{
  "$type": "site.standard.document",
  "bskyPostRef": {
    "cid": "bafyreieprxea5oh7r2i2zpua4d3m2v5vz6cowivdegcobnwu7e4vwlcdoy",
    "uri": "at://did:plc:vfsgowsaqlgt6a7c23ux6ze2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkafqds7nnq2"
  },
  "coverImage": {
    "$type": "blob",
    "ref": {
      "$link": "bafkreihodviaknf2lzsho4225hf6t2c25vjkm4issiq7k7aohonotuqule"
    },
    "mimeType": "image/jpeg",
    "size": 66187
  },
  "description": "In the final story of this week's series examining the latest results of a new poll by News Watch and the Chiesman Center, we look back at the main takeaways and provide an explanation on the methodology. \"South Dakota voters are poll friendly.\" ",
  "path": "/spring-2026-poll-recap-sd-house-congress-governor/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-04-24T11:18:25.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.sdnewswatch.org",
  "tags": [
    "copyright law",
    "republishing policy",
    "South Dakota Election Voter GuideEverything South Dakota voters need to know about statewide contests in the primary and general elections.South Dakota News WatchAlexander Rifaat",
    "Read the full story",
    "ranked as one of the least-biased and most-factual pollsters",
    "2026-04 GOP voter tabsResults of the Republican-only questions.2026-04 GOP voter tabs.pdf171 KBdownload-circle",
    "2026-04 All party tabsResults of questions asked to registered voters of all political parties. 2026-04 All party tabs.pdf129 KBdownload-circle",
    "2026-04 GOP primary voter demographicsDemographics of registered Republican voters. 2026-04 GOP primary voter demographics.pdf117 KBdownload-circle",
    "2026-04 All party demographicsDemographics of registered voters from all political parties. 2026-04 All party demographics.pdf117 KBdownload-circle",
    "2026-04 GOP voter methodologyMethodology of questions asked of Republican-only voters. 2026-04 GOP voter methodology.pdf170 KBdownload-circle",
    "2026-04 All party methodologyMethodology of questions asked of registered voters from all parties.2026-04 All party methodology.pdf169 KBdownload-circle",
    "Donate and make these polls possible",
    "Share your thoughts on this story",
    "sdnewswatch.org"
  ],
  "textContent": "_Editor's note: If you cite the results of this poll, credit South Dakota News Watch and the Chiesman Center for Democracy, per_ copyright law_and our_ republishing policy_._\n\nPIERRE, S.D. – In the final installment of this week's series examining the results of the latest poll sponsored by South Dakota News Watch and the Chiesman Center for Democracy at the University of South Dakota, we look back at the main takeaways and provide an explanation on the methodology.\n\nSouth Dakota Election Voter GuideEverything South Dakota voters need to know about statewide contests in the primary and general elections.South Dakota News WatchAlexander Rifaat\n\nAlso below are links to those stories and a summary of each as well as the raw numbers gleaned from the poll that offer a glimpse into geographic and demographic differences.\n\n## Key findings, links to each story\n\nHere is a recap on the latest poll results:\n\n  * U.S. House Rep. Dusty Johnson has pulled ahead in the race to secure the GOP nomination for governor, while the three other candidates – Gov. Larry Rhoden, state House Speaker Jon Hansen and Aberdeen businessman Toby Doeden – are in a statistical dead heat for second place. Meanwhile, state Attorney General Marty Jackley and U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds are on course to win their contests for the GOP nominations for U.S. House and U.S. Senate, respectively. Read the full story.\n  * A majority of South Dakotans approve of President Donald Trump's decision to fire former Gov. Kristi Noem from her role as secretary for the Department of Homeland Security. While most South Dakotans approve of the job performance of Rhoden and Rounds, U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune saw his approval rating drop. Read the full story.\n  * Almost half of respondents disapproved of new tax legislation that will allow counties the option to implement a slight increase in sales taxes in exchange for the lowering of property taxes. A majority of respondents supported local law enforcement cooperation with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, new state voter ID laws, the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to strike down Trump's tariff policy and for limits to be placed on data centers. Read the full story.\n  * Most South Dakotans are to some degree unsatisfied with the current state of democracy in the United States. However, a majority believe state public officials are being held accountable at some level and about half of respondents said lawmakers spend either enough time or a great deal of time working on the most pressing issues for the state. Read the full story.\n\n\n\n## Methodology\n\nThe polling, conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling and Strategy, ranked as one of the least-biased and most-factual pollsters by Media Bias/Fact Check, was split into two separate scientific surveys.\n\nFor the poll on the GOP gubernatorial, U.S. House and U.S. Senate nomination races, Mason-Dixon surveyed 500 registered Republicans between April 7-11. For the polling on job performance, voter sentiment on a number of issues, and thoughts on democracy and accountability, Mason-Dixon surveyed 500 South Dakotans across party affiliation between April 7-9.\n\n> \"South Dakota voters are poll friendly.\" — Brad Coker, founder of Mason-Dixon Polling and Strategy\n\nThe interviews were selected at random from a South Dakota voter registration list that included both land line and cellphone numbers. Quotas were assigned to reflect voter registration by county. For the poll on the GOP races, all respondents indicated they were likely to vote in the upcoming June 2 primary.\n\n\"It went smoothly and efficiently, which allowed for it to be completed within an optimum window,\" Brad Coker, founder of Mason-Dixon, told News Watch. \"South Dakota voters are poll friendly.\"\n\nThe process for deciding the topics and drafting the survey questions was a collaborative effort among South Dakota News Watch, the Chiesman Center and Mason-Dixon.\n\n## ****Get South Dakota news****\n\nSubscribe for a free newsletter on weekdays. Cancel any time. We won't share your address.\n\nSign up\n\nEmail sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup.\n\nWe attempted to cover as many topics as possible without overwhelming respondents and ourselves.\n\nInevitably, there were some poll questions readers might have wanted that we were unable to get to, such as the job performance of Johnson as congressman or voter sentiment toward the current military conflict with Iran.\n\nWe hope you have found the poll results insightful and stay tuned for our next voter survey this fall.\n\n## The raw numbers\n\nHere are documents with details of the poll results, which can be downloaded by clicking the arrow:\n\n2026-04 GOP voter tabsResults of the Republican-only questions.2026-04 GOP voter tabs.pdf171 KBdownload-circle\n\n 2026-04 All party tabsResults of questions asked to registered voters of all political parties. 2026-04 All party tabs.pdf129 KBdownload-circle\n\n2026-04 GOP primary voter demographicsDemographics of registered Republican voters. 2026-04 GOP primary voter demographics.pdf117 KBdownload-circle\n\n2026-04 All party demographicsDemographics of registered voters from all political parties. 2026-04 All party demographics.pdf117 KBdownload-circle\n\n 2026-04 GOP voter methodologyMethodology of questions asked of Republican-only voters. 2026-04 GOP voter methodology.pdf170 KBdownload-circle\n\n2026-04 All party methodologyMethodology of questions asked of registered voters from all parties.2026-04 All party methodology.pdf169 KBdownload-circle\n\nSouth Dakota News Watch invests in scientific polls to let elected leaders know how constituents think they're doing and also survey people's opinions on important issues. But a good poll isn't cheap, so if you value these stories, please consider helping cover the cost. Thank you!\n\n\n                            Donate and make these polls possible\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 politics and statehouse reporter Alexander Rifaat:** 605-736-4396/__alexander.rifaat@sdnewswatch.org_ _._",
  "title": "Showing our math: The numbers behind the latest poll",
  "updatedAt": "2026-04-24T11:18:25.850Z"
}