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State Fact Sheet - South Dakota

Vera Cahalan Bushfield (R)2 U.S. Senator 1948
Gladys Pyle (R)3 U.S. Senator 1938-1939
U.S. Congress (Total Seats: 2 U.S. Senators, 1 U.S. Representative)

Kristi Noem (R)
U.S. Representative
2011-present

Stephanie Herseth Sandlin(D)1

U.S. Representative
2004-2011
  1. Herseth won a special election to fill a vacancy caused by a resignation.
  2. Bushfield was appointed to fill a vacancy caused by the death of her husband.
  3. Pyle won a special election to fill a vacancy caused by death.

Statewide Elective Executives (Total Positions: 10)
Kristie Fiegen (R) Public Utilities Comm. 2011-present
Pam Nelson (D) Public Utilities Comm. 1997-2003
Carole Hillard (R) Lt. Governor 1995-2003
Joyce Hazeltine (R) Secretary of State 1987-2003
Laska Schoenfelder (R) Public Utilities Comm. 1989-2001
Alice Kundert (R) Secretary of State 1979-1987
Char Fischer (R) Public Utilities Comm. 1977-1982
Norma Klinkel (D) Public Utilities Comm. 1975-1980
Lorna B. Herseth (D) Secretary of State 1973-1979
Alice Kundert (R) State Auditor 1969-1978
Alma Larson (R) Secretary of State 1965-1973
Essie Wiedenman (R) Secretary of State 1961-1965
Betty Lou Casey (R) State Auditor 1961-1963
Harriet Horning (D) State Auditor 1959-1961
Selma Sandness (D) Secretary of State 1959-1961
Fay Albee (R) State Auditor 1957-1959
Clara Halls (R) Secretary of State 1957-1959
Geraldine Ostroot (R) Secretary of State 1951-1957
Annamae Riff (R) Secretary of State 1947-1951
Hazel Dean (R)1 State Treasurer 1945-1947
L.M. Larsen (R) Secretary of State 1943-1947
Olive A. Ringsrud (R) Secretary of State 1939-1943
Goldie Wells (D) Secretary of State 1937-1939
Myrtle Morrison (D) Secretary of State 1933-1937
Elizabeth Coyne (R) Secretary of State 1931-1933
Gladys Pyle (R) Secretary of State 1927-1931
  1. Dean was appointed to fill a vacancy caused by death.
State Legislature
Year State
Rank		  

Senate
 Total
Women/
Total
Senate 		 

House
 Total
Women/
Total
House 		Total
Women/
Total
Legis.		  
%
Total
Women
D R D R I
2013 28 1 5 6/ 35 6 12 - 18/ 70 24/ 105 22.9
2012 37 1 6 7/ 35 4 10 - 14/ 70 21/ 105 20.0
2011 37 6 1 7/ 35 4 9 1 14/ 70 21/ 105 20.0
2010 37 6 1 7/ 35 5 9 - 14/ 70 21/ 105 20.0
2009 37 6 1 7/ 35 5 9 - 14/ 70 21/ 105 20.0
2008 40 4 1 5/ 35 3 10 - 13/ 70 18/ 105 17.1
2007 40 4 1 5/ 35 3 10 - 13/ 70 18/ 105 17.1
2006 42 2 1 3/ 35 4 10 - 14/ 70 17/ 105 16.2
2005 40 2 1 3/ 35 4 10 - 14/ 70 17/ 105 16.2
2004 42 0 4 4/ 35 4 9 - 13/ 70 17/ 105 16.2
2003 41 0 4 4/ 35 4 9 - 13/ 70 17/ 105 16.2
2002 42 0 5 5/ 35 4 7 - 11/ 70 16/ 105 15.2
2001 42 0 5 5/ 35 4 7 - 11/ 70 16/ 105 15.2
2000 44 1 4 5/ 35 4 6 - 10/ 70 15/ 105 14.3
1999 44 1 4 5/ 35 4 5 - 9/ 70 14/ 105 13.3
1998 32 2 3 5/ 35 5 8 - 13/ 70 18/ 105 17.1
1997 32 2 3 5/ 35 5 8 - 13/ 70 18/ 105 17.1
1996 33 4 1 5/ 35 4 10 - 14/ 70 19/ 105 18.1
1995 33 4 1 5/ 35 4 10 - 14/ 70 19/ 105 18.1
1994 27 6 1 7/ 35 3 11 - 14/ 70 21/ 105 20.0
1993 25 6 1 7/ 35 3 11 - 14/ 70 21/ 105 20.0
1992 10 9 2 11/ 35 5 10 - 15/ 70 26/ 105 24.8
1991 10 9 2 11/ 35 5 10 - 15/ 70 26/ 105 24.8
1990 19 6 1 7/ 35 6 7 - 13/ 70 20/ 105 19.0
1989 17 6 1 7/ 35 6 7 - 13/ 70 20/ 105 19.0
1988 14 3 2 5/ 35 5 11 - 16/ 70 21/ 105 20.0
1987 14 3 2 5/ 35 5 11 - 16/ 70 21/ 105 20.0
1986 27 2 2 4/ 35 1 10 - 11/ 70 15/ 105 14.3
1985 27 2 2 4/ 35 1 10 - 11/ 70 15/ 105 14.3
1984 22 1 2 3/ 35 2 9 - 11/ 70 14/ 105 13.3
1983 20 1 2 3/ 35 2 9 - 11/ 70 14/ 105 13.3
1981 26 1 2 3/ 35 3 5 - 8/ 70 11/ 105 10.5
1979 27 - - 3/ 35 - - - 6/ 70 9/ 105 8.6
1977 22 - - 2/ 35 - - - 6/ 70 9/ 105 8.6
1975 13 - - 4/ 35 - - - 7/ 70 11/ 105 10.6