Only 2 votes separate candidates in mayor’s race for South Dakota’s largest city
Officials will canvass 36,623 runoff ballots before a recount petition window opens, after Christine Erickson led Jamie Smith by two votes.
- Former state legislator Christine Erickson holds an unofficial two-vote lead over state Sen. Jamie Smith in the Sioux Falls mayoral runoff, with Erickson securing 18,280 votes to Smith's 18,278 in the city of more than 210,000 residents.
- Following a review of provisional ballots on Wednesday, Minnehaha County officials confirmed the margin unchanged. Minnehaha County Auditor Leah Anderson stated no additional ballots are pending before Friday's canvassing meeting.
- Refusing to concede, Smith told supporters, "We are not going to accept this," while Erickson told reporters "every vote matters." The race seeks a successor to term-limited Mayor Paul TenHaken.
- Once results are certified, a five-day window opens for recount petitions. A board comprising one representative from each campaign and a mutually agreed-upon referee will conduct the recount, with the state covering all costs, said public relations manager Jourdyn Brown.
- If the current results stand, Erickson, backed by Attorney General Marty Jackley, would become the city's first woman mayor. Democrat Smith sought a victory in this politically competitive city, which also elected three new council members.
16 Articles
16 Articles
The New York Ledger
South Dakota mayoral candidates separated by just two votes in shockingly close race, recount expected
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Out of more than 36,000 votes cast in the Sioux Falls, South Dakota, mayoral runoff contest, the candidates are shockingly separated by just two votes. Christine Erickson, a former South Dakota state representative and former Sioux Falls city council member, is leading state Sen. Jamie Smith, who is also a former state House member, by that razor-thin two-vote margin. The candidates have 18,280 and 18,…
Erickson Beating Smith by Two Votes in Sioux Falls Mayoral Runoff; Recount Likely
Hey, you three Sioux Falls Democrats who forgot to vote—this one’s on you! In Tuesday’s runoff election for Sioux Falls mayor, Republican Christine Erickson got two more votes than Democrat Jamie Smith. You can bet there will be a recount. Concerns from officials about voter fatigue did not appear to play out. 38,733 Sioux Fallsians cast votes in the regular mayoral election on June 2 that winnowed the field from five candidates to two. Erickson…
Fact brief: Will lots be drawn if the Sioux Falls mayoral race ends in a tie?
Yes.South Dakota state law governing municipal elections dictates that lots are drawn in the event of a tie in a city election.The Sioux Falls mayoral race is headed for a likely recount after more than 36,000 votes were counted in a runoff election Tuesday. Christine Erickson leads by just two votes over Jamie Smith as of Wednesday night.The Sioux Falls City Council is expected to certify the election results next week, at which point the losin…
Only 2 Votes Separate Candidates in Mayor’s Race for South Dakota’s Largest City
The race for mayor of Sioux Falls, S.D. is headed for a recount after two candidates were separated by a two-vote difference in Tuesday’s election. When ballots were tallied that evening, former state legislator Christine Erickson (R) pulled ahead of state Sen. Jamie Smith (D) by just two votes, in a city of more than…
2 votes could decide mayor's race
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) -- A two-vote difference remains for the Sioux Falls mayoral race after two provisional ballots were counted Wednesday morning. Five provisional ballots were under review, but only two were eligible to be recounted, according to the city clerk Jermery Washington. Each candidate received one of those two ballot votes which still [...]
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