1996Flipped from RepublicanFinal results

1996 election for U.S. Senate in South Dakota

Name: 1996 election for U.S. Senate in South Dakota
Start: 1996-11-05
Location: South Dakota

U.S. Senate · South Dakota

Tim Johnson (D) won with 51.3% of the vote, defeating Larry Pressler (R) by 2.6 points, a seat Republicans won last time.

Tim JohnsonDemocrat · winner

51.3%166,533

48.7%157,954

324,487 votes

Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET

The seat over time

D − R margin in this seat's races around 1996

Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET

Each line compares the two campaigns on one scale.

Tim JohnsonLarry Pressler

$2.9M

Raised by the campaign

$4.1M

$3M

Spent by the campaign

$4.5M

$1.3K

Cash on hand

$98.9K

Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 30, 1996; FEC, through Dec 31, 1996.

Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 30, 1996