State Auditor of South Dakota · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the South Dakota state auditor race?
No candidate in the South Dakota state auditor race has enough public record yet for a Ballot Standard score, as of October 6, 2026. Catherine Barranco (4 of 15 criteria) and Tom Cool (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
Catherine Barranco
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 4 of 15 criteria
- Character
- NR
- Qualifications
- 56
- Performance
- NR
Democratic
Tom Cool
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.
Catherine Barranco
- On the record2026-08-19
While the Republican nominee for auditor, began work as a state Bureau of Finance and Management financial operations specialist on the BISON project at $31 an hour.
Sources: SD Searchlight via Yahoo News, Sept. 2026, KELOLAND News via Yahoo News, Sept. 14, 2026
- On the record2026-06-27
Won the Republican convention nomination for auditor on the first ballot after her husband, David Barranco, withdrew from the race because of illness.
Tom Cool
- On the record2026-09
Told KELOLAND he lacks an accounting degree and would point to past investigative newspaper work as preparation for the office.
- On the record2026-09
Said he is running a low-key campaign and will follow the lead of Democratic governor nominee Dan Ahlers.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Catherine Barranco. No public record found.
Tom Cool. No public record found.
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Catherine Barranco. No public record found.
Tom Cool. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Catherine Barranco. No public record found.
Tom Cool. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Catherine Barranco. No public record found.
Tom Cool. 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.
Catherine Barranco. No public record found.
Tom Cool. No public record found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Catherine Barranco. Holds economics degrees from Harvard and Oxford and describes financial roles with the SEC's Office of Internet Enforcement, Walmart's corporate office and a San Antonio credit union; since August 2026 works on the state's BISON financial system.
Sources: KELOLAND News via Yahoo News, Sept. 14, 2026, SD Searchlight via Yahoo News, Sept. 2026
Tom Cool. Served more than three decades as executive director of the Dakota Association for College Admission Counseling after directing several nonprofits and working as a newspaper reporter; has no accounting degree.
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Catherine Barranco. Gave specific plans tied to the auditor's duties: using the state's new BISON system to link contracts, invoices and payments and to add supervisor sign-off on expense reimbursements.
Tom Cool. Describes the auditor's duty to oversee lawful distribution of state funds and says he would look into embezzlement cases; no detailed plan published.
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Catherine Barranco. Completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey and gave a KELOLAND News interview. No campaign website found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Catherine Barranco
Tom Cool. No public record found.
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Catherine Barranco. Moved to Sioux Falls from Texas in 2017 and to Pierre in August 2026; the Secretary of State lists a Sioux Falls address.
Sources: KELOLAND News via Yahoo News, Sept. 14, 2026, South Dakota Secretary of State candidate list
Tom Cool. A University of South Dakota graduate who returned to the state decades ago and lives in Sioux Falls.
Sources: KELOLAND News via Yahoo News, Sept. 14, 2026, South Dakota Secretary of State candidate list
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Catherine Barranco. No public record found.
Tom Cool. Led the Dakota Association for College Admission Counseling as executive director for more than three decades.
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Catherine Barranco. No public record found.
Tom Cool. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Catherine Barranco. No public record found.
Tom Cool. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Catherine Barranco. No public record found.
Tom Cool. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Catherine Barranco. No public record found.
Tom Cool. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Catherine Barranco. No public record found.
Tom Cool. 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 state auditor race?
No candidate in the South Dakota state auditor race has enough public record yet for a Ballot Standard score, as of October 6, 2026. Catherine Barranco (4 of 15 criteria) and Tom Cool (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 state auditor race in 2026?
Catherine Barranco (Republican), Tom Cool (Democratic). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Catherine Barranco a good candidate for State Auditor?
Catherine Barranco 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 Tom Cool a good candidate for State Auditor?
Tom Cool 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.