2028 Democratic primary in South Dakota

South Dakota is expected to vote after the early states, often on or after Super Tuesday in early March. South Dakota has leaned Republican in recent presidential elections (it voted Republican in 2016, Republican in 2020, and Republican in 2024), so the Democratic primary here is mainly about national delegates rather than a likely November target. South Dakota is not one of the six Democratic early states; its 2028 Democratic primary date has not been announced yet.

South Dakota at a glance

Electoral votes3
RegionMidwest
CapitalPierre
General-election leanSafe Republican
2024 resultTrump (R)
2020 resultTrump (R)
2016 resultTrump (R)
Calendar positionAfter the early states (date not set)

See the South Dakota general-election outlook.

The Democratic field

The candidates South Dakota Democratic voters would choose among:

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Gavin Newsom Josh Shapiro Kamala Harris Pete Buttigieg Amy Klobuchar Andy Beshear Bernie Sanders Chris Murphy

Full field and process on the 2028 Democratic primary hub.

Why South Dakota matters in the 2028 Democratic race

South Dakota leans Republican in November, so the Democratic primary here is less about a fall target and more about adding to a candidate's national delegate count on the road to the nomination.

Recent presidential results in South Dakota: it voted Republican in 2016, Republican in 2020, and Republican in 2024. Compare the 2028 nomination odds and the latest 2028 primary polls.

Keep exploring

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Quick answers

South Dakota 2028 Democratic primary FAQ

When is the 2028 Democratic primary in South Dakota?

South Dakota is not one of the six Democratic early states; its 2028 Democratic primary date has not been announced yet. It is expected to vote after the early states, often around Super Tuesday or later.

How does South Dakota usually vote in presidential elections?

South Dakota voted Republican in 2016, Republican in 2020, and Republican in 2024. Analysts currently rate it Safe Republican for 2028. See the full South Dakota general-election outlook for detail.

Who is running in the 2028 Democratic primary?

As of October 2026 no major candidate has formally declared. The most-discussed Democratic contenders include Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Gavin Newsom, Josh Shapiro, Kamala Harris.

How many delegates does South Dakota have?

Exact 2028 delegate counts are set by the Democratic National Committee (DNC) closer to the election. As a rough guide, states with more delegates than South Dakota (3 electoral votes) carry more delegates than smaller ones.