2023 SD Legislative Scorecard
The following scorecard lists several key votes in the South Dakota Legislature in 2023 and ranks state representatives and senators based on their fidelity to (U.S.) constitutional and limited-government principles.
This is our second state-level Scorecard; the selected votes may not be reflective of legislators' overall records. Their cumulative scores will change as we add more votes. Please check regularly for updates.
Share this Legislative Scorecard in your district to inform people about the constitutionality of their elected officials' votes.
Senate Votes
1. Criminal Immunity for Women Who Have Abortions
Provides that that a female who undergoes an unlawful abortion may not be held criminally liable.
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Constitutional Vote: No
2. Budget for Fiscal Year 2024
Appropriates $7.4 billion for the state's budget during the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023, and ending June 30, 2024.
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Constitutional Vote: No
Cost per household: -$21,238.00/year
3. Defunding Lewd or Lascivious Content
Would prohibit the use of state resources, such as by public libraries or public school districts, in hosting lewd or lascivious content.
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Constitutional Vote: Yes
4. “Electronic Money” in the Uniform Commercial Code
Would adopt a new definition of "electronic money" in the Uniform Commercial Code.
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Constitutional Vote: No
5. Protecting Minors from Sex Mutilation
Prohibits certain medical and surgical interventions on minor patients, including puberty blockers and gender affirmation surgeries.
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Constitutional Vote: Yes
6. Prohibiting Ranked-Choice Voting
Prevents the State Board of Elections from authorizing and a political subdivision from establishing a system of ranked-choice voting.
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Constitutional Vote: Yes
How did they vote?
Legend:
Constitutional
Unconstitutional
Did not vote
| Name | Party | Score | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arch Beal | R | 67% | ||||||
| Jim Bolin | R | 50% | ||||||
| Shawn L. Bordeaux | D | 0% | ||||||
| Bryan J. Breitling | R | 33% | ||||||
| Jessica Castleberry | R | 80% | ||||||
| Casey Crabtree | R | 33% | ||||||
| Sydney Davis | R | 33% | ||||||
| Randy Deibert | R | 33% | ||||||
| Michael G. Diedrich | R | 33% | ||||||
| Helene M. Duhamel | R | 33% | ||||||
| Red Dawn Foster | D | 0% | ||||||
| Julie Frye-Mueller | R | 100% | ||||||
| Brent Hoffman | R | 83% | ||||||
| Jean Hunhoff | R | 50% | ||||||
| David Johnson | R | 40% | ||||||
| Joshua M. Klumb | R | 60% | ||||||
| Jack R. Kolbeck | R | 67% | ||||||
| Steve Kolbeck | R | 33% | ||||||
| Elizabeth Larson | D | 0% | ||||||
| Ryan M. Maher | R | 67% | ||||||
| Jim Mehlhaff | R | 50% | ||||||
| Reynold F. Nesiba | D | 0% | ||||||
| Al Novstrup | R | 67% | ||||||
| Herman Otten | R | 33% | ||||||
| Tom Pischke | R | 100% | ||||||
| Tim Reed | R | 33% | ||||||
| Michael H. Rohl | R | 33% | ||||||
| Lee Schoenbeck | R | 40% | ||||||
| Kyle Schoenfish | R | 33% | ||||||
| Jim Stalzer | R | 60% | ||||||
| Erin Tobin | R | 40% | ||||||
| David Wheeler | R | 33% | ||||||
| John Wiik | R | 50% | ||||||
| Dean Wink | R | 33% | ||||||
| Larry P. Zikmund | R | 60% |
Average Freedom Score by Party
| Party | Score |
|---|---|
| Democrat | 0% |
| Republican | 50.3% |
