Leaving office January 1, 2027.Did not run for re-election in 2026. This page switches to the former-officeholder layout when the term ends.
RepublicanIn office until January 1, 2027

Josephine Garcia

South Dakota State Representative, District 5 since 2024. Did not run for re-election in 2026; leaves office in January 2027.

South Dakota State Representative, District 5

In office
1 yr
Since 2024
Bills became law
20
82 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
Votes missed
0.9%
Chamber median 0.8%
With party
94%
On votes splitting the parties
Last margin
+-13.1
Won 2024

Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET

Committees

As of 2026-10.

  • Medical Marijuana Oversight · chair
  • Education
  • Health and Human Services

Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET

Legislation

2025–2026 session · 82 sponsored · 20 became law
BillIntroCmteHouseSenateLaw
HB 1313 require education in prenatal human growth and development.
Abortion · Became law Mar 2026
SB 90 expand the information required to be sent to the prescription drug monitoring program for each registry…
Health Care · Became law Mar 2026
HB 1102 reschedule the date for filing certain annual reports.
Agency · Became law Mar 2026
HB 1265 authorize the salvage of certain bird eggs.
Game, Fish, Parks and Forestry · Became law Mar 2026
HB 1164 establish the crime of fraudulent assisted reproduction and provide a penalty and civil liability therefor.
Attorney's Fees · Became law Mar 2026

Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET

Voting record

2025–2026 session · placement by roll-call votes

Where Garcia sits in the South Dakota House of Representatives

Garcia is closer to the center than 15% of the chamber's Republicans.

Dem. medianRep. medianGarciaMore liberalMore conservative

Closest: Brandei Schaefbauer, Bethany Soye, Kathy Rice

Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 5:01 PM ET

With Garcia’s party

  • Votes with the chamber's Republicans94%

Black tick: the average of Republicans in the South Dakota House of Representatives.

Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships

Key votes

Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Garcia’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Republicans.

Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls

Career

Offices held, and every time Garcia was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.

Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)

Elections

Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.

YearRaceResultMargin
2024South Dakota House of Representatives, District 5WonD+13.1

Source: 99chambers results archive

Seats Garcia has held

Source: 99chambers results archive

Who Garcia has run against

Source: 99chambers results archive

How we know Garcia

One person, matched across every source we use.

Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET