Commissioner of School and Public Lands of South Dakota · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the South Dakota commissioner of school and public lands race?
No candidate in the South Dakota commissioner of school and public lands race has enough public record yet for a Ballot Standard score, as of October 6, 2026. Brock Greenfield (4 of 15 criteria) and Raeann Mettler (1 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Republican · incumbent
Brock Greenfield
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 4 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 88
- Performance
- NR
Democratic
Raeann Mettler
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 1 of 15 criteria
- Character
- NR
- Qualifications
- 50
- 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.
Brock Greenfield
- On the record2026-06-27
Won renomination at the Republican convention and is seeking a second term.
- On the record2023-01-02
Took office as Commissioner of School and Public Lands in January 2023 after serving in the Legislature.
Source: Ballotpedia, Brock Greenfield
Raeann Mettler
- On the record2026-06-06
Was nominated at the Democratic convention for Commissioner of School and Public Lands.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Brock Greenfield. No public record found.
Raeann Mettler. No public record found.
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Brock Greenfield. No public record found.
Raeann Mettler. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Brock Greenfield. No public record found.
Raeann Mettler. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Brock Greenfield. Has served as lands commissioner since January 2023 after a long legislative career, with no formal conduct finding found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Brock Greenfield
Raeann Mettler. No public record found.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Brock Greenfield. Took the oaths of state legislator and commissioner. No official finding of misuse of office and no recorded action to reject certified election results found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Brock Greenfield
Raeann Mettler. No public record found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Brock Greenfield. Commissioner of School and Public Lands since January 2023 and a long-time legislator, including the state Senate for District 2 from 2015 to 2023.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Brock Greenfield, KELOLAND News via Yahoo News, June 27, 2026
Raeann Mettler. No public record found.
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Brock Greenfield. No public record found.
Raeann Mettler. No public record found.
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Brock Greenfield. No public record found.
Raeann Mettler. No public record found.
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Brock Greenfield. A long-time Clark legislator who now lists a Pierre address with the Secretary of State.
Sources: KELOLAND News via Yahoo News, June 27, 2026, South Dakota Secretary of State candidate list
Raeann Mettler. Lives in Spearfish per the Secretary of State list.
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Brock Greenfield. No public record found.
Raeann Mettler. No public record found.
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Brock Greenfield. No public record found.
Raeann Mettler. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Brock Greenfield. No public record found.
Raeann Mettler. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Brock Greenfield. No public record found.
Raeann Mettler. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Brock Greenfield. No public record found.
Raeann Mettler. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Brock Greenfield. No public record found.
Raeann Mettler. 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 commissioner of school and public lands race?
No candidate in the South Dakota commissioner of school and public lands race has enough public record yet for a Ballot Standard score, as of October 6, 2026. Brock Greenfield (4 of 15 criteria) and Raeann Mettler (1 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the South Dakota commissioner of school and public lands race in 2026?
Brock Greenfield (Republican, incumbent), Raeann Mettler (Democratic). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Brock Greenfield a good candidate for Commissioner of School and Public Lands?
Brock Greenfield has public evidence on 4 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Raeann Mettler a good candidate for Commissioner of School and Public Lands?
Raeann Mettler has public evidence on 1 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
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.