What to know about the expected runoff in the mayoral race
Former Republican State Rep. Christine Erickson and Democratic State Sen. Jamie Smith will face a runoff election on June 23 after neither secured over 50% of the votes in Sioux Falls’ mayoral race, with Erickson leading at 37% and Smith at 28%. Erickson, a former city councilor, would become the first female mayor if elected, while Smith’s campaign has focused on local governance and community priorities.
A runoff election will decide Sioux Falls’ next mayor after neither leading candidate secured over 50% of the vote in the June 2 election. Christine Erickson, a former Republican state representative and city councilor, received 37% of the vote (14,407 ballots), while Democratic State Sen. Jamie Smith earned 28% (10,959 ballots). The runoff will be held on June 23, with polling stations open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Erickson’s campaign raised over $320,000, including a $100,000 late donation from a political action committee (PAC) called Driving South Dakota. Her platform emphasizes public safety, homelessness initiatives, and smart city development, including support for a new prison and affordable housing. If elected, she would become Sioux Falls’ first female mayor and the first former city councilor to hold the position. Smith’s campaign focuses on local governance and community priorities, though specific policy details were not highlighted in the initial reporting. The runoff follows a competitive race with four other candidates: former city councilor Greg Jamison (18%), former Downtown Sioux Falls CEO Joe Batcheller (15%), and political analyst David Zokaites (2%). Sioux Falls has used runoff elections frequently since adopting a strong-mayor system in the 1990s. Current Mayor Paul TenHaken won a runoff in 2018, and previous mayors also secured victory in second elections. The city’s 38,733 ballots cast in the initial race reflect a voter turnout of roughly 29% of the 134,000 registered voters. The runoff will determine Sioux Falls’ next mayor, with Erickson’s potential victory marking a historic shift in leadership. Voters will return to familiar polling stations to decide the outcome in three weeks.
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