June 7 primary ballot loaded with races for Watertown area voters
The June 7 primary ballot will be loaded with races for Watertown area voters.
In some cases, Republicans will decide winners in the primary, but other candidates will have to wait for the Nov. 8 general election to learn whether they'll serve in office.
Primary decisions will also be made in statewide races for governor, U.S. senator and U.S. representative.
In statewide, county and legislative races, independent candidates have until April 26 to file a petition.
National races
Three candidates have filed for governor, two of whom are Republicans. They are incumbent Kristi Noem and Steven Haugaard of Sioux Falls. The winner of GOP primary will face Jamie Smith, D-Sioux Falls in November.
South Dakota's U.S. House seat will be decided in the Republican primary. Incumbent Dusty Johnson, R-Mitchell, is facing a challenge from Taffy Howard, R-Rapid City. The winner will be unopposed in November.
The U.S. Senate race has three Republican contenders. Incumbent John Thune of Sioux Falls is being challenged by Bruce Whalen of Pine Ridge and Mark Mowry of Spearfish. The winner will face Brian Bengs, D-Aberdeen, in November.
District 1
The District 1 state Senate race will be decided in the primary, but the House seats will be determined in November.
Republican Michael H. Rohl of Aberdeen, who has served District 1 as a senator for the past two years, faces a primary challenge from Joe Donnell from Sisseton. The winner will be unopposed in November.
Four candidates — two Republicans and two Democrats — are seeking two House seats. The winners will be decided in November.
Candidates include Logan Manhart, R-Bath; Tamara St. John, R-Sisseton; Jennifer Healy Keintz, D-Eden; and Steven McCleerey, D-Sisseton. St. John and Keintz currently represent District 1 in the House. McCleery previously served in the Legislature from 2015-2020.
District 1 encompasses the vast majority of rural Brown County outside of Aberdeen, as well as all of Day and Marshall counties. Roberts County is also in District 1, with the exception of the southeastern corner, which is now in District 4.
District 4
John Wiik, R-Big Stone City, is uncontested for his senate seat, but Republicans will decide the two candidates running for House of Representatives who move on to the November election.
Primary candidates include incumbent Fred Deutsch, R-Florence; Adam Grimm, R-Wallace; Stephanie Sauder, R- Bryant; Val Rausch, R-Big Stone City. The top two will face Travis D. Paulson, D-Wallace, in November.
District 4 now includes the southeast corner of Roberts County, along with most of Clark County as well as all of Grant, Deuel, rural Codington and Hamlin counties.
District 5
Watertown Republicans will decide between two candidates for District 5 senator in June.
Incumbent Lee Schoenbeck, R-Watertown, is facing a challenge from Colin A. Paulsen, R-Watertown.
The three people who have filed to run for District 5 representative will be on the November ballot. Candidates are: Byron I Callies, R-Watertown; incumbent Hugh Bartels R-Watertown; and Kahden Mooney, D-Watertown.
District 5 predominantly covers Watertown.
Codington County
While several races in Codington County are uncontested, one commission race will appear both on the primary and the general election ballot. That's to represent District 1.
Republican incumbent D. Lee Gabel, R-Watertown faces a primary challenge from Kerry Jorgenson, R-Watertown. The winner will face Raymond Johnson, D-Watertown in November.
Clark County
A contested race for District 5 commissioner will be on the ballot in November. Candidates are incumbent Richard E, Reints, I-Willow Lake and Sara Gjerde, R-Vienna.
Day County
In Day County, each of the three county commissioners have challengers, but only one race will be on the primary ballot.
Two Republicans and one Democrat have filed for the District 5 commission seat. So, Republicans will decide between incumbent Derek L. Sinner of Webster and Joshua Atherton of Webster. The winner will face Democrat Dari Schlotte of Webster in November.
Incumbent Linda M. Walters, D-Waubay, and Sara McGregor-Okroi, R-Grenville, will face off for the District 1 commission seat in November. Incumbent Richard L. Tobin, D-Pierpont, and Daniel Kjos, R-Roslyn, will vie for the District 3 commission seat in November.
Deuel County
Deuel County has three contested commission seats on the primary ballot. In District 1, incumbent Roger Kreutner, R-Revillo, faces Jay Grabow, R-Gary. In District 3, James Dailey R-Clear Lake, faces Scott Fieber, R-Goodwin. And, in District 5, incumbent commissioner Gary DeJong, R-Clear Lake, faces Harry Mewherter, R-Clear Lake.
Hamlin County
Hamlin County has two contested commission seats up for election, one of which will be on the primary ballot. That's the District 4 Commission seat where incumbent Jay A. Baldwin, R-Lake Norden, faces Burt E. Tulson, R-Lake Norden.
Voters will decide the District 1 commission race in November. This race includes incumbent Randall G. Rudebusch, D-Castlewood, who faces Jeffrey S. Shepherd, R-Castlewood.
Kingsbury County
A local sheriff's race will be on the ballot in June and November. Incumbent Sheriff Steven A. Strande, R-Lake Preston, is facing a primary challenge from current deputy Wade C. Hoefert, R-De Smet. The winner will face Michael A. Jenkins, I-Lake Preston, who is also a deputy sheriff.
Roberts County
A two-man race for District 5 county commissioner in Roberts County will be decided in the June primary. Incumbent Tom Vergeldt, R-Rosholt, is facing a challenge from Jeffrey Long, R-Sisseton. The winner will be unopposed in November.
Spink County
Spink County Republicans will decide races for sheriff and county commissioner in June.
Sheriff Frank Krumm, R-Redfield, is facing a challenge from Isaac Appel, R-Redfield, who also ran for sheriff in 2018.
Michael Siebrecht, R-Redfield and Heath Shottenkirk, R-Redfield, are both running for District 3 commissioner.
The winners of those races will be unopposed in November.
3rd Circuit Judge
Voters in the 3rd Judicial Circuit will decide one judicial seat in November. Michael R. Moore and Robert Spears have filed nominating petitions to be one of the circuit's six judges.
This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: June primary races for the Watertown area
