Secretary of State of South Dakota · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the South Dakota secretary of state race?
Heather Baxter has the strongest record in the South Dakota secretary of state race. Heather Baxter scores 56 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 6, 2026. Heather Baxter's highest marks are relevant experience and roots in the constituency. Terrence Davis (7 of 15 criteria) and Tamara Lesnar (4 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
Strongest record
Heather Baxter
56 / 100
Public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 60
- Performance
- 50
Democratic
Terrence Davis
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 7 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- 50
Libertarian
Tamara Lesnar
On the ballot as Tamara J. Lesnar
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 4 of 15 criteria
- Character
- NR
- Qualifications
- 56
- 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.
Heather Baxter
- On the record2026-09
Changed her campaign website's earlier call for hand-counted paper ballots and no voting machines, saying the office lacks that power and auditors should decide.
Sources: AP via Twin Cities Pioneer Press, Sept. 21, 2026, KELOLAND News via Yahoo News, Sept. 17, 2026
- On the record2026-09
Outgoing Republican Secretary of State Monae Johnson, whom Baxter defeated for the nomination, endorsed Democrat Terrence Davis; Baxter downplayed the endorsement.
Sources: AP via Twin Cities Pioneer Press, Sept. 21, 2026, KOTA Radio, Sept. 21, 2026
- Credit2026
Was House lead on SB 214 on timing for public reports of voter registration filings, which became law.
- Credit2025
Was prime sponsor of HB 1062, which became law and requires a five-year public list of voter registration.
Terrence Davis
- On the record2026-09
Told KELOLAND he trusts South Dakota's election systems and supports hand counting only as a secondary measure.
- On the recordcareer
Served five years with the Tennessee Highway Patrol, including the governor's security team, and one year with the South Dakota Highway Patrol.
- Credit2026-09-19
Outgoing Republican Secretary of State Monae Johnson endorsed him, citing his law enforcement experience and education.
Sources: AP via Twin Cities Pioneer Press, Sept. 21, 2026, KOTA Radio, Sept. 21, 2026
Tamara Lesnar
- On the record2026-09
Told KELOLAND she has total faith in vote-counting technology and that hand counting should be limited to recounts and machine failures.
- On the record2022
Ran for U.S. Senate in 2022 as a challenger to Sen. John Thune.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Heather Baxter. No public record found.
Terrence Davis. No public record found.
Tamara Lesnar. No public record found.
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Heather Baxter. No public record found.
Terrence Davis. No public record found.
Tamara Lesnar. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Heather Baxter. No public record found.
Terrence Davis. No public record found.
Tamara Lesnar. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Heather Baxter. Small business owner and state representative since 2025 with no formal conduct finding found.
Terrence Davis. Former state trooper in Tennessee and South Dakota and member of the Tennessee governor's security team, now on staff at East River Legal Services. No formal conduct finding found.
Tamara Lesnar. 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.
Heather Baxter. Took the oath as a state representative in 2025. No official finding of misuse of office and no recorded action to reject certified election results found.
Terrence Davis. Served as a sworn state trooper in Tennessee for five years and in South Dakota for one year. No official finding of misuse of office found.
Tamara Lesnar. No public record found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Heather Baxter. State representative for District 34 since 2025, former Pennington County GOP executive board member and small business owner in Rapid City and Custer.
Sources: KELOLAND News via Yahoo News, Sept. 17, 2026, Heather Baxter for Secretary of State
Terrence Davis. Six years as a state trooper in Tennessee and South Dakota, governor's security detail in Tennessee, and nonprofit legal services work; bachelor's and master's degrees, pursuing a doctorate in law and public policy.
Sources: KELOLAND News via Yahoo News, Sept. 17, 2026, Ballotpedia, Terrence Davis
Tamara Lesnar. Worked as a zoologist at the Red River Zoo and holds a bachelor's degree from North Dakota State University; her campaign cites compliance experience not confirmed independently.
Source: Ballotpedia, Tamara Lesnar
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Heather Baxter. States general goals for the office, such as collaborating with all county auditors and improving communication, and has sponsored election bills as a legislator.
Terrence Davis. States general goals, such as improving the office website and communication with county auditors, and supports hand counting only as a secondary measure.
Tamara Lesnar. Proposes a public database where registered voters can register support or opposition to legislation, and says hand counting should be limited to recounts and machine failures.
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Heather Baxter. Completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey and publishes a campaign site.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Heather Baxter, Heather Baxter for Secretary of State
Terrence Davis. Completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey and gave a KELOLAND News interview. No campaign website found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Terrence Davis
Tamara Lesnar. Publishes a platform on her campaign site and gave a KELOLAND News interview. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Lesnar for South Dakota, Ballotpedia, Tamara Lesnar
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Heather Baxter. Describes herself as a lifelong South Dakotan, graduated from Custer High School and lists a Rapid City address with the Secretary of State.
Sources: Heather Baxter for Secretary of State, Ballotpedia, Heather Baxter, South Dakota Secretary of State candidate list
Terrence Davis. Lives in Sioux Falls per the Secretary of State list; moved to South Dakota from Tennessee.
Tamara Lesnar. Has owned a house in the Grenville area since 1989 and lists a Grenville address with the Secretary of State.
Sources: KELOLAND News via Yahoo News, Sept. 17, 2026, South Dakota Secretary of State candidate list
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Heather Baxter. Has run small businesses in Rapid City and Custer.
Terrence Davis. No public record found.
Tamara Lesnar. No public record found.
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Heather Baxter. As a legislator was prime sponsor of HB 1062 (2025), a five-year public voter registration list, which became law, and House lead on SB 214 (2026) on registration reporting timing, which became law.
Terrence Davis. No public record found.
Tamara Lesnar. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Heather Baxter. No public record found.
Terrence Davis. No public record found.
Tamara Lesnar. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Heather Baxter. No public record found.
Terrence Davis. No public record found.
Tamara Lesnar. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Heather Baxter. No public record found.
Terrence Davis. Endorsed in September 2026 by the outgoing Republican Secretary of State, Monae Johnson.
Sources: AP via Twin Cities Pioneer Press, Sept. 21, 2026, KOTA Radio, Sept. 21, 2026
Tamara Lesnar. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Heather Baxter. No public record found.
Terrence Davis. No public record found.
Tamara Lesnar. 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 secretary of state race?
Heather Baxter has the strongest record in the South Dakota secretary of state race. Heather Baxter scores 56 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 6, 2026. Heather Baxter's highest marks are relevant experience and roots in the constituency. Terrence Davis (7 of 15 criteria) and Tamara Lesnar (4 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 secretary of state race in 2026?
Heather Baxter (Republican), Terrence Davis (Democratic), Tamara Lesnar (Libertarian). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Heather Baxter a good candidate for Secretary of State?
Heather Baxter scores 56 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 60 of 100, performance 50 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Terrence Davis a good candidate for Secretary of State?
Terrence Davis has public evidence on 7 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 Tamara Lesnar a good candidate for Secretary of State?
Tamara Lesnar 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.
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.