State Treasurer of South Dakota · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the South Dakota state treasurer race?
No candidate in the South Dakota state treasurer race has enough public record yet for a Ballot Standard score, as of October 6, 2026. Melissa Hull (4 of 15 criteria) and Margaret Kuipers (2 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
Melissa Hull
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 4 of 15 criteria
- Character
- NR
- Qualifications
- 56
- Performance
- NR
Democratic
Margaret Kuipers
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 2 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.
Melissa Hull
- On the record2026-09
Outgoing Republican Treasurer Josh Haeder, who is term limited, endorsed her; she works in his office.
- On the record2019 to 2026
Has served as treasury manager in the State Treasurer's Office since 2019.
Margaret Kuipers
- On the record2026
Is the Democratic nominee for state treasurer; no Democrat has held the office since Dick Butler, elected in 1994 and 1998.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Melissa Hull. No public record found.
Margaret Kuipers. No public record found.
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Melissa Hull. No public record found.
Margaret Kuipers. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Melissa Hull. No public record found.
Margaret Kuipers. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Melissa Hull. No public record found.
Margaret Kuipers. 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.
Melissa Hull. No public record found.
Margaret Kuipers. No public record found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Melissa Hull. Has worked as treasury manager in the South Dakota State Treasurer's Office since 2019.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Melissa Hull (candidate survey), KELOLAND News via Yahoo News, Sept. 16, 2026
Margaret Kuipers. Career in health care and public safety and affiliation with the South Dakota Emergency Medical Services Association, per Ballotpedia.
Source: Ballotpedia, Margaret Kuipers
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Melissa Hull. States priorities in general terms: accurate work, checks and balances, keeping funds safe and modernizing responsibly.
Margaret Kuipers. No public record found.
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Melissa Hull. Completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey. No campaign website found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Melissa Hull
Margaret Kuipers. No public record found.
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Melissa Hull. A lifelong South Dakotan born in Kadoka and raised in Philip; lives in Pierre.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Melissa Hull (candidate survey), South Dakota Secretary of State candidate list
Margaret Kuipers. Lives in Sioux Falls per the Secretary of State list.
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Melissa Hull. No public record found.
Margaret Kuipers. No public record found.
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Melissa Hull. No public record found.
Margaret Kuipers. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Melissa Hull. No public record found.
Margaret Kuipers. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Melissa Hull. No public record found.
Margaret Kuipers. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Melissa Hull. No public record found.
Margaret Kuipers. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Melissa Hull. No public record found.
Margaret Kuipers. 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 treasurer race?
No candidate in the South Dakota state treasurer race has enough public record yet for a Ballot Standard score, as of October 6, 2026. Melissa Hull (4 of 15 criteria) and Margaret Kuipers (2 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 treasurer race in 2026?
Melissa Hull (Republican), Margaret Kuipers (Democratic). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Melissa Hull a good candidate for State Treasurer?
Melissa Hull 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 Margaret Kuipers a good candidate for State Treasurer?
Margaret Kuipers has public evidence on 2 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.