Russell'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 the South Dakota attorney general race in 2026?
Lance Russell (Republican). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Lance Russell a good candidate for Attorney General?
Lance Russell scores 59 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 65 of 100, performance no record. 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.