{
  "$type": "site.standard.document",
  "bskyPostRef": {
    "cid": "bafyreif5tlsgp3cemmwsheopahlbmsweplyogn3gkwrp2pm53iy7byaxrq",
    "uri": "at://did:plc:vfsgowsaqlgt6a7c23ux6ze2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mk5nkqgmeqj2"
  },
  "coverImage": {
    "$type": "blob",
    "ref": {
      "$link": "bafkreicta5iebfli6zhdjfkgnirmkgfz4ifmbwwynlpp7zy5broaxzvbzq"
    },
    "mimeType": "image/jpeg",
    "size": 319130
  },
  "description": "House seats are reapportioned every 10 years after the U.S. Census is conducted.",
  "path": "/fact-brief-sd-us-house-seats-census-2026-election/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-04-23T09:00:26.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.sdnewswatch.org",
  "tags": [
    "this one.",
    "A quick story about the U.S. House seats",
    "Dusty Johnson",
    "About Congressional Apportionment",
    "South Dakota News Watch",
    "Gigafact",
    "on the tipline",
    "Donate",
    "Share your thoughts on this story",
    "sdnewswatch.org"
  ],
  "textContent": "## No.\n\nSouth Dakota won’t be redrawing congressional boundaries anytime soon, since the state already has the minimum of one seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, but that wasn’t always the case.\n\nIt started with two seats at statehood in 1889. That increased to three seats in 1912: the First District included Sioux Falls and Yankton; the second, Aberdeen, Brookings and Huron; and the Third District was west of the Missouri River.\n\nThree districts became two in 1932 (West River and East River) and then one at-large congressional district in 1982.\n\nHouse seats are determined by a state’s population. Every 10 years after the U.S. Census is conducted, seats are reapportioned. All 50 states receive at least one, and the remaining 385 (435 total) are divided based on population distribution.\n\nSouth Dakota will have a new U.S. House member in 2027, as incumbent Dusty Johnson is running for governor.\n\n _This fact brief responds to conversations such as_  this one.\n\n## Sources\n\nAberdeen American News, A quick story about the U.S. House seats\n\nBallotpedia, Dusty Johnson\n\nU.S. Census Bureau, About Congressional Apportionment\n\n* * *\n\nSouth Dakota News Watch partners with Gigafact to publish fact briefs that refute or confirm a claim with supporting information and additional evidence and context. Send questions or feedback to _news@sdnewswatch.org_. Submit a question for us to answer on the tipline.\n\nThis newsletter and all our stories are free because we believe that ****essential, fact-based information should be available to everyone**** , not just those who can pay for it. If you can afford it, ****please consider joining others and becoming a supporter****. Thank you.\n\n\n                            Donate\n                        \n\nShare your thoughts on this story\n\n_**South Dakota News Watch** is an independent nonprofit. Read, donate and subscribe for free at _sdnewswatch.org_.**Contact freelance reporter Michael Klinski:** michael.klinski@sdnewswatch.org._",
  "title": "Fact brief: Has South Dakota always had 1 U.S. House seat?",
  "updatedAt": "2026-04-23T09:00:25.718Z"
}