Rohl, St. John and Donnell are winners in South Dakota Legislative District 1

District 1 voters have re-elected Michael Rohl, R-Aberdeen, to a second term in the South Dakota Senate.

Tamara St. John, R-Sisseton, and Joe Donnell, R-Sisseton, were the winners in the district's House of Representatives race.

Rohl received 6,086 votes, or 59%, in the Senate race against his challenger and former District 1 legislator Susan Wismer, I-Britton, who tallied 4,247 votes, or 41%.

In the House race, St. John was the top vote getter out of four candidates with 5,711 votes, or 32%, followed by Donnell, who received 5,127 votes, or 28%. Former state lawmaker Steven McCleerey, D-Sisseton, finished 3,966 votes, or 22%, followed by Kay Nikolas, D-Sisseton, with 3,188 votes, or 18%.

District 1 includes all or parts of Marshall, Day, Roberts and Brown counties. In Brown County, it's primarily the area outside of the Aberdeen city limits.

As the results rolled in Tuesday night and Rohl's lead solidified, he said he was happy to see District 1 continue to support him as a legislator.

Rohl said he looks at each topic carefully to ensure it doesn't directly affect his business. For example, one of the bills he proposed eased the requirements for those serving alcohol in restaurants and allowed someone who is 18 to serve as long as someone 21 is on the premises. While he operates a bar, he said, that bill doesn't affect his business because it's meant to help those with more than 50% of sales that are not alcohol.

"I would never carry a bill I thought I had a conflict of interest with," he said.

While some lawmakers are quick to focus on bills that pertain to their line of work to see if there's a financial interest, Rohll said, the bartender bill didn't apply to his business.

Both from Sissetton, Donnell and St. John said they will be a voice for the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate. St. John said having that representation in Pierre, especially among conservative Republicans, is rare.

St. John, who is just completed her second term, said her first term was, "baptism by fire" as she wasn't a career politician. But, she said, she's gotten to know the needs across District 1, which include infrastructure issues dealing with roads and bridges in multiple counties.

She appreciates that people are reaching out to her with calls and messages about topics that are of interest to them because that feedback provides information that affects decisions she makes in Pierre.

One thing St. John and Donnell bring to the table is an understanding of issues that are unique to tribes because they are both Native Americans.

St. John said it's unique, and maybe even historic, to have two Sisseton Wahpeton tribal members not only in the legislature, but in the majority party.

Donnell, who was selected to fill a vacant Republican spot on the ballot in the House race, agreed having two members of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate serving in Pierre "is pretty amazing."

He originally challenged Rohl in the June primary for the District 1 Senate seat. After losing that bid, Donnell said, he was asked to fill the GOP void on the ballot. That encouragement helped him make the decision to run, he said.

As a legislator, Donnell said, he hopes to be a voice for economic development and home ownership for the Native community, an issue that St. John also feels is a priority.

Donnell, who also works as outreach coordinator for the Sisseton Wahpeton College, said another topic he'd like to address has to do with the local college. Enrollment is currently a mix of both Native and non-Native students, which is great, he said. But while tuition is paid for Native students, financial aid options are limited for non-Native students.

He said he'd like to see steps taken to stop the flow of illegal drugs into communities.

This article originally appeared on Aberdeen News: South Dakota state senate house election results district 1 2022