The race for mayor of Sioux Falls, S.D., is headed for a recount after two candidates were separated by just two votes following Tuesday's election. When ballots were tallied that evening, former state legislator Christine Erickson (R) pulled ahead of state Sen. Jamie Smith (D) by only two votes in the city's first open mayoral race since 2019.
The margin remained unchanged after Minnehaha County officials reviewed five provisional ballots from Tuesday night. Officials found only two of the ballots to be valid, which were split between the candidates, leaving Erickson with 18,280 votes to Smith's 18,278. No additional ballots are expected to be considered prior to the recount.
What the Right Is Saying
Christine Erickson, a Sioux Falls City Council member backed by many of the state's top Republicans including South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley, said she anticipated a recount but expressed confidence in her position. "When people think, 'My voice doesn't count,' this is a prime example — every vote matters," Erickson told reporters Tuesday night. She noted that she hoped the results would hold and possibly widen further during the official recount process.
What the Left Is Saying
Jamie Smith, a state senator and the Democratic nominee for governor in 2022, told supporters Tuesday night that he would not concede the race. "This is not over. Right now, I want you to know that we are not conceding. We are not going to accept this," Smith said. He added that there would be a recount and indicated his campaign was looking into other options. Smith's campaign has framed the tight margin as evidence of broader Democratic competitiveness in traditionally conservative South Dakota.
What the Numbers Show
The final certified tally shows Christine Erickson with 18,280 votes and Jamie Smith with 18,278 votes — a margin of exactly two votes out of more than 36,500 ballots cast. Minnehaha County officials reviewed five provisional ballots; two were deemed valid and split one vote to each candidate. The city of Sioux Falls has a population exceeding 210,000 people, making it South Dakota's largest city by far.
The Bottom Line
The outcome of this race will determine the next mayor of South Dakota's largest city, which has not had an open seat competition since 2019 when Paul TenHaken was first elected and subsequently re-elected. If Erickson's lead holds, she would become the first woman elected mayor in Sioux Falls history. A formal recount, expected within the coming weeks, will determine the final outcome.